Metropolitan Pennant encompasses five Bowls Regions within the city of Melbourne and is administered by Bowls Victoria. The season runs between October to March yearly, comprising of midweek and weekend competitions.
2022/23 Season Information
Updated September 14, 2022:
Div 8 Sec 1
Updated September 14, 2022:
Div 2 Sec 6, Div 3 Sec 6, Div 5 Sec 4, Div 6 Sec 6 & Div 8 Sec 5
Updated September 16, 2022:
Div 7 Sec 5
Updated September 28, 2022:
Div 7 Sec 1, Div 9 Sec 1 & Div 9 Sec 2
Updated September 16, 2022:
6-a-side Sec 1
Updated September 26, 2022:
Div 1 Sec 2, Div 2 Sec 3, Div 4 Sec 3, Div 4 Sec 5, Div 5 Sec 1, Div 5 Sec 5, Div 6 Sec 4, 6-a-side Sec 3 & 6-a-side Sec 4
Updated September 28, 2022:
Div 5 Sec 5, Div 6 Sec 2, 6-a-side Sec 2 & 6-a-side Sec 3
Weekend & Midweek
WEEKEND
Premier – 18 rounds (played over 16 weeks). 1 Section x 10. 16 players.
Division 1 – 18 rounds (played over 16 weeks). 4 x Sections x 10. 16 players.
Divisions 2 to 6 – 14 rounds (played over 14 weeks). 8 Sections x 8. 16 players.
(Breakdown of Division numbers will be dependent upon number of entries received).
Divisions 7 to 8 – 14 rounds (played over 14 weeks). 8 Sections x 8. 12 players.
(Breakdown of Division numbers will be dependent upon the number of entries received).
MIDWEEK
Divisions 1 to 6 – 14 rounds (played over 14 weeks). 8 Section x 8. 12 players.
(Breakdown of Division numbers will be dependent upon the number of entries received).
6-a-Side – 14 rounds (played over 14 weeks). 8 in a Section. 6 players.
(Number of Sections will be dependent upon the number of entries received).
7-a-side Spring
Played on Thursdays. 7 players. 6 rounds over 6 weeks (plus 2 weeks of finals).
4 in a section (number of sections will be dependent upon the number of entries received).
Friday Night 6’s – New Competition
Due to dwindling entry numbers in the Saturday morning 6-a-side over the last few years, the Saturday morning competition will not run for the 22/23 season.
It will instead be replaced with a new Friday night ‘Super 6’s’ competition, aiming to attract new participants to the sport. The competition format will be 2 rinks of triples, playing 2 x games of 9 ends, with a 7.00pm start time.
The competition will be split into Spring (pre-Christmas) and Summer (post-Christmas) seasons, with 6 rounds (plus finals) played during each season (dependant on entries). This new competition will be separate to the Weekend Pennant Competition, meaning players can play in both if desired.
For any clubs wanting to enter that do not have the required lighting facilities, please contact BV for assistance in organising a side.
Pre-Season 9’s
WEEKEND
9 players x 3 weeks – 3 Divisions, 4 sides in a section.
MIDWEEK
9 players x 3 weeks – 2 Divisions, 4 sides in a section.
Premier & Division 1 Restructure for 2022/23 & 2023/24
To align Prem & Division 1 with the rest of the Metropolitan competition, both divisions will move to a 14-week season, from the 2023/24 season.
From the 2023/24 season, the Metropolitan Premier League will consist of eight (8) teams. A new ‘Metropolitan Premier 2’ section will be created, also consisting of eight (8) teams. Division 1 will consist of four (4) sections of eight (8) teams. This change will enable two levels of open competition across the Metropolitan area, showcasing some of the best talent in the state. Divisions will consist of Localised Draws.
For the 2022/23 season, Division 1 is an Open Draw. This is to allow all clubs equal opportunity to qualify for the restructured Premier Divisions in 2023/24.
| 2022/23 PROMOTION & RELEGATION | |
| Premier League | Division 1 |
| The two (2) sides finishing 9th and 10th will be relegated into the new Metropolitan Premier 2 section for the 2023/24 season. The side finishing 8th will play off against the Division 1 Grand Final winner for the final spot in Metropolitan Premier League for the 2023/24 season. The runner-up of the play-off will be placed in Metropolitan Premier 2 for the 2023/24 season. | The Division 1 Grand Final winner will play off against the 8th place Metropolitan Premier League side for a spot in Metropolitan Premier League for the 2023/24 season. The runner-up of the play-off will be placed in Metropolitan Premier 2 for the 2023/24 season. The Division 1 runner up, plus the two (2) Division 1 losing Semi-Finalists will be placed in Metropolitan Premier 2 for the 2023/24 season. The four (4) section Semi-Finalists will play off for 2 spots in Metropolitan Premier 2 section for the 2023/24 season. The bottom two (2) sides in each section, plus the next two (2) least performing sides across all sections will be relegated into Division 2 for the 2023/24 season. The eight (8) section winners from Division 2 will be promoted to Division 1 for the 2023/24 season. |
| 2023/24 PROMOTION & RELEGATION | ||
| Premier League | Premier 2 | Division 1 |
| Bottom side in Premier relegated to Premier 2. 7th Place Premier side will play off against the runner-up of Premier 2 for a spot in Premier the following season. Runner-up plays in Premier 2 the following season. | Premier 2 winner promoted to Premier League. Premier 2 runner-up will play off against 7th place Premier team for spot in Premier the following season. Runner-up plays in Premier 2 the following season. 8th and 7th place Premier 2 sides relegated to Division 1. | The two Division 1 Grand Finalists promoted to Premier 2. |
* No club can have more than 1 side in Premier/Premier 2 combined.
Promotion & Relegation
Weekend Division 2 & below, & Midweek for 2022/23 & beyond
| WEEKEND | ||
| Division 2 | Division 3 – 6 | Division 7 – 8 |
| 8 Section winners promoted to Division 1. Bottom 2 in each Section relegated to Division 3. Plus the next two (2) worst performing sides across all sections will be relegated (2022/23 season only). | Section Winners and Runners Up promoted. Bottom 2 in each section relegated (No relegation in Division 6). Plus the next two (2) worst performing sides across all sections will be relegated (2022/23 season only). | No promotion from Division 7 due to different number of players (12-a-side v 16-a-side). Bottom 2 in each section relegated from Division 7. Section winners and runners-up promoted from Division 8. |
| MIDWEEK | ||
| Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 & below |
| Bottom 2 in each section relegated to Division 2. | Section winners promoted. Bottom 2 in each section relegated. | Section winners and runners-up promoted. Bottom 2 in each section relegated. |
2022/23 Season Dates
Premier Division & Division 1
| Round 1 | October 15 |
| Round 2 | October 22 |
| Round 3 | October 29 |
| Round 4 | November 5 |
| Round 5 | November 12 |
| Henselite Victorian Open | November 18 – 25 |
| Round 6 | November 26 |
| Round 7 | December 3 |
| Round 8 | December 4 |
| Round 9 | December 10 |
| Round 10 | December 17 |
| Holiday Break | |
| Round 11 | January 14 |
| Round 12 | January 21 |
| Round 13 | January 28 |
| Round 14 | February 4 |
| Round 15 | February 5 |
| Round 16 | February 11 |
| Round 17 | February 18 |
| Round 18 | February 25 |
| Finals Game 1 | March 4 |
| Finals Game 2 | March 5 (Sunday) |
| Division 1 Semi-Final | March 11 |
| Premier League Play-off (Winner of Div 1 GF v 8th Place Premier Div) | March 17 |
| Grand Final | March 12 (Sunday) |
Weekend Divisions 2 & below
| Round 1 | October 15 |
| Round 2 | October 22 |
| Round 3 | October 29 |
| Round 4 | November 5 |
| Round 5 | November 12 |
| Henselite Victorian Open | November 18 – 25 |
| Round 6 | November 26 |
| Round 7 | December 3 |
| Round 8 | December 10 |
| Round 9 | December 17 |
| Holiday Break | |
| Round 10 | January 14 |
| Round 11 | January 21 |
| Round 12 | January 28 |
| Round 13 | February 4 |
| Round 14 | February 11 |
| Finals Week 1 | February 18 & 19 |
| Finals Week 2 | February 25 & 26 |
| Finals Week 3 | March 4 & 5 |
Midweek Divisions
| Round 1 | October 11 |
| Round 2 | October 18 |
| Round 3 | October 25 |
| Round 4 | November 2 |
| Round 5 | November 8 |
| Round 6 | November 15 |
| Henselite Victorian Open | November 18 – 25 |
| Round 7 | November 29 |
| Round 8 | December 6 |
| Round 9 | December 13 |
| Holiday Break | |
| Round 10 | January 17 |
| Round 11 | January 24 |
| Round 12 | January 31 |
| Round 13 | February 7 |
| Round 14 | February 14 |
| Finals Week 1 | February 21 & 23 |
| Finals Week 2 | February 28 & March 2 |
| Finals Week 3 | March 7 & 9 |
Thursday 7-a-side
| Round 1 | October 6 |
| Round 2 | October 13 |
| Round 3 | October 20 |
| Round 4 | October 27 |
| Round 5 | November 3 |
| Round 6 | November 10 |
| Finals Week 1 | November 17 |
| Henselite Victorian Open | November 18 – 25 |
| Finals Week 2 | December 1 |
Friday Night 6’s
| Round 1 | October 14 |
| Round 2 | October 21 |
| Round 3 | October 28 |
| Round 4 | November 4 |
| Round 5 | November 11 |
| Henselite Victorian Open | November 18 – 25 |
| Round 6 | December 2 |
| Finals Week 1 | December 9 |
| Finals Week 2 | December 16 |
Pre-season 9’s
| Weekend (Saturdays) | Midweek (Tuesdays) | |
| Round 1 | September 3 | September 6 |
| Round 2 | September 10 | September 13 |
| Round 3 | September 17 | September 20 |
2022/23 Season Timeline
| July 1 – July 31 | Pennant entries open (inc. pre-season 9’s). |
| August 15 | Draft Draw and Draft Conditions of Play released. |
| August 15 – 28 | Draft Draw & Draft Conditions of Play open for feedback from clubs. |
| August 22 | Pre-Season 9’s Final Draw released. |
| September 12 | Final Pennant Draw and Conditions of Play released. |
Need further assistance?
If you have any questions or need assistance with the Metropolitan Pennant competition, please email metropennant@bowlsvic.org.au or phone the Competitions & Events department on (03) 9861 7100 > Ext. 1 – Pennant, events & competitions.
