THURROCK & DISTRICT BOWLS ASSOCIATION
LEAGUE  RULES
as Revised in December 2023

12. LEAGUE COMPETITION
(a). Where a club enters more than one team into the league, all registered bowlers shall be available for any team on the proviso, that the club nominates 8 bowlers to play in their ‘A’ team and those nominated shall be ineligible to play in their ‘B’ team. All other bowlers may play in either team as and when required. If a registered‘A’ team player plays in a rink for their club’s B team in a league match, the B team will forfeit that rink with the loss of 2 points and 5 shots.
(b) Under normal circumstances two (2) clubs will be promoted and two (2) clubs relegated at the end of each season, in any case at least one club will be promoted and relegated.
(c:) The constitution of the League will be decided at the Annual League Meeting to be held in the third week in November.
(d) In the event of a club having two or more teams in the same division they will play both their games in the early part of the season.
(e) The league programme will terminate in August each year. As per the official league fixture programme.
Any postponed games must be played no later than the 31st of August and may be played on any evening or weekends by mutual consent. Any dispute arising from postponed games not played by the 31st August will be resolved by the Executive Committee.
(f) Three rinks of each dub will play three rinks of the opposing clubs in that division, home and away.
(g) Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw on each of the three rinks played. One extra point will be awarded to the side winning on total shots provided that they have twelve (12) bowlers playing.
(h) For Premier & Divisions 1 only. All league matches should commence no later than 6.15 pm. (5.45 pm in August)
If a full quota of 12 players is not available at this time, then the following format will take place:
Eleven players: Two rinks and one Triple.
Ten or nine players: Two rinks and forfeit one rink and 5 shots.
Less than nine (9) players: The match is forfeited and the opposing team, providing twelve (12) players turn up to play, receive seven (7) points and fifteen (15) shots. The opposing team will only receive six (6) points and fifteen shots if less than twelve (12) players turn up to play. A completed result card must be returned by the team claiming the match.
(i) In the event of a triple being played then the triple will lose 25% of their total shots or (5) shots whichever is the greater.
Where a rink has been forfeited, then the team which has arrived with at least eleven bowlers, shall be able to play whichever eight bowlers they choose to select. The draw for rinks will take place as normal with only two rinks instead of three.
(j) For Division 2 only. All league matches should commence no later than 6.15 pm (5.45 pm in August).
Two rinks of each club will play Two rinks of the opposing clubs in that division. home and away.
If a full quota of 8 players is not available at this time, then the following format will take place:
Seven (7) players: One rink and one triple.
Six (6) players: two triples.
Five or Four players: One rink. Forfeit one rink, with the opposing team receiving 2 points and 5 shots.
Three (3) players one triple, Forfeit one rink, with the opposing team receiving 2 points and 5 shots, and the triple conceding 5 shots or 25% of their score which ever the greater.
Less than Three (3) players the match is forfeited and the opposing team, providing eight(8) players turn up to play, receive five (5) points and ten (10) shots. The opposing team will only receive four (4) points and ten (10) shots if less than eight(8) players turn up to play.
In the event of a triple or triples being played then the triple will lose 25% of their total shots or (5) shots whichever is the greater. (Rule (g) above still applies.)
Any team in any division conceding more than 2 games throughout the season will be withdrawn from the league for that season.
Any team in any division fielding only 1 rink more than 3 times throughout the season will be withdrawn from the league for that season.
(k) In the event of a tie on points for any position in the league tables at the end of the season, the club with the better shot difference will be the winners, if there is still a tie the team with most rink wins will be the winner and if the position is still equal a tie will be declared.
(l) Scorecards should not be numbered until both captains have made the draw for rinks.
(m) Once dates have been arranged by the League Secretary, a Club shall not cancel any game, unless circumstances on the day are unavoidable ie. bad weather, or unless permitted to do so by the League Secretary. The League Secretary must be notified of any prior intended cancellations, failure to comply will result in the club cancelling the fixture forfeiting the points for that match.Under no circumstances should a club offer a league date for any competition, the penalty will be to forfeit
the match and the opponents will claim all points and 10 or 15 shots.  
(n) In the event of it being impossible to complete a match due to adverse conditions, by mutual agreement of the Captains or by direction of the greenkeeper. The following rule shall apply for the league and league knock out competitions.
If an average of twelve (12) ends have been played across the rinks, the game shall be deemed to have been completed and the points awarded accordingly. If however the average of ends completed is less than twelve(12) at the time of abandonment then the match must be completed at a later date on the same rink and the same players where practicable
(o) The result MUST be telephoned to the League Secretary on the day of the game no later than 10:00pm or e-mailed on the day of the match. Result cards of all league games are to be posted or e-mailed by the home team, to the League Secretary immediately after the game,using a first class stamp if posted.
(p) Any club in the association that offers dates for a competition and then plays a competition on a Wednesday league night, and then therefore does not play that evenings fixture on the evening that it was scheduled, shall be penalised by forfeiting all points and 10 shots in division two or 15 shots if in the premier league or division one with repeat offenders being removed from the league.

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