Tim Murray has his say on One Blue North- One Blue South

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January 10, 2006
After hearing nothing but complaints about the situation in the First Division Blue (north and south) I thought I would commit my thoughts to writing in the hope of encouraging some feedback and hopefully some sensible discussion to encourage the decision makers at BowlsWA to re-visit this situation.

It is becoming very clear that the original decision to "regionalise" first division is flawed. Very flawed.

In a purely business sense BowlsWA has a responsibility to ensure their customers are happy with their product. Whilst sponsors and partners are very important in the promotion of the game, I submit that BowlsWA most important customers are the players. Without the players we have no game. We have not yet reached the half way point of the season and the players in the first blue division system are already complaining openly that their clubs season is over due to the meaningless of the finals series in this colour. Unlike the other first divisions where finals are meaningful and played with great passion the reality is that in first division blue it makes no difference to finish either second or eighth at the end of the home and away season.

One club (not Sorrento) has advised me that if they do not finish on top but do make the four that they will as a matter of protest not send a side to the finals. For all the decision makers whom may read this article I urge you not to think immediately about the punitive action you would take against such a move but consider how strongly that club (your customer) must feel to take such a drastic step.

I am advised that one of the key reasons to "regionalise" first division was to keep travel to a minimum. I sincerely hope and trust that this had no bearing on the decision. Our country brothers would laugh at us because we are not prepared to travel for forty minutes to play. That would be a drive around the block for them. They drive for several hours (one way) just to participate.

I thought the real reason was to alleviate the practice of four teams dropping out of one gold every year. I strongly agreed with changing the one gold system because it was just too brutal. However, I would have thought a much better strategic move would have been to reduce the number of teams demoted from one gold to the standard two and have the four second division winners play off in a round robin with the top two going into gold.

This would not have caused the problems it has to the first division blue and former gold competition. Another aspect is the impact on first division white. A club having just two poor years could go from one white to second division. Another scenario is what happens if the two clubs demoted from one white are genuinely both north or south clubs. One team will have to be disadvantaged by playing in the other region and for what valid reason? It could even happen this year that Innaloo and Morley fall out. Where will one of those teams be sent to next year.

My suggested solution is that for this season the side finishing on top in both regions is promoted to one white. The sides that finish second to fifth in both regions along with the two relegated one white sides make up one blue. Sides finishing sixth to eighth from both regions with the four promoted second division sides make up one gold. The last two sides in each region are demoted to second division.

Under my proposal, next year we have only two demotions and two promotions in all first divisions and that the four second divisions play off to earn the right to one gold.

This will return the interest back to the competition as teams know they will not finish on top but can still make the final four and have a shot from there.

In conclusion, can I say with the greatest of respect to the administrators at BowlsWA you have not created any interest or promoted the game in one blue north & south under these current arrangements. Please re-visit your original decision. There is no sin in making mistakes there is only sin in not correcting those mistakes if you have the power.


Tim Murray

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