General League Rules
The league shall be called “Bolton & District Conservative Bowling League
All members must be affiliated to the Lancashire County Bowling Association and be registered with the British Crown Green Bowling Association. They must also be a member of the club whom they bowl, and be at least sixteen years of age.
All Clubs must be insured against public liability claims, and a current insurance certificate will be displayed on the club’s premises in accordance with BCGBA rules. Any player wishing to pursue a claim must inform a responsible member of the club against which the claim is being made and the nature of the claim. They must also inform the secretary of the LCBA.
To compete in the league each team will pay an annual fee; this figure will be agreed at the AGM each year. The fees include a £20 registration cost.
Each team must register with the league secretary prior to the March meeting, quoting each player’s name and BCCGA registration number. Additional players can be registered at any time throughout the season by giving 48 hours’ notice to the secretary/match secretary. Any Team playing unregistered players shall automatically forfeit that game 21-0 to the opposition.
Players may play for only one team throughout the season
The AGM will take place in January each year. All players attending the AGM will be allowed one vote. Any alteration to these rules can only take place at the AGM meeting, and any proposals involving changes to these rules must in the secretary hand at least fourteen days before the meeting.
At least one representative from each team is expected to attend each meeting
League Game Rules
All teams shall consist of eight players
All games will be 21 up, and played in accordance with BCGBA Rules.
Starting Times to be 6-30 pm in April and August, except by agreement, 7-00 pm from May to July.
A minimum of 4 players must be available at the commencement of every game, all players to be in attendance no later than 1 hour after the commencement of the game, unless by agreement of the two captains. In the event of a team being a player short a score of 21-0 will be recorded against the team score, and a score of 21-10 will awarded to the player from the opposing team for the merit award.
The home team representative is responsible for entering the match results on to cgleague web based system within 7 days of the match, also the home captain will maintain a written record for the match. the match result must be verified by both captains before departing from the venue. In cases of disputes within the web based results, the league secretary or results secretary will request the match documentation in question for verification. In all cases the written document will be the definitive document.
The winning team will be the team with the highest aggregate points, and will be awarded two points for a home win and three points for an away win. If the match is drawn, they will count one point for a home draw and two points for an away draw. In addition, each team will count one point for each individual winner. League position will be determined by the total number of points scored.
The preferred night of play for Conservative league matches is Wednesday. All matches that are scheduled for play on Wednesdays must be played on the dates specified in the fixture list. The inability to field a full team is not an acceptable reason for postponement and teams must turn up with whatever players they have available. If any team cannot field 8 players, then the opposing team is awarded a score of 21-0 towards the match aggregate for every missing player. The only acceptable reason for postponement of a scheduled Wednesday night match is if the green is unavailable or unfit for play. The final decision as to the fitness of the green rests with the home team captain (or greenkeeper if available). Matches scheduled to be played on any other nights may be postponed providing at least 21 days’ notice is given is given to the opposing captain. The home team must then provide 3 alternative dates which should be within one month of the original date and the League Secretary should be advised of the new date chosen
Only the winning player of each end shall signal the score to the marker
During a measure, the players concerned must not interfere with the measurer’s, whose decision is final.
In both Sections A & B matches, the players will be drawn to play each other on a random basis
The away team captain will have the choice of order of play but must agree to vary this at the request of the home team captain where a player is currently not present or needs to go on first due to prior engagements. Cup matches will be drawn on a random basis.
In the event of a tie at the end of the season, in any section, the teams shall play off on a neutral green.
League Cup Competitions
To partake in the league cup, a player must have played in a least one league game to qualify for the first round, and at least three league games to qualify for the final.
"Cup matches will be played four at home four away. The winners will be the team with the highest number of aggregate points. If there is a draw in the Round Robin cup format this will count as one point for each team in the Round Robin mini league. If there is a draw in the Knock Out cup format 4 players from each team shall play off, 2 matches at each green using half handicap. In the event of the game still being a draw the match should be replayed at the earliest opportunity".
Individual Cup Competitions
The Presidents Cup is open to all registered league players. All players are handicapped as follows. Section a members Scratch, Section B members +3
Arbuthnot Cup are open to all players and handicapped as above.
Awards
The merit prize will be determined by a player’s average (points scored divided by points against). To qualify for the merit prize, a player must not miss more than four league games, and not more than two away games. In addition, he must play in the last two scheduled league matches.
Prize winners (or their representative) are expected to attend the AGM Meeting to claim their prizes. In the event, they do not attend they will have twenty-one days to collect, or their club’s prizes otherwise they will be forfeited