RVBA RESPONDS TO CLUBS WISH LIST

by Barry Sparkman

The RVBA have responded to a post pennant survey of all Clubs and will adopt a new finals system for the Metropolitan Pennant Competition for 2008/09. An overwhelming desire to have more input to pennant finals will see Sectional Semi Finals & Finals played on the first weekend following Round 18. This will also mean that play will take place on the Saturday and Sunday of each of the three weekends following the home and away matches. The format will be for the top four sides in every section to compete in a semi final and possibly a final match to determine which side will play off in the subsequent divisional finals. For Divisions 1 - 8 the sectional finalists will be subject to an open draw which will determine the order of play for the Division Finals. The two finalists in Division 1 will be promoted to Premier Division. In Division 2 the eight sectional final winners will be promoted to Division 1. In Divisions 3-8 the sixteen sectional finalists in each division will be promoted to the next higher division. From my point off view this innovation will make the long Pennant season a more competitive outcome with four times as many players being able to participate in at least one pennant final to gain valuable experience. In my case, not having participated in a finals match in over twenty years of pennant, this system would have provided many more opportunities to participate in a finals series. Based on the past season results this club would have participated in at least three, maybe more, sectional pennant finals matches.

I commend the RVBA for this timely contribution to our Metropolitan Pennant Competition.    

To make things clearer the revamped pennant program for the coming season will be:-

Saturday 4 October 2008:             Round 1.

Saturday 20 December 2008:         Round 12.

Saturday 17 January 2009:            Round 13.

Saturday 21 February 2009:           Round 18. (Now changed from Sunday 22 February)

Saturday 28 February 2009:           Sectional Semi-Finals (Div 1 – 8). To be played at home green of Clubs finishing 1st & 2nd in the Section.

Sunday 1 March 2009:                  Sectional Finals (Div 1 – 8). To be played on a neutral green selected from a Club in the Section.

Saturday 7 March 2009:                Divisional Semi-Finals (Div 1).*

Divisional Quarter-Finals (Divs 2 – 8).*

Sunday 8 March 2009:                  Divisional Semi-Finals (Divs 2 – 8).*

Saturday 14 March 2009:              Divisional Grand Finals (Divs 1 – 8).*

Sunday 15 March 2009:                Premier Division Grand Final.*

                                                * To be played on neutral greens nominated by RVBA.

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Please note that the views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the RVBA Section Committee or of the Glen Waverley Bowls Club Inc.

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