Rule Ammendments Re Covid
Due to the large impact Covid has had on the majority of Clubs this season, The MPBR Match Committee has decided to amend/add some of the Rules relating to qualification in the Post-Sectional Matches of Midweek and Saturday pennant. The summary of Rules changed for the remainder of this season are as follows:
Rule 8.1.6 is unchanged
Rule 8.1.7 is unchanged
Rule 8.1.8 is unhanged
Rule 8.1.9 is changed to “three games”
Rule 8.1.11 is a new Rule allowing for freer movement of players in successive sides in Post-Sectional matches.
Rules 7.10.1 & 7.10.2 Promotion/Relegation suspended for the next season selection of Sides.
The Rules are listed below:
8.1.6 Prior to the last three rounds of Sectional play there will be no restriction on the interchange of Players between the Sides of a Club.
8.1.7 8.1.7 For the last three rounds of Sectional play, no Side will include more than three players who have played the majority of their games, prior to the third last game, in a higher division Side or for clubs with sides in the same division, the side assigned a lower number (i.e. higher ability).
8.1.8 8.1.8 In any Post-sectional match a Side will not include any Player who, during the current season, has played less than four games for the Club in that actual competition. The Saturday Pennant competition and the Midweek Open Pennant competition and the Midweek Restricted Pennant competition are separate competitions and games played in one competition do not count towards Player eligibility in the other competitions except for the Saturday morning or Tuesday morning ‘3 a side’ competition. (Refer to Rule 7.4 ‘Divisional Play’ of these Rules for Competition)
8.1.9 In any Post-sectional match, a Side will not include any Player who, during the current season, has played more than three games in a higher division Side or for clubs with sides in the same division, in the side assigned a lower number (i.e. higher ability) unless the Player has also played in three or more games in the Side concerned or in a lower division Side or for clubs with sides in the same division, the side assigned a higher number (i.e. lower ability).
Sides of a Club will be numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. in descending order of ability.
New Rule 8.1.11 If a club has a succession or chain of sides in Post-sectional matches, players may move freely up or down regardless of the restrictions mentioned above. Once the chain or succession is broken then Rule 8.1.9 is applied. For example:
MP Bowls Club has qualified for finals with their 1st Side, 2nd Side and 3rd Side (i.e. three consecutive Sides) then Rule 8.1.9 does not apply and a player who is dropped from the top side is eligible to play in the lower sides regardless. The key to this qualification is succession or chain. Should this chain be broken (i.e. the 2nd Side doesn’t qualify for finals, or loses a final, then the succession or chain is broken and 8.1.9 qualification rules apply. If the club’s 1st Side doesn’t qualify for finals then there can be free flow of players between the club’s 2nd and 3rd Sides (a chain or succession still exists).
If a club is not absolutely certain of how the rule applies to them or would like further clarification contact the MPBR to confirm your situation.
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
In relation to Rules 7.10.1 (Promotion) and 7.10.2 (Relegation) the MPBR Match Committee has determined that due to the impact of Covid-19 on many clubs, particularly in the lower divisions, there will be no promotion or relegation in Season 2021/2022 applied to next season.