IN a bit of a precursor to the first rounds, an update on pennant competition structure is required.

The Far Western Bowls playing area competitions committee has after consultation with clubs set up the draw for Tuesday, technically midweek pennant to be 14 rounds.

Until this time, it has always been 10 rounds finishing by Christmas.

The rounds will be numbered the same as Saturdays and played four days earlier.

Midweek has three divisions with six sides in Division 1, seven and a bye in Division 2 and eight in Division 3.

Saturday has four divisions with eight in the top division, six in Division 2, four in Division 3 and 10 in Division 4.

One may ask why the difference between three and four.

It is basically player availability.

Division 3 has 12 to a side and division four has eight.

The committee tried to negotiate with clubs to have eight in Division 3, but the status quo remained.

Having said that, the committee is thrilled with the co-operation of clubs in facilitating side nominations in both midweek and Saturday, byes were filled, and numbers evened in the higher divisions. 

The Victorian Open, which is a protected event with a week duration, will be played during November having an effect on dates, but the rounds re-join by December.

Semi and preliminary finals will be played in February with grand finals in early March. 

The first midweek division one games will be Memorial v Hamilton, Balmoral v Portland, Grangeburn v Casterton.

Weekend pennant opening round match-ups will be Memorial v Portland, Penshurst v Balmoral last season’s premiers, Hamilton v Grangeburn, and Heywood v Casterton.

Other games

THE final games of the women’s section 60 and Over singles were played at Macarthur on Monday.

In the preliminaries Wendy Kosch lost to Robyn Thomassen and Chick Trotman defeated Barb Moore.

In the final, Trotman defeated Thomassen to claim the second in a row championship in that event.

The draw for the men’s section fours was completed on Monday and from a disappointing eight entries by the closing date, an extension of that time and some lobbying, the number has increased to 12. 

The average before COVID was 17 with 23 the most.

Section 1; J Rappard, M Swan, K Evans, C Tonissen. Section 2; R Hammond, D Pitts, B Bowden, A Rentsch. Section 3; R Angelino, J Wallis, S Campbell, L Gruar.