THE Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (PACUS) have made their now annual appeal for more members.

In a letter sent out to all Pembroke County Cricket Club teams, training officer Huw Davies underlined that a current shortage of officials meant PACUS was struggling to cover all Division One and Two matches on any given Saturday.

"We are obliged to supply umpires to all first division games and as many second division games as possible," he explained.

"This season we will be able to fulfil our commitment to the first division, but there will be several second division games with either no umpires or one umpire only.

"Several of our older standing umpires have expressed an intention to retire soon and this will only add to our appointment problems.

"Clubs who do not supply umpires for the circuit cannot complain when there are no umpires available for their match."

Davies has held training courses over the past four winters, but says only a few of the 15-20 newly qualified umpires are taking charge of games each Saturday.

"The situation is getting close to critical," he added.

"We need more new umpires and we need time to train them. Clubs should be a rich source of recruitment and the ball is now in your court.

"We are holding this together with a shoestring and very soon, it is going to snap."

Davies added the date and location of the course is yet to be decided.