GENERAL LEAGUE AND CUP RULES

All games to be played under World Bowls ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls’ and in accordance with the Rules & Regulations of Bowls England, E.C.B.A. and this Association.

1     There shall be three leagues consisting of: –

a)   The Premier League  (Playing 3 rinks on the  same green)b)   The Stanford League (Playing 3 rinks on the same green)c)   The Windsor League (Playing 3 triples on the same green)

League winners shall be determined by the highest number of points gained.  In the event of two or more teams having equal points, the winner shall be decided on shot difference.

2     Only registered players may play in the League and KO Trophy.

3     Normal days for playing league matches: –
Premier & Stanford – Wednesday, 6.00pm by agreement of both clubs.
                                       Saturday, 2.00pm, or 10am by agreement of both Clubs.
Windsor –  Mixed any format – Tuesday and other days as deemed necessary – starting at 2.00pm.

4     Each rink game shall consist of 21 ends, triples game 18 ends.  League points will be scored as follows: –
Premier & Stanford: 2 points for each winning rink and 2 points for the highest total shots overall.  In the event of a tie, points to be shared.
Windsor: 2 points for each winning triple and 2 points for the highest total shots  overall.  In the event of a tie, points to be shared.

5     The home team captain at each venue is responsible for completing the result card and sending it to the TH League Secretary by FIRST CLASS POST immediately after the match.  Each club will supply the League Secretary with a telephone contact for each league, to resolve queries on results.

6     Matches not Played
If a match is not played BOTH clubs must inform the League Secretary immediately.  If the reason for Abandonment or Postponement have come about through reasons other than those in (see Rule 8a i ii iii) ) the offending club will receive a 10-point penalty and allow the opposing club will be deducted 10 points (carried over to the next year if relegation ensues) and 30 shots from their Shot Total and the oppenents will be awarded 5 points and 30 Shots to their Total. The claim by the opposing club must be made immediately by phone or email to the League Secretary and a match result card, with their named players included, sent to the League Secretary.  Failure to claim the points and send a match result card will result in no points being awarded.  Should any club withdraw from any League during the season,results of matches with that club will be deleted.

7     Incomplete teamsRink Matches – Should a league team present itself to play with one player short, the lead and the second will play 3 woods each and the rink will forfeit 25% of their score.  Should both teams be one player short and the two short rinks are drawn against each other, they must play as a four’s rink, each forfeiting 25%.  If a team is two or three players irrespective of the actual overall score.Triples Matches – Should a team present itself to play with players short they shall forfeit the defaulting triple to their opponents, who will also be awarded the points for overall result, irrespective of the actual overall score. For all League Matches
       

– Should both teams have to forfeit a rink only those rinks that play will score points and no overall points will be awarded.
Cup Matches – must have three rinks – the 25% rule applies to one player short.

For all matches the result card must show all defaulting details including 25% or other adjustments.

8     Postponement or Abandonment:
a)     Teams must adhere to the dates agreed as Fixtures, no Postponements or Abandonment being allowed, except on account of:
i). Adverse weather conditions. (Temperatures of 30 degrees or above, Waterlogged Green or Lightening)
ii).  Insufficient daylight.
iii).  Unfit green.

No postponement will be allowed because of any team shortage – Rule 6 is applied.

If a club is forced to rearrange a scheduled fixture every effort must be made to
play the match early, before the scheduled date.  In the case of an emergency postponement   (i.e. whole team sickness, travel problems etc) the club can request a change of fixture date with the League Secretary.
Away teams must always be in attendance on Match Day before any decision is made.

b)     The decision for postponement or abandonment from the above causes
(8a – i, ii & iii) will be at the discretion of the Home Team Captain, in conjunction with the visiting Captain.  A postponed or abandoned match must be rearranged immediately and played within 21 days.  The TH League Secretary must be notified of any rearrangements immediately, by both clubs.
c)      Any match abandoned after 12 or more ends have been completed (on each
rink) will be deemed a completed match and points will be awarded as per Rule 4.
d)     When a match is abandoned when less than 12 ends are completed on all rinks the match will be rearranged and restarted as stated in Rule 8b.
e)     A player cannot play in a rearranged match if he has taken part in the
corresponding Premier, Stanford, ‘A’ team or ‘B’ team match, including the
Windsor League.
f)      All rearranged league games must be completed before the last fixture in that league programme.  Failure to do so will make the result of the game null & void.  The only exception will be if the last league fixture failed to take place because of poor weather in which case an extension would beallowed and the result would stand.

9       Registration of Players:  Clubs participating in the league will be required
to have their team players, who must be full playing members, registered in accordance with the following:
a)     Each club shall forward a list (including ladies) of their full playing members at the start of the league season.  The list must be updated as clubs recruit or lose full members.
b)     All players in league or cup matches must be full playing members of their club.
c)     League players cannot be representing more than one club during the same  period.
d)     Any  club who is reported to have played an ineligible player in league or cup matches will be investigated by the Association Committee.  The league penalty will result in a deduction of points, at the discretion of the Association Committee.    The penalty in a cup match will be disqualification and the defeated team reinstated.

10      Protests, Disputes & Contravention of Rules:  Any protests and disputes
between clubs or contravention of league and cup rules must be reported in writing by the club secretary to the Association Hon. Secretary within seven days of the incident.  Such matters will be investigated and heard by at least three Association officers whose decision will be final.

11     Dress Code: The standard dress for matches will be white tops and grey or
white trousers.  Teams may wear coloured shirts, approved by E.C.B.A., but all players in the team must wear the coloured team shirt.  The wearing of approved shorts, grey or white, is an option for players and may be worn in all THDBA league and cup matches, including the KO Trophy & Plate semi-final and final and in THDBA competition rounds, semi-final & final but only in all cases with the agreement of the host club.  The dress for representative matches shall be blazer, THL shirt, THDBA tie, grey or white trousers as indicated on the match
sheet, but no shorts.

Team ‘Knock Out’ Competition:  The KO Trophy shall consist of a three rink match of 21 ends and shall be played on fixed dates.  In the event of scores being level after 21 ends, an extra end or ends shall be played by ALL rinks until a decision is reached.
A Plate competition played under the same rules will be held for teams eliminated
in their first round of the KO Trophy competition.  Completed result cards should be sent to the League Secretary by FIRST CLASS POST immediately after the match.

Alterations and Additions: Any alterations or additions to these rules shall
be made by the Association Management Committee, confirmed by a simple
majority and come into force at a date determined by the Committee.

Bowls:  Only legally tested and approved shall be used for play in all competitions.L ,