Umpire Tony Hamer keeps a close eye on Farsley's Lorenzo Ingram at the 2010 Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final

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

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 2011
For all rounds, up to and including the semi finals, of the 2011 Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup and Shield ties will be completed on the scheduled day.
All matches, except for the finals, will commence at 1pm, weather conditions permitting.

Umpires Expenses
Umpires shall receive £35 for all cup and shield matches with the exception of the final. For the final they will receive a memento similar to those awarded to the winning side. Teas will be provided for umpires at all cup and shield  matches.

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

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

Bowling
No bowler may bowl more than ten overs in an innings. Fifty overs must be bowled in 3 hrs 10 mins (or pro rata) in line with league matches. Any infringement will be reported to the Management where sanctions (which may include disqualification) will be imposed.

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”.

Batting
Each side shall bat an equal number of overs ( min.10 overs each – max. 50 overs each)

Fielding Restrictions – Will apply in all cup and shield matches. See also Appendix 2.)
At the instant of delivery, for the first 15 overs of each innings only two 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 & wicketkeeper) must be within the “fielding circle”
In the event of an infringement either 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.

Reduced Over matches - See Appendices 1,2 & 3

Result
Where both sides bat an equal number of overs, the side scoring most runs shall be deemed the winners.
In the event of weather preventing a match from being completed (i.e. both sides do not have equal overs to bat) a result will be obtained by a calculation of  the overall faster scoring rate per over.
e.g. Side A 250 a.o. in 49.2 overs - 250/50 =  5 runs/over
               B 120-5 in 19.5 overs – 120/20 = 6 runs/over.
Side B win

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.

No Play Possible
In the event of “no play possible” a result should be obtained by a’ bowl out’ as detailed in Appendix 3 Where conditions prevent a ‘bowl out’ the result will be decided by the  toss of a coin by a Match Official, choice to be made by the away captain.

[It is intended to introduce the D/L method to determine targets & match result as provided by Total Scorer  in the 2012 season.]
        
Nomination of Teams.
Names of selected players must be stated on the official team cards (2 copies) signed by the captain(s) and handed to the Umpire(s) for retention before tossing for innings.  second copy to scorer ) Once teams have been exchanged, no changes to either side will be allowed. MCC Laws regarding the use of substitutes will apply.
 
Tea Interval
There will be an interval, not exceeding 25 minutes in all games.

PRIESTLEY CUP FINAL
If no play is possible on “Final” day, the match will commence on Monday August 29 at noon.
 
If play has commenced and then abandoned for the day the game will recommence from the point of termination on Monday, August 29 at noon.

If the Final tie cannot reach a conclusion on the second day, it shall be resumed at a time and date to be fixed by the members of the  Management
Board available in consultation with the umpires, captains and members of the ground personnel.

Match Ball
Match balls for the two  Finals will be provided by the League. 

PRIESTLEY SHIELD FINAL
If no play is possible, or the match abandoned before a conclusion has been reached. The umpires ,captains, ground personnel and members of the board, will consult in order to rearrange a suitable alternative match day.

APPENDIX 1  -  Reduced Over Matches

Bowlers’ Restrictions
                                                   not more
26  -  30 over match      than 6 overs per bowler

31  -  35                                                   7

36  -  40                                                   8

41  -  45                                                   9

46  -  50                                                 10

APPENDIX 2  -  Reduced Overs Matches

Fielding Restrictions

Total overs                Number of overs fielding
In inning                      restrictions apply

25  -  30                                      First   5 overs

31  -  40                                     First  10 overs

41  -  50                                    First  15 overs

APPENDIX 3   
 
‘Bowl out’ Procedure.
(Carried out under the supervision of the Umpires.)

In consultation with club officials/ groundstaff ,this may take place on the designated pitch or an adjacent one, edge of outfield, artificial pitch or indoor facility, if available.

The captains will nominate five players from each side who will bowl one  delivery alternatively at 3 wickets pitched 22 yards from a single stump.
Underarm deliveries are not allowed. The ball must bounce once  in front of the  popping crease. Failure to achieve this counts as one delivery.
A no ball will count as a delivery. The same ball will be used by both teams.

No person is allowed to stand in front of the wickets to act as a target for the bowlers.

The side that bowls down the wickets most times is the winner.

If “wickets down” are level after the first 10 deliveries the same players will continue to bowl alternatively one ball each to achieve a result on a sudden death basis.

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”. This rule applies only to the Cup and not the Shield.

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.

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

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