These proposals are for Division 3 and 4 Only

Options 1 to 3 for Play-Offs in Div 3 and 4 in 2025

Divisions 3 and 4 in 2025 each contain 8 teams.

This means after playing each other home and away there would be only 14 league games in the regular season, ending 17 August 2025. It is proposed to have two additional play-off games to increase the number of league games to 16 per team in these divisions.

Proposed play-off dates. Two Saturdays selected from three at the end of the season, 23 / 30 August and 6 Sept.

Proposed play-off structure. In each division 1^st place (at end of regular season) plays 2nd place home and away; 3^rd place plays 4^th place home and away; 5^th place plays 6^th place home and away; and 7^th place plays 8^th place home and away, ensuring that the games are likely to be as evenly matched as possible. Three weekends are suggested to allow home and away matches to be arranged bearing in mind the ground shares etc impacting our league. This is Option 1 and the play-off games will have no effect on final league-table position.

Options for play-offs to determine final table positions and performances to count to end of year individual batting and bowling awards. (Options 2 and 3)

• Each play-off pair would determine the final position of 1^st vs 2^nd (3^rd vs 4^th etc etc).
• The play-offs would be used only to determine the final table position within that pair (e.g. the results of the 1^st vs. 2^nd play off would be the sole determinant of who finished 1^st and who finished 2^nd etc etc). Moving up or down more than 1 place would not be possible based on the play-offs.
• Thus is a normal season with 2 up and 2 down from each division the play-offs would have no effect on promotion or relegation just the final table order.
• Points in the play-off games would be based on exactly the same system as the regular season games. Rained off games will have no effect as usual under the average points system we use in the SDL.
• Option 2: the play-off games are the sole determinant of the positions of the teams within each pair.
• Option 3: the play-off games are combined with the points at the end of the regular season to determine the final average points for each member of a play-off pair and thus decide final within-pair positions.

Clubs with sides in Divisions 3 and 4 will be asked to vote (one vote per club) for one of the above 3 options, and the most popular choice will be used.

Option 4 for extra fixtures in Divisions 3 and 4

Rather than have extra fixtures as detailed in Options 1 2 or 3, Tadworth CC have suggested a separate cup and plate competition on 3 or 4 dates over 5 weeks 8, 9, 17, 18 and 19.

The precise details/dates will need checking for feasibility after the AGM but there are two options that should guarantee each club at least two extra fixtures.

Clubs with sides in Div3 and Div 4 will be asked to consider option 4 in their vote of preferences. Choice will between 4a and 4b will have to be based on fixture/ground feasibility.

Option 4a

Merge the 16 clubs from Div 3 and Div 4 to 16 sides who play off over 4 dates to give a cup winner and a plate winner

Comp	Round 1	Quarters	Semis	Final
Cup	16 sides	8 winning sides from cup	4 sides	2 sides
Plate	n/a	8 losing side from cup	4 sides	2 sides

Option 4b

Separate plate and cups for each division

Comp	Quarters	Semis	Final
Div 3 Cup	8 sides	4 winning sides	2 sides
Div 3 Plate	n/a	4 losing sides	2 sides
Div 4 Cup	8 sides	4 winning sides	2 sides
Div 4 Plate	n/a	4 losing sides	2 sides

These cup competitions will be win/lose 40 over matches but we will require rules on the minimum length of match to be allowed in case of bad weather (eg perhaps 10 overs a side rather than the usual 20 a side in the main divisions) and proposals for decision when game rained off completely (e.g. 5-ball bowl out then toss of a coin)

In the event of a tie between options, and no clubs being prepared to change their preferences so as to obtain an outright winner, then the new executive committee will choose which option we go with in 2025.

Alan Pickering
Fixtures Secretary
The Surrey Downs League

this page was last reviewed and updated 25 February 2025