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Two matches at the weekend two much for Island cricketers

Work and personal commitments are the chief reasons why clubs are struggling to field full strength sides in the Lindo’s Twenty20 competition, according to Devonshire Rec. player-coach Dennis Williams.Two teams played short-handed and another two forfeited their games at the weekend, leaving Wiliams to question the feasability of having matches played on both Saturday and Sunday.Devonshire, who had no chance of reaching the next stage of the Twenty20 competition, failed to reach the quota of nine players for their match against Flatts at Lords on Saturday,“We take all the competitions seriously,” said Williams, “However, given the fact that the schedule has been packed with games on Saturday and Sunday every week since the beginning of the season, it’s been hard for players to turn out for the Saturday games, the majority of which have been Twenty20 games.“Because of this we would have liked to use youngsters to fill the void for the senior players who have had work or family commitments.”Southampton Rangers were able to beat Warwick with just nine players while Young Men’s Social Club were thrashed by St. David’s after only managing to muster nine players.Leg Trappers, with several players included in the national rugby team, had to pull out for their game against Bailey’s Bay at Sea Breeze Oval.Rangers batsman Dion Stovell echoed Williams’ sentiments and said players across the Island simply couldn’t guarantee their availability every Saturday due to work commitments.“We normally have a full team but this weekend some players had to work and others had personal matters to attend to, so that was the reason for us being undermanned,” he said.“Some guys have jobs that have them working on the weekends but for the most part we have a full team every week.”With the regular Twenty20 schedule completed and only the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals, teams are expected to be at full strength as they bid for the title.However, Saturdays have been put aside for the inaugural Regional Championship that is set to begin on June 16 as well as and the respective Counties matches.The Regional Championship will feature County select sides from each of the three counties, along with a select Cup Match team from the two Cup Match clubs, Somerset and St George’s.The Central Counties team will consist of players from Devonshire Rec, Western Stars and Young Men’s Social Club, while St David’s, Bailey’s Bay, Cleveland County and Flatt’s will make up the Eastern Counties select side.Somerset Bridge, Southampton Rangers, Willow Cuts, and Warwick will make up the Western Counties team.