Canvassing the options to give all clubs the chance to host Batavia Pennant finals

There seems to be growing support for the 2022-23 Batavia Pennant finals to return to its roots and revert to the all-club rotation last used in 2002. In 2003, Mullewa moved from the original two-green venue in the middle of town to the current clubhouse and playing surface up at the Recreation Centre. This ended the capacity to hold the grand final series which requires two greens. Move forward to 2021 and Northampton’s new green installation has seen them join Mullewa as a one-green venue within the Batavia Bowling League. This makes two of the five participating clubs unable to conduct a pennant finals series because of player capacity. With the synthetic surfaces becoming more common throughout Australia, perhaps a conversation is required to revamp the series to enable both the Rams and the Saints the opportunity to run the premier event on the local bowling calendar. The current system needs two greens for the opening Saturday afternoon for the first elimination and second semifinal matches, with the Sunday play reducing to one green for the morning preliminary final and then the afternoon’s season decider. The revamp has multiple opportunities for the Batavia League to widen participation. The scenario in which the side who finishes the home-and-away series on top of the table in either division hosts the second semifinal with the first semifinal is played on the greens of the third-placed finisher seems to hold some support. Another, and perhaps less appetising option, is that all matches are be played at neutral venues, therefore negating any side’s home green advantage. The second and final day for the preliminary and grand final matches, clubs need just one green for the morning and afternoon fixtures, so both Northampton and Mullewa venues fit that criteria and then can join the existing rotation system with Denison, Wonthella and Geraldton. The sport is at a stage where all clubs are in need of rejuvenating and this could well be a great starting point. The alteration to the first and second semifinals gives incentive to club sides to strive more for a position to host a home fixture in both first and second division. If taken up it could mean that a possible four different clubs host day one of the finals with the rotational club hosting of the gran final day for the qualifying six sides in the premiership window. The scenario would avail all five Batavia venues to conduct the association’s biggest day, return the game to all league clubs and in turn showcase lawn bowls to all communities in the region.