HASLINGDEN professional Brad McNamara has launched a stinging attack on the new Lancashire League rules.

The Australian all-rounder, who has returned to Bentgate for a third spell as pro, claims the new bonus points system rewards sides for mediocrity.

Clubs chasing a target can pick up bonus points on a sliding scale once they get within 50 runs of a total.

But McNamara criticised the system and believes the league should return to a straight win or lose format.

"I don't think sides should be rewarded for losing.

"My idea of one-day cricket is that you either win or you lose - nothing else.

"I can understand that if you get within five or ten runs they you might get a bonus point or something.

"But I can't see the sense in how you can lose the game and end up with half the points as the side who has won it."

McNamara smashed a brilliant unbeaten century to help set an imposing target of 207 in Haslingden's Lancashire League game against Church on Sunday. And once the Blackburn Road side lost substitute pro David Millns as they mounted a run chase, they switched their attentions to securing a bonus point instead of winning the match.

They finished 44 runs short but picked up a bonus point for getting within 50 runs of the target.

"Church were just trying to get a point and the crowds don't want to see that.

"It's certainly not enjoyable and for me it just rewards mediocrity.

"It's a 50 over game and basically you should get more than the other side otherwise you shouldn't get anything.

"You either win or lose in one day cricket, that's how it should be.

"The clubs who worry about picking up five points, two points or one point aren't going to be up there in the end anyway.

"But it just makes it a little bit frustrating because I don't believe in rewarding mediocrity."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.