Law Of The Week – The Jack – Burton & Puddington Bowls Club

Question What happens if the jack goes off when the Leader is trying to set a mark? Answer The jack is returned and given to the opponent who tries to set a mark. The Leader then bowls their first wood. If the opponent sends the jack off, it is returned and given to the Leader. It goes back and forth until someone sets a mark! Question What happens if a jack is struck by another jack or wood when the Leader is trying to set a mark? Answer The jack is returned and the Leader tries again. Question What happens if two jacks end up near one another? Answer The jack which stops first remains. The other jack is returned. Question What happens if, after I’ve bowled the jack, another wood gets in the land or they start measuring long tapes across the land? Answer You can get the jack back to set the mark again if you have not yet delivered your first wood. Question What happens if the jack goes off the green during the end? Answer Scenario 1 The jack is knocked off by a wood. A Dead End. The footer should be placed at least one metre in from the place where the jack went off and the end is played again as if nothing had happened. Scenario 2 When Jayne McKay came to talk with us about the Laws Of The Game she outlined a scenario where a jack was perched on the edge of the green and fell off into the gutter of its own accord as a wood was bowled. This seemed highly unlikely to all of us but it actually happened during the Ladies League match this past Wednesday! A Dead End. The end is played again BUT the player whose wood was in motion when the jack fell off the green forfeits their bowl. The Laws say you must not deliver a wood until after the jack or your opponent’s bowl has come to a complete stop. Question What is the sequence of bowling when a wood is forfeit and the end is replayed? Answer Leader’s first wood is forfeit When the end begins again, the Leader bowls the jack followed by their remaining wood. The opponent then bowls their two woods. Opponent’s first wood is forfeit The Leader bowls the jack and both their woods and then the opponent bowls their remaining wood.

References From the Laws Of The Game

Jacks must be black or yellow and conform to BCGBA regulations. See Appendix A in the Laws Of The Game.

4.3 If the jack in its course is impeded in any way, or stops on the land of other players, it must under all circumstances be returned. If two jacks are bowled near the same place, the one that is last stationary must be returned. The same player to have another attempt at setting a mark.

4.7 If the opponent then fails to set a mark, the leader shall have another attempt and so on, alternately, until a mark has been set by one of them. The original leader to play the first bowl.

4.8 When the leader, having had an attempt to set a mark, is prevented from delivering the first bowl through a tape on the green during the measure of a mark from another end, or if the first bowl is impeded, the jack may be returned for the leader to have another attempt at setting a mark.

4.9 The first attempt to set a new mark, after a dead end, shall be made by the same player who set the mark in the dead end. Any dead bowls are reinstated for the new end. Any forfeited bowls are not reinstated for the replayed end.

5.8 If the leader’s first bowl has been forfeited, the leader’s remaining bowl shall be played, followed by the opponent playing two bowls consecutively.

5.9 If the first bowl of the leader’s opponent has been forfeited, the leader’s remaining bowl shall be played, followed by the opponent playing the last bowl.

6.1 A bowl played while the jack or preceding bowl is in motion shall be forfeited.

7.1.a If, as a result of a lawfully played bowl, the jack is disturbed and goes off the green, or is prevented from going off by resting against anything at the edge or in the channel, that end shall be dead. If, after a legitimate mark has been set, the jack goes off the green, the footer should be placed one metre in from the point where the jack left the green, the same player setting the mark. Any dead bowls are reinstated for the new end. Any forfeited bowls are not reinstated for the replayed end.