Fixtures released for new format 2007-08 HKCA Saturday League
The HKCA has released draft fixtures for the 2007-08 HKCA Saturday League which is scheduled to start on 1st September 2007.
Hong Kong Cricket Association
21-Aug-2007
The final fixtures for the 2007-08 HKCA Saturday League have now been posted on the HKCA website. Full fixtures by round and by team are now available. The final fixtures are also available for download via the following link.
Download: FINAL Saturday League Fixtures 2007-08
The fixtures reflect a new format for the HKCA Saturday League, which has been modified to accommodate the loss of the Po Kong Village Road ground at the end of November 2007. The new format involves the previous 18-team league being split into two evenly balanced pools of 9 teams each. Each league team will be assured at least ten matches with a finals series played at the conclusion of the pool matches.
An explanation of the new format is shown below. Rules for the new league will be issued shortly.
Explanation of New Saturday League Format
The team games were determined taking two pools of 9 teams to play each other in 8 Games. The divisions were split from the final team placings of the 2006-07 season (i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 etc in Division A and then 2, 4, 6, 8 etc in Division B.). There was then a cross over between the two divisions to allow the number of games to reach 10, to ensure that there isn't a problem with the utilisation of grounds there has been some configuration to ensure ground availability is optimised.
The finals work as follows:
Final Eight
First, Second, Third and Fourth receive the double-chance, for example if they lose in week one of the finals they play the following week, where as should they win they receive direct entry to the Semi Finals.
Week one
- 1st Qualifying Final: 1st seed hosts 4th seed
- 2nd Qualifying Final: 2nd seed hosts 3rd seed
- 1st Elimination Final: 5th seed hosts 8th seed
- 2nd Elimination Final: 6th seed hosts 7th seed
The 8 finalists are split into two groups for the opening week of the Finals Series. The top four teams play the two Qualifying Finals.
The winners get a bye through to Week Three of the tournament, while the losers get home games in Week Two.
The bottom four teams play the two Elimination Finals, where the winners advance to Week Two games and the losers' are eliminated.
Week two
- 1st Semi-final: Loser of 1st QF hosts winner of 1st EF
- 2nd Semi-final: Loser of 2nd QF hosts winner of 2nd EF
Starting with this week, all matches are knockout rounds.
Week three
- 1st Preliminary Final: Winner of 1st QF hosts winner of 2nd SF
- 2nd Preliminary Final: Winner of 2nd QF hosts winner of 1st SF
Week four
Grand Final: Winners of 2 Preliminary Final meet in the Grand Final