This was the general consensus out of a meeting involving clubs from the Maitland and District Cricket Association on Tuesday night . 

Several proposals were put forward to the group, which included representatives from all first grade clubs, outlining models for the introduction of Twenty20 inside and outside the current competition structure.

How to go about this was the main sticking point but those present agreed that Twenty20 should exist in some form, having not been implemented in Maitland previously outside last year’s trial in the lower grades. 

The most popular idea seemed to be a one-off event with a title winner but not necessarily part of the season proper or offering competition points.

The October long weekend was chosen as a lead-up tournament to the scheduled first round matches on October 11.

The format would involve the seven first grade clubs (City United, Eastern Suburbs, Kurri Weston, Northern Suburbs, Raymond Terrace, Thornton Park, Western Suburbs) and one other possibly being Tenambit Morpeth, A-grade champions Port Stephens or a combined inter-club second grade XI.

The eight sides would be split into two pools of four with three preliminary matches each.

Two games would be played on Saturday and the third on Sunday morning.

The best performed teams from each group would then play-off in a final on Sunday afternoon.

The ideas still need to be formalised and presented to officials before potentially being passed and implemented for the upcoming summer.

There will be a board meeting held on the second Tuesday of next month.

The district’s annual general meeting will be held in August.

Other issues raised at the open meeting included an adjustment of the point score system as well as the introduction of leg-side wides, front-foot no-balls and coloured clothing for one-day fixtures in first grade.