Warrington & North Cheshire Bowls Association    [ founded 1904 ]

RULES & CONSTITUTION PAGE 3


TEAM COMPETITIONS
 1. Annual team knockout competitions will be played during the season with all teams in the Association eligible to enter.
2. All matches shall be played on neutral greens irrespective of section.
3. A club whose green is selected for a match shall supply BCGBA approved standard blocks, measuring and long tapes.
4. Referees for matches up to the final shall be agreed between the two competing teams, but the Management Committee shall select referees and greens for the Final.
5. Matches up to and including the semi-final may be rearranged by mutual consent provided the selected green is available. If not the League/ Competition Secretary will arrange an alternative venue but only with the mutual consent of both teams. Any rearranged matches must be completed giving 5 (five) clear days before the date of the next round. Finals must be played on the dates published.
6. All games shall be 21 up off handicap [Challenge Cup; Finlayson Cup; Silcock Cup & Stan Bann Trophy. In the Warwick Lowe Trophy; Chadwick Trophy & Centenary Trophy games will be 21 up off scratch with team handicap added to total. The four hander in the Warwick Lowe will be 15 up.
7. In the event of inclement weather, the person in charge shall not abandon / cancel the match until one hour has elapsed after the published commencement time. In the event of a general cancellation the League / Competition Secretary shall re-arrange matches on the earliest possible convenient date prior to the next round. Rule 4 of the 'Match Re-arrangement section will apply for any commenced but uncompleted matches.
8. Teams in the Challenge Cup, Silcock, Stan Bann, Rutter, Parks Supplementary cup and Finlayson shall consist of 10 registered players, the number of points scored plus any handicap applicable shall be added together to decide the result.
9. Individual players registering with different clubs / teams in the Monday and Friday leagues who both enter the same competition must give their allegiance to the team in the league who originated the competition. Challenge, Finlayson and Centenary are regarded as Monday competitions with Silcock, Stan Bann, Warwick Lowe and Chadwick regarded as Friday competitions The Management Committee shall allocate handicaps to any teams who enter a competition but do not fit in with above criteria. 9a. Winning captains to phone result to Competition secretary by noon the day following the match. Failure to comply will result in the team being scratched from the competition.
10. In all matches the players of the team drawn out first shall lead the jack in alternative order as follows: - 1st team jack ODD 2nd team jack EVEN In all matches the card marked for the ODD numbers will be deemed the home team and will count in the event of a dispute whilst the card marked for the EVEN numbers will be deemed the home card and count in the event of an irresolvable dispute
11. Absentees from any match shall not have any score recorded, and the opponent shall be awarded the game 21-0 apart from the four handed game in the Warwick Lowe where the score shall be 15-0.
12 In the event of a tie in the Challenge, Finlayson, Silcock, Stan Bann, Rutter and Parks supplementary cups the following order will decide the winner a. The team that has won the most games – then if still a tie b. The team with the best individual card – then if still a tie c. One player from each team to be nominated by the team captain to play a five up game. Team with the highest handicap to lead the jack. If the handicaps are the same toss for the jack
13. No practice shall be allowed (except in the Final) and matches shall commence at the times advertised by the Management Committee.
14. The captain of each team shall place his team in order he desires them to play 1 to 10, but only need name their first 4 (four) players in order to commence the match. (N.B. Except in team competition finals when captains must nominate all 10 players, and send their names to the General Secretary no later than 5 days after the SemiFinal has taken place to allow programmes to be printed). Players must play in the correct order. Any player who is not present when due to play must be replaced by a reserve. If no reserve is available then the game must be forfeited (21-0) and the next game commenced. No player in attendance can be substituted except with the consent of the opposing captain. A member of an original team cannot return once his name has been erased from the team sheet. Both teams are responsible for marking cards (except in finals), which shall be in accordance with BCGBA rules (i.e., stand together and check and agree scores every third end).
15. A team can only claim points when 4 blocks cannot be maintained on the green. Teams failing to provide a full complement of 10 players may be fined in respect of each absentee.
16. A secondary competition (Finlayson cup) will be organised for teams defeated in the preliminary and first rounds of the Challenge Cup competition.
17. If unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions result in any final being postponed then the rearrangement must take place within 8 days.
18. If a team is involved in a county competition on the published date, the Competition Secretary will arrange an earlier start on that date. This rule covers all team knockout matches and means there will be no Sunday matches unless there are insufficient greens available for the Association to use.
19. Handicaps for the various team competitions will be allocated by the management committee and published each season on the Association website.
20 Late registrations in team competitions Late registrations to be eligible to play in a cup tie must have played at least two league games prior to the cup tie. The league games must be relative to the allocated night for the competition (e.g. To play in the Challenge Cup the player must have played two Monday night games or to play in the Silcock the player must have played in two Friday night games) Rule 9 General rules takes precedence over the above. Where it is impossible to fulfil the above criteria (e.g. at the start of the season) the player name must appear on the original registration listings submitted to the league prior to the start of the season
21 All teams will be given the option of not entering all competitions. This option will be part of the team registration sheet to be submitted to the Association usually in the February prior to the start of the season. The option will also be circulated by email just prior to the start of the season If a team does enter and fails to turn up for the first round they are drawn to play in they will be fined by the Management Committee at a fee to be decided by the management Committee.
22 All team competitions are derived from either a Monday or Friday night. If a team wishes to enter a competition and does not play on the night that competition is derived from they must apply in writing to the Management Committee for permission to enter and be handicapped
23. Teams failing to turn up in the prelim and first rounds will not go into any derivative secondary competition. Teams who do not intend turning up must notify both the venue and their opponent’s secretary. Failure to do so will result in a fine being imposed.
24. Dress Code All finals both TEAM and INDIVIDUAL must be played observing the current BCGBA Dress Code A copy of the dress code is displayed on the Association website Score card markers in finals Each finalist is responsible for marking half the cards and operating any associated scoreboard for the duration of any final. The team on the left of the team sheet is responsible for initially marking odd number games 1 and 3 with the team on the right hand of the scoresheet marking the even numbers 2 and 4.

CHALLENGE CUP
(Monday competition) This competition is operated for Monday night teams and handicapped by section by the Management Committee The winning team will carry a penalty of 20 points and the runners up 10 points for the following season. The subsequent season these will be reduced to 10 points and 5 points respectively, by the third year teams will then revert to their original handicap but such reductions will be adjusted should teams carrying a penalty be finalists again in the second or third years. FINLAYSON CUP (Monday competition) This competition is only for teams who have been defeated in the preliminary or first round of the above Challenge Cup competition

SILCOCK CUP & STAN BANN CUP
(Friday competitions) These competitions are operated for Friday night clubs. The teams will be allocated and handicapped by the Management Committee to the appropriate competition. The winning team will carry a penalty of 20 points and the runners up 10 points for the following season. The subsequent season these will be reduced to 10 points and 5 points respectively, by the third year teams will then revert to their original handicap but such reductions will be adjusted should teams carrying a penalty be finalists again in the second or third years. CENTENARY TROPHY. (Monday competition) 2. Teams to consist of 8 [eight] register players (a player who is registered for two different teams / clubs Monday and Friday must give allegiance to the Monday team). 3 .All games to commence at 7pm prompt, no practice allowed except in the final, games shall be 21 up off scratch and the aggregate total plus section handicap shall determine the winners. 4. Competition to be normally played Mondays and Fridays immediately following the end of the League season. Wednesdays may be used if the Management Committee so decides Any matches postponed due to inclement weather must be completed before the date of the next round. 5. In the event of a tie the team with most winners {5-3; 6-2 or 7-1] will win the match, in the event of there being four [4] winners each, both teams to nominate one player to play one sudden death end. Toss for block

PRESIDENTS CUP
1. A match shall consist of 1 single-handed individual game 21 up off a section handicap.
2. Winners shall lose 1 chalk for the following season only.

WARWICK LOWE TROPHY
(Friday competition)
1. Competition open to all registered clubs in the Association.
2. Teams shall consist of 5 players registered for the same team in the Association with each club / team being restricted to one team per registered team.
3. A match will consist of 3 single handed games 21 up off scratch and one 4 handed game 15 up off scratch with a section handicap being added to provide the final result.
4. In the event of a tie the winner of the three singles matches will be declared the match winner (either 3 to nil or two to one)
5. Players may be changed at any time in the competition after the completion of any particular round.
6. Each team must have 5 registered players available to play in each round (3 playing 5 not permitted).
7. As with all team competitions any team may enter irrespective of which league they play in; the Management Committee shall allocate sectional handicaps if none previously exists.

 COMPETITIONS CURRENTLY HELD IN ABEYANCE 2022

CHADWICK CUP (Monday competition) – Competition currently held in abeyance
1. A match shall consist of 1 game (4 handed) 21 up off scratch.
2. Clubs are restricted to one team per registered team in the Association.
3. Any two to play who are registered members of the team in the Association.

CUNNINGHAM CUP – Competition currently held in abeyance
1. A match shall consist of 1 single-handed individual game 21 up off scratch.

HARRY CROSS / 31 UP PAIRS – Competition currently held in abeyance
1. These competitions are open to all registered players in the Association.
2. Teams shall consist of 3 players any 2 to play. Players may change partners at any time in the competition after the completion of any particular round.
3. In the HARRY CROSS CUP a match shall consist of 1 game, 21 up off scratch (4 handed).
4. In the HARRY CROSS CUP 3 players must be registered but not necessarily with the same club.
5. In the 31 UP PAIRS a match shall consist of 1 game (4 handed) 31 up off scratch.
6. No alterations to any teams shall be permitted after the closing date for entries.

 JUNIOR COMPETITIONS (Under 15 / 18) Competition currently held in abeyance Open to all boys and girls in the Warrington area. Games 21 up off scratch. The Management Committee or organiser if necessary may reduce this to 15 up. Free Entry. Competitors must be under 15 / 18 on the date the competition takes place. If insufficient entries are received for two competitions, the Management Committee reserves the right to organise one amalgamated competition For rules relating to ALL competitions refer to rules 1 to 12 in GENERAL RULES FOR ALL COMPETITIONS section above

PARKS LEAGUE
1. Where possible the Parks League rules will fall in line with W&NCBA Monday and Friday league rules
2 Teams will consist of ten individually handicapped players, the winner of games to be decided on team aggregate score adjusted by any Management Committee team handicap. Individual player handicaps will reviewed each season by the Management Committee with the formula in item 5 below as a guide
3 The winners will be allocated two points for a home win, three points for an away win. In the event of an aggregate draw the home team will be allocated one point and the away team two points
4 If a team is short of players a maximum of two “redraw” players is permitted with a handicap of five points for one player and an additional five points making ten in total points if two players are added on to the opponents aggregate score. Any redraw game will be played 21 up with the individual player’s handicap
5 INDIVIDUAL Handicap formula Parks League handicaps are reviewed and adjusted annually by the Parks committee based on the player’s last season’s performance. If a player wins 4 or more in total than they lose, then 1 is taken off their handicap, if they win 8 or more than they lose, then 2 is taken off their handicap and if they win 12 or more than they lose, then 3 is taken off their handicap. The same rules apply to a player losing 4 or more than they win, 1 is added to their handicap, the same applies with 8 or more loses and 12 or more loses as the wins. A maximum of 3 can be taken off or added to the players’ handicap for the following season, no player can have a negative handicap. Players aged 80 or over at the start of a season automatically receive a minimum handicap of 4. Players who attain the age of 80 years during the season may be awarded the 4 handicap on application to the General Secretary in writing by his club. It is the team captain’s responsibility to ensure that players aged 80 or over are correctly registered. A new player joining the Parks league for the first time will be given a handicap based on their bowling ability. The team captain registering the new player must supply the committee with the players’ full bowling history. A player re-joining the Parks League after a period of 5 years and over will have their handicap reviewed by the Parks committee. Any player re-joining under a period of 5 years will retain their handicap when they left the Parks league. A handicap of 6 will be given to complete novices only.
6 Parks TEAM handicaps If a team wins either the League or the Challenge Cup an additional ten points will be added to the opposition opponents score in the next seasons’ respective competition. An additional five points will be applied to the 5 aside competition. The penalty of ten or five points will be added cumulatively each season in the event of a team again winning the competition. If a team fails to win the league or cup any handicap will be adjusted by one years’ handicap until it is eventually eliminated
7 Parks league clubs cannot vote on rule proposals affecting ONLY Monday and Friday league matters
8. Player of the Year
9 Each team shall submit one player at a date, time and venue to be decided by the Management Committee.
10 Start times on greens without working floodlights 7pm May through July April and up to and including 15th August 6.30pm After 15th August 6.15pm with five blocks if the home captain deems necessary Greens with working floodlights 7pm
11 Practice in both league and cup matches scheduled to play on a neutral green is not permitted The only exception to this is in respect of the Challenge and Supplementary Cup Finals where 10 minutes practice for each team member will be allowed. This practice to spread over two sessions of 10 minutes starting 30 minutes prior to the advertised start of the final