www.bostonbuzz.co.uk

The prime platform for Boston and District sports news

BOSTON WINTER

DOMINOES LEAGUE

All the up-to-date news from the Boston Winter Dominoes League for 2006-2007

For the 2006-2007 season, all four divisions have been separately sponsored by local businesses.

The league committee expresses thanks to all parties concerned

BOSTON AND DISTRICT WINTER DOMINOES LEAGUE

Rules and regulations (revised)

A1: All matches to be played in pairs in a team of six players.

A2: Players must be at least 18 years old to play. Each pair shall play three legs each comprising a total of 121 holes (twice round a standard, non-curved, peg board).

A3: Players to select dominoes in rotation with shuffler to select last. A pairing who have both played all their dominoes in a hand will receive one point for being “out of wood.”

A4: Players cannot chip out on their own drop. There are no points for the lowest domino left after the game.

A5: Any player revoking or misplaying a domino during a hand will forfeit (go back) eight holes and any points gained from such a move must be deducted.

A6: Players to draw for each leg’s first drop. After each hand, all unplayed dominoes to be laid face up on table. All dominoes used in league competitions to be plain backed.

A7: All matches must be played in accordance with that season’s fixture list, specifically on the designated Thursday nights. Two tables to start by 9pm, the other no later than 9.30pm. No team to play with fewer than four players. No match can be split over different nights.

A8: Postponing matches: Any team wishing to postpone a fixture must give at least 24 hours’ notice to their opponents and inform the league secretary and offer a minimum of three alternative dates for the match to be restaged, again with the secretary informed of the new date. All postponed matches MUST BE PLAYED within four calendar weeks of the original postponement otherwise the league committee will decide a date. Failure by a team to adhere to this rule will see the match forfeited in favour of the opposing side (5-0 result, no bonus point).

A9: Any team not turning up on the night of the allotted fixture will forfeit the match, again a 5-0 result being awarded to the opposition (no bonus point awarded). Any team failing to turn up for three matches in one season will be expelled from the league, their record expunged and all registered players suspended until the conclusion of that season.

A10: All matches to be completed by the final Thursday of the season. Strictly no fixtures to remain outstanding after this date. Any which do will be declared null and void.

A11: Results of matches to be sent to the designated league headquarters no later than 2pm on the Saturday immediately following Thursday matches. Failure to submit results sheets on time will lead to a one-point deduction for each offence. Team captains should not rely on opposing captains to deliver both sheets.

A12: League fixtures will be contested on a home and away basis against each other competing team in the respective divisions. In addition to the match result, there will be one bonus point added for the team that wins the match.

A13: Teams to register players and submit completed registration sheet to league HQ with results sheets from first match of the season. Failure to submit registration sheet will result in a one-point deduction for each week that the sheet is not handed in. Players unregistered at the start of season can sign for a team at any stage of the season, provided he/she is not already registered with another team. Any new signing made during the season must be applied on the reverse of the result sheet (full name and signature) for the match in that the player initially appeared. Having played for one team, a player cannot sign for another during the duration of the season.

A14: Winners of each division will be decided on the number of points accumulated during the season. Teams finishing level on points will play-off for championship or runners-up positions at a venue to be decided by the league committee. Teams finishing level in potential demotion positions will be separated by: 1) head-to-head results; or if level, 2) most wins during league season; or if still level, 3) most 9-0, 8-1, 7-2 etc results achieved during the season, whichever is the highest.

A15: It is at the discretion of any pub landlord or club steward as to whether any player, already barred from the premises, will be permitted to play dominoes at the venue in question. Team captains should be aware of any potential problems in this area. Matches cannot be transferred.

A16: Any complaints with regard to the conditions of dominoes and playing equipment should be made to the opposing captain and in writing to the secretary within 48 hours of the match.

B1: Pairs competitions: A substitute is allowed to replace a named player in the first round in which the pair competes. But any such player must be registered and once a substitute has been used, he/she must continue for the duration of the pair’s involvement in the competition. Such a change must also be notified to the league. The originally named player cannot return to the pairing.

C1: Sunday Team Knockout Trophy: This competition shall be played on Sunday lunchtimes only (start 12.30pm), each round up to the final on a two-legged alternate home and away basis.  If, after the two matches, scores are level each pair will play one additional leg (121 holes). The final of this competition will be played at the Arbor Club. There will be cash prizes for the winners and runners-up. A shield will also be presented to the winners.

D1: Matters not covered by these rules will be dealt with by the committee, whose decision will be final.

D2: Any member other than anyone on the established list of officers applying for a higher position on the committee must have previously been on the committee and served for at least a year. Seven days’ notice should be given of any proposals to the committee to enable such topics to be included on the agenda for the league’s annual meeting.

Committee officers elected for 2006-2007 are:

Chairman, Colin Broughton; secretary, Keith Halliday; treasurer Jim Lawson; committee, Rob Singleton, John Halliday and Malc Bramley.