AFTER several difficult seasons, the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League are hoping to bounce back in 2019.

They have lost three clubs to the Dales Council League since the end of the 2017 season – Mayfield and Muff Field in 2018 and Interlink this season - but the Mutual Sunday School League are confident that they can stabilise.

Hafeez Ur-Rehman, who has replaced Sara Butterfield as secretary of the Mutual League, says: “We have 30 teams in three divisions, some of whom are private clubs, some of whom who are part-private clubs and some of whom play on council grounds.

“We have lost teams to the Dales Council League, but we want our league to become part of the Yorkshire Cricket Board’s pyramid system and are waiting for talks with Alan Birkinshaw.

“We have also been in talks with the Yorkshire Cricket Board’s Steve Archer.”

Ur-Rehman, who is secretary of prominent Mutual League club Salem Athletic as well as being treasurer of the Quaid-e-Azam League, added: “We will be playing some of our Mutual cup rounds (Sir James Roberts Cup and H Broadbent Trophy) on Saturdays, thus avoiding clashes with grounds and players who are involved in the Quaid-e-Azam League and West Riding Sunday Council.”

The Mutual League have their pre-season meeting on Tuesday, March 19 (7.30pm), with the Karmand Community Centre the likely venue.