Lancashire League Handbook 2019

45 SECTION F - MATCH CONDITIONS 1. M.C.C. LAWS All matches must be played under the revised Laws of Cricket (2017 code – 2nd Edition 2019); save as hereafter provided. 2. MATCHES, CHAMPIONS, AND CUP From 2019 onwards, the League Competition shall be divided into 2 divisions. The teams in the higher division shall be referred to as Division 1 and the teams in the lower division as Division 2. In 2019 Divisions 1 and 2 will be comprised of the top 12 Clubs and the lower 12 clubs from the 2018 League table respectively. Thereafter at the end of each season the bottom 2 clubs in Division 1 shall be relegated into Division 2 and the top 2 clubs in Division 2 shall be promoted Division 1. 2.1. The Clubs engaged in each Division of the competition must play home and away matches with each other during the season, and the Club having scored the most points at the end of the season in Division 1 shall be considered the League Champions for that year and shall be entitled to hold for the following season the silver Challenge Cup and the League Championship Flag presented by the League. The Club having scored the most points at the end of the Season in Division 2 will be considered the Division 2 Champions for that year and entitled to hold for the following season the silver Trophy presented by the League. 2.2.1. In the event of two or more Clubs at the head of the Divisional Table(s) having scored the same number of points they must play off for the Championship/Division 2 Championship . The venue for the Play Off shall be the ground of one of the two Clubs involved. This shall be decided by the toss of a coin. 2.2.2. Time of play shall be arranged by the League Committee and the nett gate receipts shall be divided equally between the competing Clubs and the League. 2.2.3. Any two teams in a final tie shall each receive mementoes of equal value and the losing side shall be entitled to hold the Holland Cup (Division 1) or the runners-up trophy (Division 2) for the following season. Each Club engaged in the final tie must make its own arrangements with its Professional and any payment to him must come from the Club’s share of the gate. Should the Club not be able to make a satisfactory arrangement with its Professional, the Executive Committee shall have power, after full enquiry, to grant permission for a suitable specified substitute to be engaged. 2.3. In the event of a play-off for the Championship/Division 2 not being necessary, the Club having scored the next highest number of points to the League/Division 2 Champions shall be entitled to hold the Holland Cup/Runners up Trophy for the following season. If two or more Clubs next in the League Table to the Champions/Division 2 Champions