Competition Rules

COMPETITION RULES (Last updated 1/2/26 – changes in bold)

Alan Mayhew Trophy:

1. All affliated clubs are entered into this competition. In the event that the Management committee requests that the competition is made up to sixteen teams, the secretary will invite other clubs to participate in the competition.
2. Premier League teams who withdraw from the competition will be fined £50.
3. Winners to hold the Alan Mayhew Trophy for 12 months and prize money, to be agreed at the March meeting, will be paid to the winners, runners up and losing semi finalists.
4. Entry fee to be fixed by the League.
5. All players must be registered either in the Premier League, or, in the case of invited clubs, for that club in any league.
6. Number of players shall be 12 and play 6 HOME – 6 AWAY on the same day. Matches will commence at 7pm if distance travelling between home green and away green is less than 30 miles or 7.15pm if distance travelling between home green and away green is 30 miles or more. Winners to be decided on aggregate score. The dates for each round will be advised at the March meeting and all matches to be arranged to be completed on that date. The draw will be made at the March Meeting.
7. Results for rounds up to the final to be entered on the website by the home club in compliance with match rule 13.
8. In the event of a tie on aggregate in rounds up the final, the match shall be decided firstly by the most number of wins per team, secondly by the best away winner and thirdly by each team’s best win in descending order (if the away winners scores are all equal). If the game is still tied after these criteria, the match shall be replayed by mutual agreement between the clubs before the next round is due to be played.
9. In the event of a tie on aggregate in the final, the match shall be decided firstly by the most number of wins per team, secondly by the best winner and thirdly by each team’s best win in descending order. If the game is still tied after this criteria, then three players from each team comprising one from the first four one from the middle and one from the last four of the players competing in the championship decider will play again up to 11 and the championship will be awarded to the team whose players have the highest number of points.
10. Final to be played at a neutral venue as decided by the Competition Secretary, preferably at a Premier League club. This to start at 6.30 unless mutually agreed by the two captains. Teams must be sent in at least 48 hours before the final to the Competition Secretary. If a team is not sent by the deadline then that club will receive a £25 fine.
11. Players must have played at least one league game for that club before the Semi Final and two league games (in any league) for that club before the Final of the competition.
12. Any matters not provided for in the above rules, and not covered in our Match or Management Rules, shall be dealt with by the League Management Committee, whose decision shall be final.

Premiership Competition:

1. The competition shall be confined to clubs affiliated to the SPBL.
2. The Pool A will be contested by the top 7 teams and the Pool B by the rest of the league. The team finishing 1^st in the league that season will receive the bye in the Pool A. The highest ranked team(s) in the Pool B will receive the bye(s) in that competition.
3. Any team who withdraw from the competition will be fined £50.
4. All games to be 21 up under B.C.G.B.A. rules and standard jacks to be used.
5. The number of players in each team shall be eight, who shall be registered in the league for that club, and the greens, which shall be neutral and preferably at a Premier League club, shall be selected by the Competition Secretary.
6. The final will be played at a Premier League club with two greens as determined by the Presentation Evening rota. The green for each final will be decided by a random draw before the final commences. If a team reaches the final at its own club, that team will play on the green they haven’t played on in that Premier League season. They will owe 2 and start without the jack.
7. Teams for the final shall be submitted at least 24 hours before the final starts to the Competition Secretary. If a team is not sent by the deadline then that club will receive a £25 fine.
8. The aggregate score shall decide the match. In the event of a tie on aggregate, the match shall be decided firstly by the most number of wins per team, secondly by the best winner and thirdly by each team’s best win in descending order.  If the game is still tied after these criteria, each captain will nominate one player to play a one off game, with the first player to 11 determining the overall winner.
9. Any club not sending its full compliment of players shall forfeit 21 points in each case.
10. All clubs on whose green a cup tie is played shall provide not less than four standard jacks and a tape measure (19 metre) as required by the B.C.G.B.A.
11. The result must be entered on the website in accordance with Match Rule 13 by the winning team.
12. Each team shall pay the host club £8 for green fees.
13. Any matters not provided for in the above rules, and not covered in our Match or Management Rules, shall be dealt with by the League Management Committee, whose decision shall be final.

Inter-Area Competition:

1. The competition will be contested by the four areas of the county; North, East, South and West.
2. Teams will be split into these four areas, with two areas having four teams and two having three teams.
3. It will be played as a straight knockout on a Saturday evening at a two green Premier League venue as selected by the Competition Secretary. The Final will have four ends on each green.
4. The number of players in each team will be eight. A minimum of two players to be selected from each club.
5. All games to be 21 up under B.C.G.B.A. rules and standard jacks to be used. Any home players shall owe 2 and give away the jack.
6. The aggregate score shall decide the match. In the event of a tie on aggregate, the match shall be decided firstly by the most number of wins per team, secondly by the best winner and thirdly by each team’s best win in descending order.  If the game is still tied after these criteria, each captain will nominate one player to play a one off game, with the first player to 11 determining the overall winner.
7. Any team not sending its full compliment of players shall forfeit 21 points in each case.
8. Any matters not provided for in the above rules, and not covered in our Match or Management Rules, shall be dealt with by the League Management Committee, whose decision shall be final.

SPBL Merit Rules:

1. The competition is open to all bowlers registered with a Shropshire Premier League Bowling Club. Bowlers from other clubs can be invited to take part at the discretion of the Management Committee.
2. It will be run as a qualifier and a finals night of 8, both held on a Friday and/or Wednesday as determined at the March Executive Meeting.
3. The scratch time will be 6.30 or 7 as set by the Competitions Secretary. Any players arriving after the scratch time cannot take part.
4. The draw will be completed by the person in charge at the venue with at least another person present.
5. BCGBA Dress code will not apply in the qualifiers but will in the finals.
6. Prize Money to be determined by the Competitions Secretary once the qualifiers have been completed.
7. The entry fee is £10 payable a week before the date of the first qualifier. Failure to pay before this deadline will mean you are not eligible to play in that year’s competition. We will not accept payment on the night.
8. The venues and fields of players will be drawn and released at least three days before the qualifiers are to take part.
9. Any player not turning up to the finals night, and without a valid reason as determined by the Management Committee, will be banned from league individual competitions for 12 months.