NEXT seasons’s Examiner Twenty/20 Trophy will take the form of a round-robin league format.

Each club will be included in a five-team Pool who will all play each other over a five-week period – every club having one free week.

The six pool winners will then be joined by the two best Pool runners-up in the second round, the highest Pool pointscorers having home advantage, as the tournament then switches to the knockout phase.

All Pools have been arranged in geographical zones to ease the burden on travelling in the early stages.

Holders Scholes, therefore find themselves in the same group as fellow Holme Valley clubs, Holmfirth, Thongsbridge and Honley, along with Shepley.

The Pool games are scheduled to start on Tuesday, June 3, concluding on Tuesday, July 1, with the second round starting the following week and the eventual final on July 27.

Next season, the home advantage will always go to the winning sides scoring the highest runs in the previous round.

Clubs had provisionally voted in favour of the League format at last month’s meeting, but with only 20 votes cast, it was decided to re-cast, and with another majority the new format was officially confirmed.

The divisional splits for 2008 were also confirmed last night, which leaves relegated Slaithwaite and Hall Bower in the Frank Platt Conference, while the third relegated side, Scholes, are in the Cedar Court Conference.

Two trophies were presented by president Bob Platt at the meeting. The Hopkinson Trophy, for the best results over the last six matches, was won jointly by Clayton West and Linthwaite (Clayton taking charge of it initially in Linthwaite’s absence), while the Schweppes Trophy (for Second Elevens) went to Kirkheaton.

The President, who chaired last night’s meeting, reminded clubs that the deadline for new nominations for the Lady Sykes Candlesticks and Fred Stallard Cup is October 31, although nominations made last year will go forward for consideration this year.

There will be an Open meeting at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top, on November 7 when a representative from the Home Office will be present to explain procedures for non-EU players for next season.

Two players to serve suspensions from the start of next season are Emley duo Richard Hickling (four games) and Simon Morley (two).

The Divisional splits for 2008 (subject to any switches the Fixture Secretary may have to impose):

Drakes Premiership: Barkisland, Clayton West, Delph & Dobcross, Elland, Emley Clarence, Golcar, Lascelles Hall, Holmfirth, Honley, Meltham, Micklehurst, Shelley, Shepley, Skelmanthorpe.

Cedar Court Conference: Armitage Bridge, Broad Oak, Kexborough, Kirkheaton, Linthwaite, Paddock, Rastrick, Scholes.

Frank Platt Conference: Almondbury, Hall Bower, Kirkburton, Lepton Highlanders, Marsden, Primrose Hill, Slaithwaite, Thongsbridge.

Premiership Two: Broad Oak, Elland, Golcar, Holmfirth, Honley, Kirkburton, Meltham, Micklehurst, Primrose Hill, Scholes, Shelley, Shepley, Skelmanthorpe, Slaithwaite.

Cedar Court Two: Armitage Bridge, Barkisland, Delph & Dobcross, Kexborough, Kirkheaton, Linthwaite, Paddock, Rastrick.

Frank Platt Two: Almondbury, Clayton West, Emley Clarence, Hall Bower, Lascelles Hall, Lepton Highlanders, Marsden, Thongsbridge.