2026
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON A MONDAY EVENING between 6pm and 8pm (this has been changed to accommodate more bowlers to be able to play that may be working or have other commitments during the day) The League will be commencing on Monday 11th May.
The Friendship League is managed by Suzie Grant.
TONY RAPSON FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE – RULES 2026
This year there are six teams. Each member of the winning team will receive a small trophy engraved “League Winner”. In the event of a tie for first place, shot difference will decide the winners. The ‘Tony Rapson Memorial Trophy’, kindly donated by Jean Rapson (a previous member), will be awarded to the highest scoring individual player. Each player will be awarded a plus or minus score after each game according to the number of shots their team wins or loses by. A minimum of five games must be played to qualify for this trophy.
The league will commence Monday, 11th May and run for 15 weeks. Teams will play each other three times. Note new time this year: 6.0 – 8.0 pm. Games will start promptly at 6.0 pm, so please arrive and be ready to go by 5.45. A match will finish after 16 ends.
Winning team receives: – 2 points
Losing team receives: – 0 points
Ties games – each team receives: – 1 point
Abandoned games – each team receives: – 1 point
An abandoned match is any match that has not completed 6 ends. If a match is stopped after 6 ends, the score at that time will be the result of the match. There will be no ‘trial ends’ but only one shot to count on the first two ends.
Matches will be in Triples. In the event a full team is not available, the side with 2 players will bowl 4 woods each and will incur a 33% reduction in their final score. The team with 3 players – players 1 & 2 will play 3 bowls each, the skip will play 2. In the event of both teams having only two players, each player bowls 4 woods (no alteration of score)
Players arriving late may join the match at any time and play in any position. However, a team playing short must mark the scorecard as follows: – circle the ends with only 2 players. The score for these ends will incur a reduction of 33%. The adjustment will be made by the League Secretary at the end of the match, with the total score rounded to the nearest whole number.
If a player causes a ‘no end’, the opposing team scores 1 shot for that end.
Each team will have coloured stickers affixed to their bowls (available from League Secretary).
Team Leaders will be appointed with consent by the League Secretary.
Individuals unable to play on a given date should change dates with another team member and inform their Team Leader immediately.
No players my play more than 12 games out of the 15 scheduled. A breach of this rule will incur a deduction of one point per game over 10 from the team score at the end of the season.
Teams will stay together on subsequent seasons subject to maintaining a balance between gents and ladies; the objective being mixed teams of equal strength. Proposed changes should be kept to a minimum dependent on available players and individuals concerned. The League Secretary will have the final decision.
Members wishing to join the League once the season has started will be put on a waiting list to fill any vacancies that may occur.
FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE TEAMS 2026
| HURRICANES Trevor Carey Heather Harper Martin Newlan Derek Thoroughgood** Maggie White | LANCASTERS Paul Crook Rosemary Edwards* Jim Henderson Ron Mitchell* Jenny Smith Derek Thoroughgood** | MOSQUITOES David Beecher Brian Hume Sue Fullilove*** Julia Newlan*** Ian Wells Chris White |
| MUSTANGS Val Cameron Jim Catterall Jane Firmin Carolyn Gawith Ed Swygart | SPITFIRES Suzi Grant Terry Harper Sonia Hume Steve Hutchinson | WELLINGTONS Allan Chappell Ellen Crowfoot Paul Gawith Phil Gunner Chris Viner |
Key:
Team Leader
* Sharing one player position: playing 8 ends each
**Splitting between 2 teams to help cover absences
***Playing half a season each