• The Dress Code is relaxed, except that footwear must be proprietary bowling shoes or sandals.
• The number of ends to be played in each game will be as follows: 2 Bowl Pairs = 10 ends.
• 2 bowls per player in 2 Bowl Pairs.
• 2 dead ends are allowed per team per match; the 3rd and any subsequent dead ends will be 3 shots away and the end will count except for the last end of a match where it will be 3 shots away and the end replayed.
• Players may visit the head at any time.
• Players must indicate both verbally and by raising their arm, to notify all players on their mat and those on neighbouring mats, whenever they intend to play a running bowl. This is to ensure everyone’s safety.
• Players should play in adherence with the SMPT Code of Conduct. Suspected collusion or other unsporting behaviour may result in immediate expulsion from the competition, and may affect acceptance in future SMPT events.
• Any disputes must be raised with the Competition Organisers at the time. In this, and in all other matters, the Competition Organisers’ decision is final and binding.
• Both teams are responsible for keeping their own scorecards and ensuring that both scorecards are the same.
• Scorecards must be signed by both teams at the end of a game.
• Measuring may be done by players, umpires or the Competition Organisers.
• In the Group Stages 3 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw.
• Group positions will be decided by:
  • Points
  • Relative head to head results (results against those tied on the same points)
  • Total shot difference
  • Shots for
  • If all the above are equal a 3 end play-off will determine the positions. See ‘Tie-break Rules’ below.
• A team who for whatever reason misses one group game, will still be allowed to continue in the event. The opponents in the missed game will be awarded with the win, 3 points and 1 shot for each of the scheduled number of ends for games at the event e.g. 10 end pairs games would be a 10 v 0 win.
• A team who for whatever reason misses two or more group games will be withdrawn from the event. All teams in the group will be awarded with the win, 3 points and 1 shot for each of the scheduled number of ends for games at the event e.g. 10 end pairs would be a 10 v 0 win. Any results recorded against the withdrawn team prior to withdrawal will not be counted.

Tie-break Rules

• The SMPT’s best of 3 end tie-break will be used in Knockout rounds to decide which team progresses when a game finishes as a draw. It will also be used to determine the positions in a group if teams finish equal on all of the following: points, relative head to head results (results against those tied on the same points), total shot difference and shots for.
• 1 bowl per player.
• Toss to start – winner has the choice of taking the jack on 1st & 3rd ends, or 2nd end.
• Closest bowl to the jack wins the end.
• First team to win 2 ends wins the match.
• Touchers are not marked. Any bowl entering the ditch area will be removed.
• Each team may cause one dead end in the tie-break without penalty; the end to be replayed. A team causing a 2nd dead end will automatically lose that end.
• A tied end will count as 0.5 ends to each team.
• If, after 3 ends the score is 1.5 ends each, a one end sudden death play-off will take place. Toss to start.

All rules will be ESMBA, apart from those listed above.