Bob Newlan Memorial Trophy - Rules
These notes describe in detail how the rules are currently
interpreted. This is based on custom and practice and it is not
necessarily the last word. In some cases the league rules are not
clear and so different interpretations may be possible. Although
the rules were revised for the 2003 season, the previous wording
was deliberately retained. We didn’t want to have rules that
read like acts of parliament (or more likely, are not read at
all).
- Declaration of teams
- Both captains should arrive with their teams numbered from
one to ten in order of play. The whole draw is done at the
start of the match. Each player must then be available when
called. If a player is not available, then a substitute (not in
the original ten) may play.
- Tied match
- If the match is drawn, the team with the most winners goes through. If the teams both have the same number of winners,
the team with the most winners among the first three games goes through. This will be based on the score sheet, which if it
has been filled in correctly will also be the order of play.
- Eligibility of players
- All players must be “registered for league matches.” This
is understood to refer to the evening league. From Round 2
onwards, players “must have played in at least one quarter of
the club’s league games.” Here we need to fix two numbers: how
many league games and a quarter of this.
We count the league games actually played up to the date of the
cup round (including matches brought forward, but excluding
matches postponed).
If a club has two league teams both entered in the cup, each
team’s matches are counted separately.
If a club has two league teams but only enters one team in the
cup, the league ‘A’ team’s matches are counted.
This gives the minimum number of games each player must have
under his belt: it is one quarter or more of the league games. If
this is not a whole number it must be rounded up: for example 2
is not “at least one quarter” of 9.
Qualifying games must be played in the evening league. If a club
has two teams, then games for either team count (but check the
team-switching rules).
- Switching between teams
- These notes only apply when a club has two teams entered in
the cup.
At no time may a player play for the cup ‘B’ team if on the
date in question he has played in three or more league matches
for the ‘A’ team and has a plus average (an average of
exactly zero is OK).
While both teams are still in the cup, no-one that has played for
one cup team may play for the other.
After one team has been eliminated, up to four players from that
team may play for the other team.