May 12, 2011
Previous BowlsWA Boards had ducked an important issue, that being of whether or not any Club should be allowed to have two sides in Premier League.
They chose to allow it to occur
Scarborough and Melville were clubs in the past who have fielded two sides each in Premier League. What if both Clubs were strong enough at the same time to field two sides in Premier League. That is something I think those previous boards prayed would never happen, luckily it didn't happen.
It is quite possible in the W.A Premier League that two Clubs could field two sides under current rules in the 2012-13 season, those sides being Osborne Park and Doubleview; both Clubs won their way into One White division this season and are quite capable of finishing first and second this coming season to win promotion.
It needs to be clarified NOW. The new BowlsWA Board should act at the earliest opportunity to discuss this possible scenario, given that it IS quite possible. Once a decision is made, that decision should be made public immediately !!
The Victorians do not allow Premier League clubs to have more than one side in the PL competition.
The Victorian Bowling Association has collared this particular problem. In the season just finished Altone Bowling Club have a Premier League side and a 1st division side (they don't have One White). 1st Division won the Flag this year. They were NOT promoted; the side that finished second won the promotion.
Is this a good situation for the health of the sport in the W.A Premier League level that currently a club can have two sides play in the Premier League?
Personally I do not believe it is, the last thing the sport needs is for the power of the competition belonging to one or two Clubs whoever they could be and even more so with a possible three rink competiton.
The competition needs to be spread among all Clubs to promote the sport....
I am dead set against any Club having two sides in Premier League, having experienced playing with a Club (Bedford) which had two sides in One White.
I saw how much of an advantage Bedford had over the other 8 sides.
Bedford won promotion to the Premier League that season; however I am not saying they didn't deserve to win promotion that season, they in fact did deserve the promotion.
Why would any club that is trying to win promotion or win a Premier League flag want to take points of itself playing against their other side in the two games they meet during the season.
It leaves the door open for manipulation; accusations could be made that the B side had lost deliberately, thus giving the A side points that it needed, perhaps to stay in the four or prevent relegation: that is something the sport does not need.
I know of no other sport that has two sides in its top grade competition.
VOTE
A POSSIBLE TABLE IN SEASON 2012-13 SHOWING THE TWO CLUBS AND POSSIBLE POSITIONS
| Played | Wins | Loss | Draw | SF | SA | % | Points | |
| Osborne Pk A | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 793 | 724 | 109.53% | 53.5 |
| Victoria Pk | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 858 | 766 | 112.01% | 53 |
| Mosman | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 788 | 771 | 102.20% | 45 |
| Doubleview A | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 669 | 816 | 81.99% | 24 |
| Stirling | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 783 | 783 | 100.00% | 40.5 |
| Sth Perth | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 767 | 797 | 96.24% | 40 |
| Doubleview B | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 791 | 769 | 102.86% | 38 |
| Cambridge | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 783 | 760 | 103.03% | 37.5 |
| Osborne Pk B | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 741 | 813 | 91.14% | 24 |
| Wanneroo | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 790 | 760 | 103.95% | 44.5 |