Title
The competition shall be called "The SOVEREIGN HEALTH CARE PRIESTLEY CUP ".

Playing Conditions.
The playing conditions  shall be determined by the Management Board and circulated annually to all clubs.

Trophy and Awards
The trophy, The Priestley Cup, shall be awarded to the club winning the competition, and suitable prizes shall be awarded to the players and to the scorer of each side, making a total of 13 mementoes to each team. Certificates of Merit or suitable plaques shall be awarded to the winners in the Priestley Cup and the Priestley Shield . The trophy shall be held by the winning club until the first Saturday in July of the following year. The Club Secretary shall be responsible for its safe return.
A Cup and Memento shall be awarded to the player adjudged to be "The Man of the Match" in the final round.
Engraving of the Cup and Man of the Match trophy is the responsibility of the club, and is to be carried out by the League’s nominated company.
(Penalties for late returns apply. as Trophy rules 1 & 2 ).

Accounts
The accounts of the competition shall be audited and a balance sheet  presented at the A.G.M.

Application of League Rules
All points not otherwise dealt with in the Cup Rules shall be in accordance with the League Rules.

Committee Decision to be Final
All decisions made by the  Management Board in the interpretation of all rules, or on other matters concerning the business of the Priestley Cup  shall be final and binding on all parties.

Competition Arrangements for 2009.
 (Conducted in accordance  with  MCC Laws of Cricket except for matters provided for in these Competition Arrangements.)

All Cup and Shield matches, except for the finals, will commence at 1pm. weather conditions permitting,

All rounds, up to and including the Semi Finals, of the 2009 Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup and Shield  will be allocated two separate days for a result to be obtained. These days will be known as “Scheduled Day”  (SD) and “Reserve Day”.(RD). Matches should consist of a minimum of 25 overs per side. Wherever possible play should take place on the “Scheduled Day”.

The Umpires will be the sole judges of whether or not play can take place at all times.

Each side shall bat a maximum of 50 six ball overs, and the side scoring most runs shall be deemed the winners.
No bowler may bowl more than ten overs in an innings.

Delayed Starts 
Overs will be deducted at the rate of 2 overs  for every 6 minutes  (or part thereof ) lost.
Both teams should have the same opportunity to bat an equal number of overs.

Reduced Over matches
See Appendices 1,2 & 3.
 
2009 - First Round
“Scheduled Day” – Sun.3rd May  - Commence 1pm
a)  Match commences (min 25 overs) but unfinished
– continue on “Reserve Day” 1pm
b) No play possible – commence “Reserve Day” 1pm
“Reserve Day “ – Monday, May 4– 1pm start (if poss.)
Continue where finished previous day and complete match. The pitch may be cut &  rolled for not more than 10 minutes  in the presence of the umpires, before continuation of play, but the outfield must remain uncut unless the  Management Board decides otherwise.
c) Start match – (min 25 overs).
 If game interrupted and no further play possible before completion
 of first innings – ‘bowl out’.
d) If first innings completed and game interrupted with no further
play possible before 10 overs of the second innings have been
completed – ‘bowl out’.
e) First innings completed:
Second innings. - AFTER 10 overs or more have been  bowled, if game is interrupted with no further play possible –
The winner will be the team with the better average run rate after the first 10 overs of each innings.
If average run rates are identical at the 10 over stage, the average will be recalculated at end of eight overs, then six overs, four overs and two overs.
f)   No play possible on “Reserve Day” – ‘bowl out’.

All Other Rounds & Semi Finals
There is no continuation facility so b), c), d), e), and f) will apply.
The “Reserve Day” will be the first available Sunday following the Scheduled Day
2nd round –     SD Sun May 17;  RD Sun May 31.
3rd round –     SD Sun June 21; RD Sun June 28.
Semi Finals – SD Sun July 12;  RD Sun July 19.
Where play is NOT possible on either day a result will be determined by a ‘bowl out’ (see Appendix 3.) on the RESERVE DAY.

Tied Matches.
In the event of the scores being level at the end of play, the team losing the least number of wickets shall be declared the winners.
If this does not produce a winner, then the team with the highest run rate over the first 10 overs of their innings shall be the winners.
If this also fails to produce a result then comparisons shall be made every 5 overs thereafter until a winner is determined.

Tea Interval
There will be an interval, not exceeding 25 minutes in all games.

Where any dispute may arise the Management Board’’s Cup& Shield sub committee’s decision will be final.

GENERAL
Players' Qualifications
Any registered player shall be eligible to play in the first round .Players must have played at least one league match prior to the second round to be eligible for that and subsequent rounds.
 In the case of bona-fide juniors. registered by the club prior to the season, or full time students registered the previous season and at the beginning of the current season permission must be obtained from the  Management Board in order that they may participate in subsequent rounds.
A player who has played in a Priestley Shield Match in any round  shall not play in a Priestley Cup Match in the corresponding round or Final.

Nomination of Teams.
Names of selected players must be stated on the official tem cards signed by the captain(s)and handed to the Umpire(s)for retention before tossing for innings.
Once teams have been exchanged no changes to either side will be allowed.
MCC Laws regarding the use of substitutes will apply

 Leg Side Deliveries. (Does not apply in Shield matches.)
Any leg side delivery which does not come into contact with the bat or any part of the batsman’s person shall be called “WIDE”.

Fielding restrictions –   Will apply in all Cup & Shield matches I See also Appendix 2.)
At the instant of delivery, for the first 15 overs of each innings only 2 fieldsmen are permitted to be outside the area known as “the fielding circle”. For the remainder of each innings a minimum of 4 (four) fieldsmen (plus the bowler & wicket-keeper) must be within the “fielding circle”
In the event of an infringement the Umpire shall call “NO BALL”
The “fielding circle” is – an area bounded by two semi-circles centred on each middle stump (each with a radius of 30 yards) and joined by a parallel line on each side of the pitch. The fielding circle should be marked by painted white ’dots’ at five yard intervals, each ‘dot’ to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measuring seven inches in diameter.

Admission to Games
For Sunday games, spectators may be invited to purchase Programmes or Tickets of Admission for all Cup-ties (excepting the Final) to the following maximum prices: Adults £3, Children and Senior Citizens £1.50

Match Expenses
In all rounds except the Final, Umpires expenses will be shared equally by both competing clubs.
 In the event of any surplus funds from gross gate receipts (i.e. monies received from the Sale of Programmes etc), less Umpires' Fees, printing and advertising, this surplus shall be divided equally between the two competing Clubs.
Representatives from competing Clubs shall not be refused attendance when the gross gate receipts, or proceeds from the sale of programmes are counted. Instances of a Club refusing to allow this privilege must be reported to the Chief Executive.

Umpires' Expenses
Umpires shall receive £30 expenses for all matches.
In addition, where Umpires are ”in attendance “ on a ‘scheduled day’ and a result is not achieved,  they will receive £5 travel expenses.
When the match is concluded on the reserve day the match expenses of £30 will be paid in full.

MATCH REPORTING – UP TO & INCL. Semi Finals
.A designated person of the Home Club shall be responsible for ensuring that the correct details are sent by text and later emailed to the appropriate contact source.
TEXT the following details to 07534 210769
Score with number.of wickets lost.
Number of Overs bowled.
Batsmen scoring 30 runs or more.
Bowler taking 3 or more wickets.

ALL CUP MATCHES. - Min. 4  texts.)
1st Inns.    –   after 25 overs & at tea interval.
2ndInns.  – after 25 overs and NO LATER than 30 minutes after conclusion of game.
In weather affected games – updated details asap.

Send ALL texts to 07534 210769
Failure to text on any occasion  will incur a £5.00 fine.

MATCH REPORT SHEETS
To be completed electronically and emailed to;- results@bradfordcricketleague.org
NO LATER than 12 noon the day following the game
The Reports must be complete and accurate, and include the first & second names of ALL players of both teams irrespective of whether there has been any play or not. Failure to comply  will incur a fine of £ 10

CUP FINAL
Admission: Charges for admission to the Cup Final shall be determined by the
Management Board at the first opportune time. The net receipts of the Cup and Shield Finals shall be allocated as follows: Each finalist 50 per cent No club shall play a match on the day of the cup final, or hold or sanction a counter attraction on its ground except any Bradford Junior League play-off or final. Where a Final date has to be rearranged, any counter attraction by the club concerned which has already previously been notified to the Board will be allowed to take place on the rearranged date. If the final tie is not concluded on the first day, it shall be resumed at a time and date to be fixed by the available members of the  Management Board. The Umpires in consultation with members of the  Management Board shall decide whether weather conditions are favourable for commencing play on the first day.

Match Ball
Match balls for the Final will be provided by the League.

Umpires' Expenses
Umpires shall receive a memento similar to those awarded to the players of the winning team.

Collections During Final
In the event of any collections for batting or bowling performances taking place on grounds or enclosures during the final match, the whole amount collected shall be divided: 50 per cent to the Bradford League Contingencies Fund, and 50 per cent divided equally among the players who have earned the collections.
 
Players' Teas in Final Round
Thirteen teas will be provided to the players, reserve and scorer of each of the competing teams, the cost to be defrayed out of gate receipts, or from the sale of Programmes.

Match Reporting
Both Clubs will submit a Match Report Sheet, completed electronically, by email NO LATER than 24 hours after the completion of the match to
results@bradfordcricketleague.org