Interleague 2024 - Format
Towards the end of 2018 it was agreed by the GLCPA committee (following representation by Interleague capt's) to return to the all-teams-play-each-other-once format in 2019, reverting back from the 2-group system.
As there were 14 teams competing in 2019 calendar, several additional fixture dates were added, amounting to 13 fixture dates over 11 months!
With hindsight, this number of fixtures proved to be a couple too many for a number of participating teams.
There are 13 teams participating in the 2020 season so a few alternative options were considered, with the following format to be adopted in 2020 (This format was never fully tested as the 2020 season was cancelled following 2 fixtures):
Two groups of seven teams were drawn out in the first phase. The draw was seeded.
The top 4 teams in each group made up the upper group in the second phase, whilst the bottom 3 teams in each group made up the lower group.
Any points gained against a team that doesn’t end up in the same group as your team will be expunged.
So, the second phase league table would be adjusted before the second phase matches begin.
Teams were to play all teams in their second phase group that they hadn’t already played.
By the end of the second phase all teams would have played all teams in their own group once.
Upper group teams were to play for 1st-7th places whilst the lower group teams were to play for 8th-13th places.
The seeded draw was based on finishing positions from 2019.
Top 4 teams in pot A, middle 6 teams in pot B and bottom 4 teams in pot C.
The draw took place at the captains meeting towards the end of January 2020.
2 teams were drawn from pot A, 3 teams from pot B and 2 teams from pot C - these made up Group A and the remaining teams made up Group B.
As the 2019 team not participating in the 2020 season was in 5th position then there was a blank space in pot B, and this was subsequently drawn into Group B
This meant that in the first phase of the season Group A were to have 7 fixture weeks, with each team having a Bye.
Group B will have 5 fixture weeks and no Byes
For an easy-to-follow chart of this new system, see New Format Flow-Chart - hopefully this will help with any queries.
As there were 14 teams competing in 2019 calendar, several additional fixture dates were added, amounting to 13 fixture dates over 11 months!
With hindsight, this number of fixtures proved to be a couple too many for a number of participating teams.
There are 13 teams participating in the 2020 season so a few alternative options were considered, with the following format to be adopted in 2020 (This format was never fully tested as the 2020 season was cancelled following 2 fixtures):
Two groups of seven teams were drawn out in the first phase. The draw was seeded.
The top 4 teams in each group made up the upper group in the second phase, whilst the bottom 3 teams in each group made up the lower group.
Any points gained against a team that doesn’t end up in the same group as your team will be expunged.
So, the second phase league table would be adjusted before the second phase matches begin.
Teams were to play all teams in their second phase group that they hadn’t already played.
By the end of the second phase all teams would have played all teams in their own group once.
Upper group teams were to play for 1st-7th places whilst the lower group teams were to play for 8th-13th places.
The seeded draw was based on finishing positions from 2019.
Top 4 teams in pot A, middle 6 teams in pot B and bottom 4 teams in pot C.
The draw took place at the captains meeting towards the end of January 2020.
2 teams were drawn from pot A, 3 teams from pot B and 2 teams from pot C - these made up Group A and the remaining teams made up Group B.
As the 2019 team not participating in the 2020 season was in 5th position then there was a blank space in pot B, and this was subsequently drawn into Group B
This meant that in the first phase of the season Group A were to have 7 fixture weeks, with each team having a Bye.
Group B will have 5 fixture weeks and no Byes
For an easy-to-follow chart of this new system, see New Format Flow-Chart - hopefully this will help with any queries.