Law Change Allows Premier League Clubs To Hire Guns

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday August 13, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

THE Royal NSW Bowling Association will allow marquee and import players to participate in the NSW Premier League competition next year.

Details of the changes have yet to be finalised, but it appears participating clubs will be allowed to field up to three players from non-Premier League clubs from within NSW, together with a maximum of a further three players from either overseas or interstate in their 12-player line-ups.

It has also been decided that the competition will not be played until later in the year than usual, kicking off about September.

The later start to the competition will also allow Premier League players to participate for their clubs in the Royal NSW Bowling Association pennant competitions next year.

? Raymond Terrace will be the host club for the inaugural final series in the revamped NSW Premier League competition next year.

The finals will be held in December, and Raymond Terrace operations manager Jason Stokes said that his club were excited and looking forward to the new format.

"I feel allowing players who are employed at non-Premier League clubs to take part should even up the competition a fair bit," Stokes said.

"Also, the final series being played in December will be good for the club."

? Newcastle District Bowling Association delegates will discuss a number of alterations to rules and regulations covering NDBA competitions at their monthly meeting on August 21.

One of the recommendations that seems certain to draw plenty of discussion given the current climate of high petrol prices is to extend the geographical draw that is currently utilised for the No.6 and No.7 grade Saturday pennant competitions to also cover No.4 and No 5 grades.

It has also been proposed that a geographical draw be untilised for No.3, No.4 and No.5 grades in the midweek competition.

Another interesting proposal is to allow not only section winners but also the runners-up in each section to qualify for the play-offs in both the No.1 and No.2 grade pennant competitions.

? John McCormack is sweeping all before him in his first year at Hamilton North.

McCormack has won the singles, teamed with Mark Casey to take the pairs and combined with Casey, Jeff Callister and Zen Hyndko to claim the fours.

He also remains in contention in the triples after his team of Bill Mattingly and David Croak were successful in their opening-round encounter.

? Promising junior Daniel Hill and evergreen Wayne Hughson overpowered Mark Gauntlett and Brendan White 24-3 in the final of the Mayfield West pairs championship on Sunday.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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