A super 7 clubs have applied to enter teams in the League’s proposed new Afternoon Division.
So just 1 more is needed to give the division lift-off in 2023 – the clubs to express an official interest to date being: Highley, Donnington Wood, Edgmond, Albrighton, Madeley CC, Chelmarsh and Bowring.
It seems vice-chairman’s Steve Wall’s hunch was right – there is a demand for afternoon matches for male and female bowlers of all ages – and that is what this proposal tries to cater for.
And this is the actual proposal sent to member clubs ahead of the League’s February meeting, then discussed at that gathering – and which will need to formally nailed down before any afternoon action can start:
Mid Shropshire League ‘Sponsor’ Afternoon Division
* Minimum of 8 teams (and possible maximum, taken on a first come, first served basis once a club commits)
* 6-a-side singles matches for males and females of all ages
* Matches played predominantly on Thursday afternoons (starting at 1.30pm), with the possibility of a couple of Tuesdays
* Fixtures completed by end of July to avoid disruption of Mid Shropshire Senior Citizens League competitions
* All matches and games are to be played in accordance with the MSBL rules – with the exception of the following, which are specific only to this division:
Any member of a club who has signed to play for the Mid Shropshire Bowling League is eligible to play in this division.
Any player who has signed for another Mid Shropshire League club (their primary club) may play for one secondary club in this division, as long as they fulfil all the usual obligations to their secondary Mid-Shropshire ‘Sponsor’ Afternoon Division side. A player will not be eligible to compete against their primary club, either home, away or on a neutral green in this division.
No player may play for two different teams within 6 days.
Re-arranged games are to be played within 26 days of the original fixture date.
The points scoring system will be: 3 points for an aggregate win (final details yet to be set in stone, but looking likely to be 1 point for each individual game).
The team with the most points at the end of the season will be declared the champions. In the event of a tie then it will be team with the greatest number of matches won. If this too is the same then the winner will be decided by the highest number of individual games won. Best aggregate will be the final deciding factor to determine the champions. If that is the same there will be joint champions.
If a team fails to fulfil a fixture the match shall be awarded to their opponents and the score shall be 3 points with an aggregate of plus 30. An aggregate of 50 will be deducted from the offenders’ accrued divisional total.
Match fees will be 50p per player and there will be end of season prize money for the top 3 teams and the winner of the divisional averages.