Bateman and Per Ardua

The Bateman and Per Ardua competitions are knockout, handicap competitions which run throughout the season. Divisions 1-3 play in the Bateman competition and divisions 4-7 in the Per Ardua competition. Both competitions culminate in finals which are played at the end of the season.

Each team is given a handicap of goals which they start each match with. The number of goals allocated as the handicap depends upon a team's position in the league at the start of the competition. This "evens" out the chances of the teams and allows for closer competition. It also gives lower-placed teams a greater opportunity of winning against higher-placed teams.