NSW State Pennants have been cancelled for 2020, but Illawarra Zone 16 will consider playing a knockout pennants tournament for all seven grades among a raft of changes and proposals for the sport.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last Friday, representatives from all 16 NSW zones held a teleconference with Bowls NSW CEO Greg Helm and Head of Sport and Operations David Ellis to discuss the return of bowls in NSW.
Harry Herring and Brian Gibson represented Illawarra on the panel, with each zone allowed to submit questions. Following that event, a revised state program was issued to zones to cover the rest of 2020 and a draft program for 2021, which will be open to comment from Zone 16 clubs through to the end of July. The most significant ruling for all bowlers is that, as expected, there will be no State Pennants Finals for 2020, with some zones having not started their season before COVID-19 shut down the sport in March.
Illawarra Zone 16 did manage three rounds before the shutdown and having purchased $4000 worth of pennant caps and flags for distribution to winners and runners-up, it is now considering a knockout style pennants tournament in August.
The competition would be run along the lines of the annual Reg Evans/Kerry Neave Night Fours but be open to all seven grades and held over possibly two to three weeks with a knockout format.
Zone 16 management recognise the proposal will not suit all clubs and teams, and is keen to discuss it with clubs to come up with the best model.
Any pennants comp would also have to comply with government protocols regarding safe distancing and player safely including numbers allowed on the green, which could be a factor in whether a fours-style tournament is allowed to go ahead. But points accrued in this year's pennant comp would be null and void with the new event open to as many teams as possible, although Zone 16 recognise that many bowlers may not be available in August.
Meanwhile, Bowls NSW plans to proceed with the NSW State Championships and have assigned October 9-16 as the playing dates.
That leaves Zone 16 to complete its zone championships from August when it is hoped bowls will return as part of the resumption of community sport. Bowls is categorised as part of community sport, like local football, Aussie rules and most junior sport. Allowing for the fast-changing rules regarding community sport, it is hoped that in August, Zone 16 can begin to complete its one championships, in which only the singles has yet to start and many events are completed.
Many Zone 16 clubs have already commenced roll-ups and practice bowls in accordance with government protocols. It is hoped in July they can begin playing their own club championships to quality for 2020 zone champion of champion events.
Bowls Australia is keen for the Australian Championships to be played in 2020 plus the Champion of Club Champion Singles and Pairs scheduled for November and December.
One controversial proposal in the early draft for the 2021 program is not starting the NSW Pennants season until July, instead of the normal start in late February or March.
With some zones in NSW not commencing its 2020 season due to COVID-19, it would leave bowlers not playing pennants for basically two years.
Illawarra Zone 16 did hold three rounds but a break until July 2021 for the start of next pennants season will be contentious, and Zone 16 is keen to get the views of clubs in the coming weeks.
It is expected that pennant gradings for 2021 will follow the grading held of 2020, which should make it easier for clubs to plan their teams for the 2021 season.
Corrimal awake sleeping giant
No Illawarra club is looking forward to the return of bowls more than Corrimal BC, who are rebuilding on and off the green in 2020.
Corrimal are the most successful club in Illawarra bowls with a record 20 Grade One pennant flags, but after a number of lean years, they're now threatening to become a force again. The 2020 pennants season was ripped apart by COVID-19, with Corrimal among the clubs most impacted after building momentum in the early rounds. "'The final round we played, the double header Sunday in March our four teams all won and that has not happened for a very long time,'' Corrimal spokesman Pete Bonsor said.
''We beat Warilla at home in the [Grade] Ones and it was huge statement for us to show the rest of the competition that we're back among the top sides again.''
Corrimal have also signed three leading players for its Grade One side in 2020 with Guy Vozza returning from Wiseman Park, plus Mal Lyons joining from Towradgi and Dean Aitken from Kiama BC. And while all bowls clubs have been shut due to COVID-19, Corrimal has been undergoing a massive refurbishment which will deliver members and visitors a new facility when phase one is completed in early June.
''It's pretty exciting. We're basically building a new club,'' Bonsor said.
Region consider schedule changes
Illawarra Zone 16 will seek feedback from their clubs regarding radical changes to the NSW Pennants competition for 2021.
A draft proposal from Bowls NSW would have the 2021 season begin on July 10 next year. The comp would run through to the end of September and include some double headers.
The proposal is still only a draft form but is a major change from the normal NSW Pennants season which begins in February and March and feature State Finals in early August.
Zone 16 spokesman Brian Gibson is keen to get the views of clubs and bowlers over a much later start to pennants in 2021.
''I'll be sending out a survey to the clubs to ask them what they think of a later start to pennants and other things in the 2021 program,'' Gibson said.
Clubs and bowlers will be able to give their views through to the end of July following which Zone 16 will deliver its feedback to Bowls NSW for consideration.
While you're with us the Illawarra Mercury is offering sport readers 20% off an annual digital subscription. Sign up to stay up to date with all the local sports you love for only $3.00 a week. Terms and conditions apply.
