Cup Rules

Senior Challenge Cup

1. The competition shall be called The Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Senior Challenge Cup.

2. The competition shall be open annually to teams in Divisions 1 and 2 of the League Championships and to those teams in Division 3 of the League Championships which opt to play in the Senior Challenge Cup.

3. Players who have been nominated on panels for teams that play in Divisions 1-3 of the League Championships are restricted to playing in the Senior Challenge Cup. A player may only play for one team in the Senior Challenge Cup.

4. The draw for each round of the Competition and also for Green shall be by ballot. The Semi-final and Final matches shall be played on neutral greens.

5. Each Club shall play 4 fours and each game shall be 18 ends. In the event of a tie an extra end on each rink shall be played, and should the result again be a tie, an extra end on each rink shall be played and so on until a decision has been obtained.

Where a team has won a match but fails to fulfil any subsequent match in the same competition that team shall be prohibited from entering the competition the following season.

6. If within a period of 15 minutes from the time fixed for the game, a player is absent from one or more teams the game shall proceed but,

1. in the defaulting team, the number of bowls shall be made up by the lead and second players playing three bowls each, and
2. one fourth of the total shots scored by each team comprising three players shall be deducted from their score at the conclusion of the game. Fractions shall be taken into account.

7. Protests and appeals must be received, in writing, by the Honorary General Secretary within 3 working days of the cause of the protest. These shall be dealt with by the General Purposes Committee whose decision shall be final.

8. The winners shall receive 18 badges. Additional badges not exceeding 6 may be purchased for competitors from the Honorary Treasurer.

Junior Challenge Cup

1. The competition shall be called The Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Junior Challenge Cup.

2. The competition shall be open annually to:

• teams in Divisions 4 and 5 of the League Championships
• any team in 12 person Divisions under rule 1 (c) of the Rules Governing League Championship
• to those teams in Division 3 of the League Championships which opt to play in the Junior Challenge Cup.

3. Players who have been nominated on panels for teams that play in Divisions 1 of the League Championships are ineligible to play in the Junior Cup. A player may only play for one team in the Junior Challenge Cup. 

4. A player who has played in the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Senior Cup shall be ineligible to play in the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Junior Cup in the same season.

5. The draw for each round of the Competition and also for Green shall be by ballot. The Semi-final and Final matches shall be played on neutral greens.

6. Each Club shall play 3 fours and each game shall be 18 ends. In the event of a tie an extra end on each rink shall be played, and should the result again be a tie, an extra end on each rink shall be played and so on until a decision has been obtained.

7. Where a team has won a match but fails to fulfil any subsequent match in the same competition that team shall be prohibited from entering the competition the following season. 

8. If within a period of 15 minutes from the time fixed for the game, a player is absent from one or more teams the game shall proceed but,

1. in the defaulting team, the number of bowls shall be made up by the lead and second players playing three bowls each, and
2. one fourth of the total shots scored by each team comprising three players shall be deducted from their score at the conclusion of the game. Fractions shall be taken into account.

9. Protests and appeals must be received, in writing, by the Honorary General Secretary within 3 working days of the cause of the protest. These shall be dealt with by the General Purposes Committee whose decision shall be final.

10. The winners shall receive 15 badges. Additional badges not exceeding 6 may be purchased for competitors from the Honorary Treasurer.

Midweek Challenge Cup

1. The competition shall be called The Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Midweek Challenge Cup.

2.  The competition shall be open annually to teams in Divisions 1 and 2 of the Midweek League. A player may only play for one team in the Midweek Challenge Cup.

3. A player who has played in the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Senior Cup shall be ineligible to play in the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Mid-Week Cup in the same season. Up to a maximum of 8 players who are eligible to play in the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Junior Challenge Cup may also play in the Midweek Challenge Cup.

For the purpose of this rule, if a club has only one team in the League Championships and that team plays in Divisions 1-3, the club may enter a team in the Northern Ireland Private Greens Bowling League Midweek Challenge Cup and use up to a maximum of 8 players who play in the League Championships.

A player who has been named on a panel (starred player) as required under League Championships is not permitted to play in the Midweek Challenge Cup.

4. Rules 4-8 governing the Senior Challenge Cup shall apply to this competition.