Charity Shield

Clubs should note that all teams will be entered into the Charity Shield unless they inform Competition Secretary Rob Renke that they wish to withdraw before Thursday 24th April.

Only teams that lose their first match either in the preliminary or first round will be entered into the Consolation, teams that don't play in the Shield are not eligible.

This year, both the preliminary and first round will be played on Wednesdays in May and June. Subsequent rounds in the shield and all rounds of the Consolation are played on Thursdays.

AGM Update

The league AGM was held on Thursday 13th February at Sinclair. League officers would like to express their thanks to the Sinclair club for the use of their premises.

Propositions for rule changes from the officers were:

• 1. As very few teams fill out a result card any longer and  there were a couple of disputes this season, amend League Rule 13 which currently reads: The home captain or representative to insert result of the match on the web site within 48 hours of match being played, all results cards must be checked by both captains as an agreed result and signed by both accordingly, any discrepancies arising from this result must be agreed and resolved at the end of the match.  
     Change to read:
     (a) Home clubs shall ensure the result is entered on the website within 48 hours of the match being completed. The details should then be checked and any discrepancy notified to the Fixture Secretary by E-mail within 72 hours of the match being completed.
     (b) Clubs shall retain all the individual score cards for a further 5 days after a fixture.
     (c) Clubs must present individual score cards for verification within 5 days of being called for by a league officer.
     (d) Where a dispute arises and individual score cards are not provided for verification, the complainant shall have their complaint upheld, with no right of appeal being given to the other team.
     Carried

  2. Delete rule 18 as we no longer hold a November meeting:
     18. All propositions for the AGM  in (January) must be notified to the league secretary 21 days prior to the General Meeting in (November).
     Carried

  3. Competition rule 1 for the Individual Merit currently reads:
     1. All entries must be 60 or over and played in the league during the current season.
     Change to:
     1. All entries must be 60 or over and have played at least four games in the league during the current season.
     Carried

  4. New Competition rule 3 for the Individual Merit to read:
     3. Any player having entered and not turned up to play without notifying the competition secretary will be banned from entering the competition the following year.
     Carried

  5. Competition rule 1 for the Doubles currently reads:
     1.All entries must be 60 or over and played in the league during the current season.
     Change to:
     1.All entries must be 60 or over and have played at least four games in the league during the current season.
     Carried

  6. New Competition rule 3 for the Doubles to read:
     3. Any players having entered and not turned up to play without notifying the competition secretary will be banned from entering the competition the following year.
     Carried

The following rule changes have been proposed by Worfield:

1. Amend current rule 9(b). Current rule reads: 9(b). Each Club with more than one team in the same division shall nominate a list of four players for each team who will only be allowed to play for that team during the season. Any deviation from this rule shall be at the discretion of the Fixture Secretary. Registration of these nominated players must be given to the Fixture Secretary at least 7 days before commence of season.
   Change to read: 9(b). Each Club with more than one team in the same division shall nominate a list of four players for each team who will only be allowed to play for that team during the season. Registration of these nominated players must be given to the Fixture Secretary at least 7 days before commence of season. Any teams not adhering to this rule will forfeit the game(s) involved 21-0.
   Justification: Worfield played a match where a 'nominated' player had moved teams.
   Defeated

2. Add new rule 9(e) to read: No practice to be allowed after the commencement of the match. The existing rule 9(e): Any player breaching rule 9(d) will lose their match 21-0 would be renamed 9(f) and would state: Any player breaching rules 9(d) or 9(e) will lose their match 21-0.
   Justification: Worfield were involved in a match where some of the home players practiced during the 'half time break'
   Carried

Options for structuring the divisions in the light of a number of new teams requesting entry were discussed and it was agreed to add a fifth division in order to accommodate them. Fixture secretary Nigel Booth set a deadline of 1st March for clubs to confirm their entries and suggested the following provisional dates: first fixture Wednesday 9th April, last fixture Wednesday 17th September with two Wednesdays reserved for early rounds of the Charity Shield. Finals day & prize presentation will be on Wednesday 24th September.

All the league officers were reelected en bloc with the only change being John Palmer taking over as Safeguarding Officer from Graham Davies.