A CLUTTERED calendar of events at state and zone level has forced Manning Bowling Association to reduce next year’s pennant season from 10 weeks to seven.
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This means three weekends will be put aside for double headers, with games to be played on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons or Saturdays and Sundays.
“The calendar is just that packed now,’’ district secretary Bruce Elliott explained.
“The state releases their calendar of events first and then it’s the zone’s turn. We’re last on the food chain. There’s just no room to manoeuvre anymore as we try and fit everything in.’’
Mr Elliott assured the decision wasn’t made lightly or in haste.
“And it wasn’t made to look after one or two clubs,’’ he added.
Mr Elliott said players are reluctant to start the pennant season any earlier than late February or early March because of the heat factor.
So to ensure the season is finished in time before teams have to head to the zone playoffs the competition had to be reduced. He said Anzac Day falling on a Saturday next year is another factor that had to be taken into account.
Mr Elliot added the reaction so far from clubs has generally been favourable.
“Pacific Palms is one of our smallest clubs and they’ve said go for it,’’ he said.
“Taree West suggested two weekends of double headers instead of three. Forster and Harrington are both in favour. I’ve spoken to both Gloucester and Taree Railway and answered questions that they asked. Bulahdelah has no objection.
“I would say at this stage 60 per cent of our bowlers are in favour.’’
Mr Elliott pointed out that clubs usually have to play double headers during the season when rain intervenes. However, he said a motion will be put to delegates at the next meeting whereby washed out games will be postponed until the end of the season-proper and will only be played if the result has an impact on teams being elevated or relegated the following year.
While he agrees the protracted season increases the workload on teams, Mr Elliott pointed out that it will also free up three Saturdays for players and clubs.
“Clubs can put on days to get the social players back,’’ he said.
“And it will also give them more time to get club championships played.’’
Mr Elliott also believes clubs should make greater use of Friday evenings, particularly early in the season.
He added that the district match committee will also be flexible regarding the time for starting matches on Sundays.
“The match committee has never rejected an application from a club to play on Friday nights,’’ he said.
