THE North Wales League are to scrap plans to reduce the number of sides in the top two divisions to 10 with mixed first and second team leagues reintroduced from next season.

A survey sent out by the league was completed by 550 members and expressed an overwhelming desire to see the Premier Division and Division One remain with 12 teams.

That decision means that Hawarden Park, who were officially relegated last week under the planned 10-team structure, have been given a Premier Division lifeline, while Chirk have also been handed a reprieve, if only a temporary one.

Instead of just the Division One winners gaining promotion there will be two sides with Pontblyddyn, Mochdre, Bersham and Bethesda all in with a chance of going up.

At the other end of the second-tier, Mold, deducted 30 points following a player registration error, are now out of the relegation zone, 19 points clear of the second from bottom Abergele.

In addition, the first and second XI teams will no longer be kept apart with 390 of 550 (70 per cent) completed forms expressing a want to return to the old format.

The change to keep the two teams separate has seen a decline in fixture fulfilment and will hopefully increase competition levels once more.

An email circulated to clubs in the North Wales League read: “Thank you all for completing the survey over the last few weeks, the response was outstanding with 550 usable forms completed.

The committee will now follow your requests and re-structure the league back to a mixed first and second team in time for the 2019 season.

“There is a lot of work but the format will be based on predominantly 12 team divisions with the two lower divisions regionalised, and a separate Sunday Third XI.

“Suffice to say we will still have division winners and runners up, but the number of teams promoted and relegated as currently shown on Play Cricket will change as these were based on moving to a 10 team division format.”

Connah’s Quay have found themselves out of the relegation zone and are now looking over their shoulders in the race to avoid the drop.

Martin Burger’s men are 26 points ahead of Hawarden, who they entertain on the final day of the season, and surviving would only add to a campaign that has seen some youngsters impress on the first teams stage.

“There are plenty of positives out of the season. Last week Mali Auty bowled really well and Josh Clarke is another youngster who had made an impact on the team,” said Burger with reference to the 181-run defeat at Menai Bridge.

Quay were only able to take nine players to Tyn-y-Cae, Burger explaining: “It is difficult to call up really young players from the second team.

“They won’t have experienced this level and the ball travels four times quicker and harder in the Premier Division.

“It was about trying to keep people safe.”

Chirk are looking to finish the season with a flourish - starting at Bangor tomorrow.

Bangor were crowned 2017 Premier Division champions, but are well off the pace this term, giving Swarbrick extra confidence.

“They are beatable,” he said. “Last year when we played them I didn’t think they were beatable with Francois Mostert, but that’s changed.”