U14 competition: provisions in case of a withdrawl

Hopefully this will not happen, but if a team withdraws from the U14 competition it obviously has the potential to cause significant problems as it would leave us with 11 teams and a poll with only two teams in it.

One option would be to redraw the competition with two pools of four and one of three, but this would result in significant disruption and confusion that could easily spill over and affect the U17 event.

So - in the event of a withdrawl - the following will happen:

• All matches unaffected by the withdrawl will proceed as planned
• Two teams (the "extra" teams) will be selected at random to play an extra match against one or other of the teams in the affected pool (the "affected" teams).
• In these matches the "affected" teams will be competing for competition points as normal
• The "extra" teams will not gain competition points from these games, but will be eligible for the "good sportmanship" bonus point (see competition rules)
• It is possible that an "extra" team might have to play consecutive games. However, there is some leeway built into the timings which means that we should be able to ensure a 5-10 minute gap between matches if this happens.
• The bowl would be decided by a three team pool, with matches taking place at 13:30, 14:10, and 14:50.
• The plate semi-finals would move forward to 13:50.

Why would the "extra" teams not get competition points in these games?

It would theoretically be possible to award competition points, and then average out a teams points gained from their three games, but in practice this would add a degree of complexity (not to mention fractions of a point) to littel purpose as it would be unlikely to change any final pool positions. And if it DID change positions it would seem unfair - ie. a team might win both its pool games but not win the pool. The "good sportsmanship" bonus would seem to be sufficient.

Why would the "extra" teams want to take part in the games, in that case?

Primarily because most of the girls will be at the event to play as much rugby as possible. Also they do get a bonus point.

The "affected" teams would not be playing the same opponents?

True, but unavoidable. There is a limit to how even handed you can be, the teams will be selected at random, and in practice the game between the two "affected" teams will probably prove decisive anyway.

If more than one team withdraws?

Things become much easier, in fact. Two of the three team groups would be unaffected, and a four team group created from the remainder. Such an arrangement would also result in exactly the same number of games so the semi finals could proceed as planned.

What about the U17 competition?

If a teams withdraws from the U17s the group affected would play on as a three team group, with each team playing the other twice.