NANSA BOWLS RULES

NANSA BOWLS LEAGUE – MATCH/CUP RULES 

1) ALL MATCHES played in the Evening Pairs and Triples and Afternoon Triples Leagues  and the 3-wood Knock-out Cup will be 18 live ends. All evening league and cup matches will commence as follows: – in May, June, and July at 7pm; in August onwards 6.30pm, Afternoon League matches will commence at 2.00pm or as agreed between Clubs from time to time or when adverse weather is forecast. The safety of players on  the green is paramount. 

Triples league and cup matches will be played in 3 blocks of 3 players. Pairs matches  will be 3 blocks of 2 players. League Scoring: 2 points each block win (draw 1). Match  win 2 points (draw 1), Total 8. Clubs with more than one team in a league must register  players for each team with the Results Secretary before the first game is played.  Additional players can be added at any time provided they are registered before they  play in a game and have not played previously for the other team or another club in  the same league. If a club has 2 or more teams in one division, their fixtures against  each other must be completed by the 30th June. A person can play for more than one Club so long as they are playing in a different division in League Matches, but only  one Club for a competition. 

2) RINKS – All competitions will be played in rinks and the centre of each rink shall be  marked by a stake and a number at each end of the green. Each division of the rink  shall be marked by a narrow strip of suitable material at either end so, if it becomes  necessary, a string can be run between these two markers to ascertain whether cot or  bowl is out of rink. The minimum width of a rink shall be 4 metres and the maximum 6.4  metres. 

3) MAT – For the first cast in any match the bowls mat will be placed with the front  edge not more than 2 metres from the ditch or edge of the green and in direct line with  centre pins in all competitions, but thereafter, provided the green is of sufficient size  to obtain a 19-metre cast, the mat can be placed further from edge. 

4) TOSS – The captains will toss for the whole team, winners to have choice of playing  first or second.

5) PLAY – The leaders of each block must throw the cot after the mat has been placed  in position and the throw must be not less than 19 metres or more than 36 metres  from the front edge of the mat. The cot must stop less than 2 metres from the edge of  the ditch or edge of the green. If the cot stops less than 2 metres from the edge of the green or ditch, it shall be moved to that distance. If the leader in one throw fails to set a cast, i.e. throws under 19 metres or into the ditch or off the green, the opponent then  throws the cot but does not play first. When a length of cast has been determined, the  cot must be placed in the centre of the rink in the direct line with the centre pins. 

5a If any part of the cot or bowl comes to rest on or over the rink dividing line, it  shall be considered dead and removed from the green. If in a league or knock-out  cup match the cot is struck over the dividing line, then the end shall be declared dead  and replayed in the same direction. The cot shall not be stopped by any person but, if  this inadvertently happens while the end is in play, the end will be replayed. 

In all cases the COT IS LIVE IN THE DITCH, the bowls dead: if the cot jumps the ditch or there is no ditch in existence, the cot shall be brought back to within 15cm of  the edge of the green (approximately in line with the mark where it crossed), then the nearest bowls shall be measured within 2 metres of the cot, unless the cot is out of  rink to either side. Only the bowls on the green are live. If nothing is in count the 

end will be a live end with no score.

5b The first two players in a block of three must  remain at the delivery end until the middlemen have finished playing. If a bowl is played  by mistake, then it shall be replaced by the player’s own bowl. When a player has  played before his turn, the opponents may stop the bowls or allow it to remain where  it stops or cause it to be played again in its proper order. If it has moved either cot or  bowls the opponent shall have the power to declare a void end. Any bowl coming to  rest less than 13 metres from the mat shall be removed from the green. Any bowls  more than 2 metres from the cot shall not count. All clubs must provide adequate 2 metre measures or canes, and these must be readily available. If a team is short of players, two players may play three players but will not be allowed to play more than  their usual three woods each, and the order of play shall be lead, lead middle. 

6) PREMATURE END OF MATCHES – ‘Premature end’ may be due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances that could arise. 12 ends minimum must  be played with fewer ends played resulting in a rematch. Captains can agree to play  only 12 ends before the start of the match, in which case the match must end after 12 ends. If the weather is uncertain, the Captains can agree to review the decision after 12 ends have been played, in which case the game can continue if the weather has  improved. If a.match is suspended between 12 and 18 ends all ends played must be counted in the final result. 

7) CUP RULES – CUP GAMES TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER LEAGUE MATCHES. The Triples Cup will be played under the same rules as the League matches but, if at  the end of the second game shots are equal, then an extra end shall be played by all  three rinks. All cup competitions are decided on shots for and against NOT points. The  Triples Cup competition – the first round to be played in May, the second in June, the  third in July and the semi-finals in August, all by mutual agreement between clubs  concerned. All rounds of the competitions to be played on home and away basis,  except finals, which shall be played on a neutral green. 

Clubs which enter teams in the Afternoon League only are eligible to enter Cup  competitions provided that they are willing to play these matches in the evening. 

8) ALL COMPETITIONS – If a player is taken ill on the green whilst participating in a match, he/she cannot be replaced but can return at a later stage if he/she is fit to do so. During his/her absence the two players remaining in the block will not be allowed to bowl the absentee’s woods. (For order of play see 5b) 

9) Any points not covered by these rules and in dispute shall be decided by the  NANSA LEAGUE COMMITTEE and its decision shall be final. 

10) DRESS – Bowls shoes or slips MUST be worn on all greens and it should be noted that some clubs will not allow players to participate who are incorrectly dressed, ie not wearing white/grey (including waterproofs). Coloured shirts are allowed provided clubs register with NCBA

Updated February 2023