Competitions Group
All-Clubs end-of-season meeting
Wednesday 20th April2016
Shelford RFC, 7pm
Present:John Mackay (Chairman), Roger Pierson (Hon. Secretary),Richard Craddock, Alasdair Bovaird (Cambridgeshire RU) and representatives from the following Clubs: Shelford, Cambridge, Haverhill, Wendens Ambo, Cantabrigian, Cambourne, Ely, Saffron Walden, Cambridgeshire RU
Apologiesfor absence–Wisbech
Not attending: Newmarket, Sawston, St.Ives, Cottenham Renegades
Introduction from JPM – Welcome to all; consultation proposals on L8 as a result of comments from some of our Clubs and to take account of the RFU Game Review process, which allowed us to review L8 to regionalise. Threshold set at 67% of eligible Clubs to reflect the substance of the proposal and to satisfy democracy. This has fallen. Ely promoted to LDN NE3. EC1 has one vacancy (11 teams this season). We could consider a 2/3 Team League, similar to Zoo League, but review during next season.
Richard Craddock: Final fixtures in progress; late call-offs still occur – rearrangements preferable to cancellations, but parity of fixture/player level is important. Club comments on deadline for cancellation will be sought. Sawston will probably accept promotion, Shelford 4 (EC3W) cannot achieve promotion, as their 3 are in the League above. Cambourne will decline promotion.
Improvements/Suggestions for next season: (Open forum)
- Call-off time EC3 W – needs to take account of ability of disadvantaged Club finding another fixture – 22.00 Thursday by e-mail to Club and Fixture Secretary; needs a high degree of honesty/realism. (carried).
- EC 2 Fixture Cards to be submitted to LS for validation –should we enforce the Regs. More harshly? This raises the importance of increasing the numbers of Players registered down to third team level.
- Communication of outcomes on complaints should be ‘good practice’.
- Number of replacements should be increased or allowed with discussion between Captains with good notice before match day.Should this be applied to ‘one-team’ Clubs?
AoB: RP referred to the need to support the Women’s and Girls game, and that we will look to
provide a structure for playing/development next season – Clubs will be circulated.
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