In 2007, despite the cancellation or abandonment of more than 25% of matches, our 68 member clubs played a full programme of League and Knock out matches and provided results both to our own website and to some 20 local newspapers and periodicals. In addition, I would like to pay tribute to the Committee Members who have worked hard in carrying out 15 facility audits this season, including several one team Division Five clubs, for the first time. David Thomas continued his Sterling work of arranging and distributing several thousands of pounds worth of courses to clubs via Awards for All.

Our Annual Dinner, with guest Mike Smith, was a great success and this year's event on October 19th will have former Worcestershire player and current Lancashire Chief Executive Jim Cumbes as speaker.

I am pleased to report that this season only a couple of cricket balls caused enough concern to be returned and that the Balls used on Saturday 4th August were all returned for inspection by Delegates and found to be in good condition. Next year we shall be reviewing plans for 2009 and beyond but we are happy to record that Crusader Sports (Worcester) Ltd are still our cricket ball suppliers and league sponsors.

Brockhampton won Division One 1st XI trophy in the closet finish ever from Worcester Nomads, on the final day of the season at about 7pm and Astwood Bank who defeated Nomads that day finished in third position. We wish Brockhampton every success in the Birmingham League next season and are pleased to note that neither of “our” clubs in B&DPL are being relegated back to the County league this time. In Division Two, Barnards Green were easily returned as Champions with Oldswinford and Netherton also promoted.

The newly created Division Three saw Colwall as Champions and Romsley and Avoncroft also promoted. In Division Four South, Old Elizabethans and Birlingham are promoted and in the North it was Enville and Cookley. The one team section had Champions in Divisions 5 to 8 of Cleobury Mortimer, Hewell, Pershore 3rds and Worcester Nomads 3rds respectively.

This was the 1st year of “floating” second XIs and next year sees some clubs' teams two Divisions apart!

The 1st XI League knock out Cup was won by Worcester who defeated Barnards Green at Kidderminster and Lye 2nds beat Netherton 2nds in their final held at Ombersley.

Our senior representative side had mixed success with the weather and again beat Warwickshire, at Halesowen but did not manage to play Staffs this year. The U.19s, however, played and won both, the match against Staffs being won at 184-9 having been 60-6. In 2008 an under 19s Feeder league Tournament may take place.

There were a few too many disciplinary problems dealt with by the Committee and once again some boorish behaviour is ruining matches in Divisions one and two for the silent majority of players and Umpires. We intend to continue trying to tackle these problems in 2008 and thank Redditch and Kidderminster and Worcester for hosting meetings. The average mark for Umpires remained at 7.7 but we still have an urgent need to train and recruit more.

Once again new teams are joining the league for next season and the Structure announced shows that the league is very nearly “full” with a major restructure in terms of numbers in Divisions seven and eight and we may need to consider new methods of reporting and confirming of results, perhaps the only way of admitting more teams

CM