For many who played their last match a couple of weeks or more ago it may seem strange that we are still talking about finishing off the leagues. As matters stand 13 out of the 16 leagues have winners, with three promotion and six relegation spots still to be filled.
The Open Competitions Committee [OCC} meets next week and will have a number of decisions to make about the outstanding placings. At a later stage it will have to decide on promotion and relegation for next year based on the final placing from this season [which is the primary influence] but also taking into account gaps caused by clubs dropping teams, requests from clubs to drop down league divisions for a variety of reasons, extra teams being added to complete eight team leagues or new teams / clubs entered in league competitions [at whatever level]. They also have to have regard to the input from the Grounds Committee on the standard of facilities, in particular in cases where a team is being considered for promotion. A lot of difficult decisions.
But to return to the immediate concern, the completion of the 2016 season. There are two matches today but neither appears to have a bearing on the determination of league titles and may not even matter for promotion / relegation [depending on cards not yet submitted]. There are no other matches officially scheduled.
Leaving aside umpires reports and scorecards for past cup matches, there are [as of yesterday] 13 outstanding scorecards for league matches. All are needed [and must be completed and submitted] but some are more needed than others. The overall position looks like this:
There are a number of scorecards to be submitted in D4 that are needed to determine the second relegation spot.
We still don’t have a winner in D6 or a team for second promotion. With matches to be re-fixed but not scheduled - this may end up on the OCC’s agenda.
In D7 there is one scorecard outstanding but it does not have a bearing on the promotion / relegation outcomes. The issue here is a refix that could determine the second relegation spot that has not taken place. Over to OCC.
D8 may well just be waiting confirmation by OCC - there is one match that is due to be refixed and a number that do not appear to be needed as they will not affect table outcomes.
In D9 the issue of the title has not been finalised and [at least on paper] depends on the outcome of an outstanding match. Over to the OCC I expect.
In D10 there are outstanding scorecards but these do not appear to have a bearing on the second promotion spot. There are a lot of games that are down to be refixed - OCC
The winner of D12 yet to be confirmed - where one unplayed match could have a bearing on title. A decision from the OCC.
D14 has only seven teams [so there may be only one team going down]. Outstanding scorecards should determine that.