A COMPOSITE No 1 and 2 pennant grade consisting of six clubs will be played between former Manning bowling association clubs next year.
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The winning side will then have to play the champion club from the Coffs Harbour section to qualify for the State playoffs.
The leading No 2 club in the composite pointscore will automatically qualify for State.
The No 1 grade will again be controlled by the State match committee. However, the format is a significant change from this year when Manning and Hastings area clubs fought out the southern section, eventually won by Tuncurry Beach. Tuncurry then moved onto the State finals.
The section was part of the Northern conference, taking in clubs from the former Manning association to the Queensland border, played in three sections. This year the three section winners advanced to State. Next year there’ll only be two.
Zone 11 secretary Bruce Elliott said the revamp was a decision by the State body with no input from the zone.
He said the three current No 1 grade clubs, Tuncurry Beach, Forster and Taree West will again be involved in the southern competition in 2017.
He expects Tuncurry, Forster and Pacific Palms to be the No 2 grade clubs involved in the composite, adding that Forster has had an influx of bowlers for next year.
“Six is the preferred number of clubs. If there’s any more it becomes a nightmare with the draw,’’ he said.
Mr Elliott said the Hastings clubs involved in the southern section last year will now play those from the Coffs Harbour area.
He concedes he isn’t a fan of the new format and he isn’t sure why the State match committee has made this decision. Mr Elliott said a composite competition isn’t an ideal set-up.
“All we can do is abide by it now,’’ he said.
Seven clubs were involved in the No 1s this year and Mr Elliott agreed this did cause some problems with scheduling.
“It should have been limited to six,’’ he said.
All pennant grades, from No 1s to 7s, will start on Saturday March 4.
Zone 11 will control the grades from twos to sevens, with the winners qualifying for State.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed a premier league-type competition for the stronger clubs in the State will be in operation from 2018.
These clubs won’t be involved in the State No 1 pennant playoffs.
“This will make it a level playing field for country clubs,’’ Mr Elliott said.
“It would mean that, for example, Tuncurry Beach won’t have to play clubs Cabramatta or St John’s Park in the State playoffs.’’