Governing Body Rejects Proposal To Change Mat Rule

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday February 13, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

A PROPOSAL by the Royal NSW Bowling Association preventing skippers from giving the mat away after winning an end has been rejected by World Bowls.

The rule giving skippers the choice after winning an end of either retaining the mat or giving it away for the following end has caused much consternation in NSW since its introduction last year.

The major concern has been that a lot of games have been decided by whoever got the better run.

Some argue the old rule also made for a more tactical game, which in turn provided more enjoyment for grassroots players.

A further motion from the RNSWBA to have the minimum length of an end reduced from 23 metres was also defeated.

? Talented 17-year-old Daniel Hill (Mayfield West) has been called into the Possibles side for the Newcastle district representative trial at Water Board on Sunday.

Hill won the Heaton Birmingham Gardens major singles championship last year before then being beaten in a semi-final of the Newcastle District Champion of Club Champions singles title.

He will play lead for Doug Howard (Hamilton), who is also a late inclusion in the side following the withdrawal of George Dawes (Kahibah).

? Ron Shepherd, Tony Falcocchio, Lui Manzi and Joe Suprano, after leading 14-3, were forced to an extra end before beating Ken Thuell, Bob Jackson, Peter Hills and Bill Bromfield 19-15 in a quarter-final of the Kahibah fours championship.

They now meet Greg Sattler and his team of Cal Burke, Bob Oliver who is substituting for George Dawes and Gery Young.

In the second semi, Damien Robb, Owen Jefferson, Kevin Ryan and Howard Smith do battle with Max Lyons, Wayne Gillett, Ian Price and Ian Papworth.

? Brad Jarvis celebrated his move from Belmont Sporties this season when he skipped his quartet of Ron Weinert, Laurie Wright and Stephen McPhillips to a 27-10 victory over Anthony Ellenkamp, Cliff Baus, Scott Baus and Michael Abel in the Swansea fours championship final.

? Toronto Workers skipper Neil Dell and his quartet of Alan Brooks, Geoff Wade and Peter Redman finished with four wins and a plus margin of 45 shots to win the Fred Watson fours at Soldiers Point.

? Mick Beesley sent a ripple though his opposition when he filled in for Bayview Village in a recent No.7-grade pennant trial.

Beesley retired from the representative scene last year after having played for NSW Reserves and 155 times for Newcastle and now lives at the Village.

During the match an opponent was overheard saying, "This bloke don't go too bad for a No.7 grader."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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