Mornington Peninsula Twilight Fives
After a roaring success in its first year, the second year of the Peninsula Bowls Division Twilight Series is under way.
Last season’s innovative Mornington Peninsula Twilight Fives competition was held between October and December, but feedback from players suggested a January start when the weather was more conducive to twilight/night games and finishing in March.
Peninsula Bowls Division President Geoff Hooper says: “This suited the organizing committee as we now have in March a full week of finals with Tuesday Pennant, Twilight Series and Saturday Pennant to round off the week.
The eight-week series features matches played on a Wednesday night.
The format adopted for the series is:
* Two games each night with teams of five playing 12 ends of 3 bowl pairs and 2 bowl triples concurrently
* No rolling of the jack by the leads as skips spot the jack
* No players going up to the head
* No umpires (a player from the next rink could be asked to adjudicate if required)
* Games begin each evening at 6.15pm and were completed by 9.30pm
* Competition is run over eight weeks and at the conclusion of the initial rounds the top eight men’s teams and the eight women’s teams compete to determine the winning clubs
* Finals format consists of teams 1-4 playing off for the ‘A’ Division title and teams 5-8 competing for the ‘B’ Division title.
This year, as with last, there are teams from across the Mornington Peninsula and where clubs were unable to put together a team in their own right, they are encouraged to join forces with another club to make up a composite team.
“In addition we invited former Peninsula players who are now playing Metropolitan Pennant to come back to the fold, which they have done,” Mr Hooper says.
The 16 teams of men play the first four weeks at Mt Eliza, whilst the eight teams of women play at Mt Martha then we swap venues for each over the final four weeks.
The teams represented are:
Women: City of Frankston, City of Frankston/Karinga, Mt Martha, Mt Eliza, Beleura, Dromana, Mornington and Mornington Civic.
Men: Fitzroy Peninsula, Hastings, Mornington, Mornington Civic (2), City of Frankston, Dromana, Mt Martha (2), Main Ridge, Capel Sound (Rye, Rosebud, West Rosebud), Mt Eliza (2), Beleura, Belvedere and Somerville.
“We have developed a fast moving game by simple changes to the rules which leads to time saving and the players feeling more involved. They are simple rule changes that work,” Mr Hooper says.
“Peninsula Bowlers are excited by the concept and are keen for the competition to continue growing. Already one Club is looking at these rules to speed up their competitions and provide a new interest for players.
“I thank PBD Director Stan Sliwinski who has coordinated the event on behalf of the Board this season.”
