Mirfield Parish Cavaliers have been accepted into the Drakes Huddersfield League for 2017.
Following hot on the heels of Mirfield Cricket Club, Parish have been given the nod to take Drakes numbers up to 39 clubs.
Like village neighbours Moorlands, Parish will be expected to make a big impact when they are admitted into the third tier of the Drakes – the Cedar Court Conference – because they are established in the Premier Division of the Central Yorkshire League.
“We have no guarantee as to what will happen to some clubs in the next two years, but as things stand Mirfield Parish will bring us up to 39 clubs for the 2017 season,” said league chairman Trevor Atkinson.
“Over the last few years Primrose Hill have been replaced by Hoylandswaine, Micklehurst have gone and been replaced by Cumberworth and Kexborough left to be replaced by Cawthorne, but this feeder system from the Huddersfield Central League can’t go on for ever.
“It will eventually dry up if it hasn’t already dried up and we are committed to running three divisions with a minimum of 38 clubs, so the reason we favour going to 39 clubs in future is to maintain the three-division structure.
“As a League, we are convinced Mirfield Parish will stengthen us, coming from the Premier of the CYL, and we feel this is the right thing to do because it safeguards the future of our league.”
While this weekend is a double-header for the Drakes Premiership clubs, Chris Walmsley’s Cawthorne can clinch the Jedi Sports Championship title with victory at Holmfirth on Saturday.
They are already promoted alongside Armitage Bridge, who can condemn Almondbury to relegation at Fernside Avenue.
Almondbury Wesleyans will be relegated if they don’t win at Meltham, or if Kirkheaton win at Marsden.
In the Cedar Court Conference, there is still a four-way battle for the one promotion spot behind champions Rastrick.
Two of those four, Birkby Rose Hill and Denby Dale, play each other, while second-placed Denby will travel to bottom club Upperthong expecting to win.
Thurstonland are at home to Cartworth Moor and can stay in the hunt with a win, depending on results elsewhere.
