Winter League
At the Winter League's AGM in September a new rule was voted in. This rule is to support host clubs in providing a complete service to their weekly guest bowlers by preventing any of their teams from being relegated if they so wish it. The need to make key members of team hosting days admin, raffle or catering teams available on matchdays is important to protect the future of the League.
The first sentence of the rule says ... A host green team cannot be relegated from the division it plays in unless it opts to do so.
In fairness to other teams in each division we have asked the 8 host clubs to decide if they wish to opt into this move before the season starts so that all teams are aware of the danger of relegation even for teams above the bottom two positions.
Seven teams have already opted to use the rule this season and these are Primrose Hill Lib A (Division 4), Huddersfield RUFC (Division 7), Lockwood Con A (Division 3), Lockwood Con B (Division 7), Lockwood Con C (Division 8), Netherton Con B (Division 6) and Springwood A (Division 3).
Cowcliffe have already indicated that they are not opting into using the new rule this season whilst there is still time for Milnsbridge and Lindley Lib to opt in before their teams play their first matches.
The new rule also covers teams declining promotion but there is no requirement for teams to notify the League of this before the start of the season. They can opt into using that once the season concludes.
The new rule in its entirity says ...
A host green team cannot be relegated from the division it plays in unless it opts to do so. In addition any team can elect not to be promoted but all its players will begin their games on minus 2 points in the following season. Should they again win promotion the following season then the handicap will be doubled to minus 4 points in each game and doubled each subsequent season.
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