Pennants draw full of holes

BYES in four of the seven grades for the coming pennant season could have been avoided if smaller clubs had banded together, says Northern Rivers district scribe John Forshaw.

The just-released draw has the No 3s, No 5s and two No 7s each sitting out one round each week in the 10-week season, due to start on March 3.

"At least two clubs were close to fielding sides and could have done so if they'd got together," Forshaw said.

"It would have meant they'd have to have multi-membership but that's not costly. And it would have prevented them from playing championships in their home club, but not all bowlers want to do that."

The matter of what to wear could have been overcome.

"They could play in creams, I would think," Forshaw said. "Surely we at district would look favourably at that."

He stressed that his opinion was given as an onlooker, not as a district official.

District Championships

WITH the district championship season starting on February 4, match committee chairman George Newell warns that players in reserve singles, pairs, triples or fours cannot play pennants in a grade higher than No 5.

"Even if the event starts or finishes before the pennant season starts and the winner then plays in Grade 1, 2, 3 or 4, they will be disqualified," the chairman says.

The district championships will start with the open fours at Alstonville; the reserve fours at Lismore Workers Sports; and the senior fours at Evans Head.

Open, Saturday (skips only): R Garratt v G Higgins; W Cooper V D Foster; G Grady v G Currie; M Anderson v D Ball; D Santarossa v G Burt; R Montague v N Rowland; J Greenhalgh v R Burgess; G Pitts v G Lightfoot.

Reserve, Saturday: B Allen v J Piper; S Dwyer v W Binney.

Senior, Saturday: R McCabe v S Prasad; Sunday: Winner v V Ross; R Pollack v W Wyatt; M Flaherty v J Donadel; O Dardengo v Saturday winner I. Martin v M Harris.

Thanks to East Lismore

OFFICIALS are grateful to East Lismore for the club's co-operation in staging the two-day junior district championships.

In showery conditions, Luke Jones took the singles title from Billy Hounslow 31-9 then they went on to be a team in the pairs.

The rain didn't let up for the final in which Hounslow/Jones edged out Josh Bruggy/Zac Cottram 31-29.

Vale

JACK Gardner, 88, was prominent in bowls administration in Casino, Kyogle and Evans Head, died during the week.

Jack was the men's bowls president at the Casino club before it closed, he moved to Casino RSM where he served on the board.

Retiring to Evans Head 25 years ago, Jack became that club's first patron.

There his auctioneering skills were put to good use in many fund-raising efforts for charities.

Tomorrow

Ballina Junior/Senior Pairs.