CRICKET: A PLEA to return to Sunday league cricket has been made by Hadleigh captain, Tim Warner,Relegated to Division Four of the Hargreaves Two Counties Championship at the end of last season, the Friars Road side are far from happy with the current situation which requires all sides from Divisions One to Seven to play on Saturdays.

A PLEA to return to Sunday league cricket has been made by Hadleigh captain, Tim Warner,

Relegated to Division Four of the Hargreaves Two Counties Championship at the end of last season, the Friars Road side are far from happy with the current situation which requires all sides from Divisions One to Seven to play on Saturdays.

"I can well understand and appreciate the need for the East Anglian Premier League and our Division One to play on Saturdays, but I can't see why it needs to apply to all other divisions," said Warner.

"While the Two Counties is a feeder to the EAPL, that only really concerns teams in Division One and I know other clubs are of the same opinion.

"We struggle sometimes to get sides out on a Saturday, but on Sundays we have few problems and I would like to see a return to the old days when teams had the choice of playing on either day.

"I'm not saying that all our fixtures would be arranged for a Sunday, but certainly quite a few would and it would also lead to a more competitive game of cricket.

"From what I understand, the Sunday Challenge has not taken off in the way it was intended and a lot of teams put out weak sides for that competition.

"Our club may well be putting forward a suggestion to the league's annual meeting for changes to be made, but I don't know whether it would get the necessary support."

Although Hadleigh are currently in eighth place, Warner feels that the club can challenge in the future and is pinning his hopes on youngsters such as Tim Caston, Charlie Flather and James Gilderson.

"If we can keep them we have every chance of making progress, but despite having one of the most attractive grounds in Suffolk, it's always been difficult to attract players," he said.

This year they lost both Matt Perry and Ed Flather to Browns, while Russell Tampion, David Mann and Ian Piddington have all been unavailable for a variety of reasons.

Warner added: "We need a settled and consistent side and although I can understand players wanting to go to a higher level, I would have liked those who were with us when we were relegated to have stayed and helped us get back up," he added.

"While we have some good youngsters, we are lacking players in their mid-to-late twenties and there's too big a gap between the teenagers and those of us in our thirties.

"However, we still have the ageless Dave Clifford and his loyalty and ability is an example to all."

Tomorrow, Hadleigh face another stiff test at home to leaders Haverhill, while in the same division, Eat Bergholt can make progress up the table by beating Wivenhoe seconds at Gandish Road while mid-table Achilles can do the same at home to Long Melford.

The big game in Division One is at Old London Road where second-placed Copdock and Old Ipswichians take on Browns, who are one spot below them.

The Rushmere-based side's only defeat of the season came at home to Copdock but a second reversal would hamper their chances of sustaining a title challenge.

Leaders Exning have a tricky task away to Wivenhoe, while at the other end of the table, Ipswich and East Suffolk need to make home advantage count against Felixstowe.

Tattingstone travel to in-form Braintree who have won four of their last five games, but the visitors have plenty of strength in depth and will be looking to complete a double over the Essex side.

Easton could be the first side to lower the colours of unbeaten leaders Mistley when the top two sides meet in Division Two at Benties Meadow, but even a defeat for the Essex club would hardly dent their chances of returning to Division One at the first attempt.

Bottom club Stowmarket need to win at Eight Ash Green in Division Three if they are to stave off the threat of relegation, while St Margaret's can improve their lot by beating Copford at Sidegate Avenue.