THURSDAY'S JCT600 Bradford League meeting saw the member clubs vote overwhelmingly in favour of a merger with the Central Yorkshire League, a decision that promises to make a huge impact on the future of cricket throughout the region.

But, with rain once again dogging the CYL season, there was time to take a look at what impact the Bradford League's playing conditions would make, or would have made this year, if they applied to CYL games - and the Championship title race is the best illustration of this.

Only one Championship game was completed last weekend, due to the rain, and that left Hopton Mills still top by one point ahead of Liversedge. But, with Liversedge 63-3 chasing 230-9 against Azaad and East Ardsley 29-3 chasing Hopton Mills' 209-7, what difference would the Bradford League's batting and bowling points system have made to these games and the season overall.

Well, instead of the two points apiece earned under CYL rules, under Bradford League rules Liversedge would have picked up four bowling points plus three for the no result and Hopton Mills would have had four batting points, one bowling point and the four for the no result.

But, while the difference would have only been one point in those last games, the season overall would have seen them not one point ahead in the title race but sitting on a 54-point lead and, with only 20 points a game at stake, the championship would already be theirs.

As it happens, Liversedge are still in the hunt and they go to Northowram next week, the Bank Holiday weekend is fixture free in the Championship, looking for the six points that will take the race to the final day. Hopton Mills go to Oulton in their next game.

Batley were one of only two clubs to finish their games with maximum points on a day where rain was the major winner in the Premier Division.

At Buttershaw St Paul's the home side were crushed by eight wickets by visiting Batley and that result confirmed, what had seemed inevitable for weeks, that they would finish in the bottom two and be unlikely to gain a place in the top two divisions of any newly constituted Bradford League set up.

Birstall, already accepted into the Bradford League next season, did manage to get some play in their fixture at Mirfield Parish Cavaliers but rain intervened with the game nicely poised. A promising third-wicket partnership between young Josh Twohig (39) and the experienced Richard Sidle (27) helped Birstall to 165 and Parish were 121-6 when the rain came.

This week Birstall are at home to Hunslet Nelson, while Methley, the only other winners last week, in beating Ossett, continue their quest for the title with a game at home to Mirfield Parish. Ossett, still smarting from that ten-wicket defeat by Methley, are at current leaders Wakefield Thornes.