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ROUND 11 RESULTS IMPACTED BY INCLEMENT

SATURDAY PENNANTS 6.1.24

On Saturday 6th January– being round 11 of pennants – the umpires and team managers at every venue (except Lenswood and Mt. Barker) prematurely abandoned play.

There were no matches scheduled at Hahndorf.

At every other venue, matches were called off by the acting umpire well prior to 2.30pm – and in direct non-compliance with the HBA Pennant and Match Rules 2.7 and 2.8.

The HBA Committee received no advice that any visiting club or team manager challenged any umpires’ decision on the day at any venue – with most (if not all) admitting that they encouraged abandonment of play on the basis of the condition of the greens.

From Committee enquiries, no club, team manager, or umpire appears to have checked the rules on 6.1.24, nor do they assert that they were aware of the rules, at the time the decisions were made to abandon play.

DETERMINATION BY HBA COMMITTEE

Accordingly, the HBA Committee met on 8th January 2024 to determine what action should be taken.

Some consideration was given to simply excusing all breaches and awarding split points in every match – however this would involve us ignoring the HBA rules, and attracting further criticism from the clubs who did comply.

Moreover, the Committee were aware of the precedent set in 2022.  A Saturday Division I match between Lobethal and Woodside at Lobethal on 22.1.22 was prematurely abandoned – and the HBA Committee elected to give no points to either side.  Both sides appealed the decision, and a full delegates meeting was held on 21.2.22 to hear the appeal.

Of the 17 delegates present, it was only the delegates from Lobethal and Woodside who voted in favour of the appeal – NO OTHER CLUBS SUPPORTED THE APPEALS – and they were both dismissed.

Given that the clubs themselves had shown support for upholding this rule, the HBA Committee made a unanimous decision to split points for those matches at Lenswood and Mt. Barker on 6.1.24  – and award no points for any other abandoned match.

Each club was advised of their entitlement to appeal.

APPEALS

The Committee has now recieved letters/emails of appeal from five clubs – Hahndorf, Oakbank, Gumeracha, Uraidla, and Lobethal – as well as an appeal from Roger Faehrmann, purporting to be in his own right, as an umpire.

For the most part, the contents of these appeals are unconvincing:

  • Hahndorf were visiting Uraidla in Division I.  They have sent photos of the Uraidla green underwater at 1.25pm – but have provided no advice to suggest that their team manager or the umpire of the day checked the rules as to abandonment of play, or that any attempt was made to counsel the home umpire about the decision.
  • Oakbank’s appeal refers to the circumstances on 9.12.23 when the HBA Committee were in a position to abandon play across the Association pursuant to rule 2.3.b – but that is irrelevant given that no such decision was made on 6.1.24, and weather conditions across the Association were quite different.  Oakbank also rely upon HBA rule 2.14 regarding splitting of points for abandoned matches – but don’t explain why we should follow that rule, but not follow the other rules regarding abandonment of play at 2.30pm?  In a second email, they have suggested that the umpire was told play would not be possible on the Oakbank green until at least 3.00pm, and as that time is after 2.30pm, they have complied with the rules – a very uncompelling argument.  Oakbank were also one of the clubs in 2022 who voted for Lobethal and Woodside to lose their points in the same circumstances.
  • Gumeracha did not have a home umpire available, and apparently relied upon a visiting umpire – presumably from Woodside.  They allege that the umpires should be counselled for their non- compliance, but that the clubs themselves should not suffer any penalty.  They encourage change of the rules – but again proffer no reason as why we can ignore the existing rules.
  • Uraidla club simply claim that it is unfair that they be penalised given that no other matches proceeded – and that their green was completely unplayable.  Nonetheless, they make no reference to the actual rules, or whether their umpire had regard to the rules.
  • Lobethal’s appeal contains a number of points, but the Committee considered them disingenuous:
  • They dispute that we have power to take points from a club – however this power is clearly conferred by sections 12.2.7 and 12.2.9 of the Constitution.
  • They seek to rely upon the principle of “common sense” – however:
  • common sense would have been to simply wait until 2.30pm to comply with the rules, and
    • the introduction to the Laws of Bowls talks about the umpires applying common sense if a situation is not covered by the rules – however this situation is specifically covered by the HBA rules, which they chose to disregard.
  • Their appeal suggests that play was abandoned at Lobethal at close to 2.30pm – when in fact Bowlslink confirms that the Division II results were entered as a washout at 2.12pm exactly, meaning play must have been abandoned some time prior to that.  The Committee is also aware that the visiting Woodside bowlers had already returned to their home club as result of play having been abandoned, and were back at Woodside prior to 2.00pm.
  • The Lobethal Club lost points in identical circumstances in 2022, so they should be well aware of the rules. 
  • The umpire of the day was on the HBA Committee in February 2010 when the rule was drafted by the Committee.  He was present at the 2022 match when his club lost points for premature abandonment of play – and was also part of the HBA Committee that supported that penalty – but still disregarded the rule.
  • Roger Faehrmann has sent a number of emails – primarily suggesting that the ruling of the umpire of the day is final. 
  • The HBA Committee is not challenging the decision of any of the umpires to deem the greens unplayable, it was clearly very wet – however the umpire must comply not only with the Laws of Bowls, but with the conditions of play imposed by the Controlling Body (HBA).
  • Roger was likewise on the HBA Committee in 2010 when the rule was drafted and accepted by the clubs – and on the Committee and present at the 2022 meeting when the appeals by Lobethal and Woodside were dismissed.

Discussions with representatives of Lenswood, Meadows, Mt. Barker and Woodside appear to confirm that they do not challenge the HBA decision.  The members of the HBA Committee wish to express their thanks to those clubs for their support, but more importantly for their compliance with the rules.

Given that there are now a number of appeals – the next step would be to convene a delegates meeting to determine the appeals.

RECONSIDERATION BY HBA COMMITTEE

However the HBA Committee is acutely aware that because of our current voting system – the views of five delegates from the appellant clubs, who have a vested interest in recovering their club’s points, and/or vindicating their umpires who made an incorrect call – will override the views of the other four clubs, and will override the informed views of six committee members.

We consider this a sad reflection on our Association – if enough clubs break the rules, they have power to excuse the breaches, and ride roughshod over the Committee and other clubs.

The HBA Committee therefore see little point in progressing to an appeal meeting.

Once again, after lengthy discussion, and careful consideration, the decision of the Committee is to rescind its previous decision.

Some consideration was given to the possibility of replaying the entire round – however with no free Sundays due to State events, and with Friday night Champ of Champs, and Men’s Country Carnival and Country Round Robin nearly upon us – this option is unfeasible.

Accordingly, Bowlslink will be adjusted to provide for all points to be split for matches scheduled for 6.1.24 – except in the case of any prior forfeit by a side.

FINAL NOTE

Please note – the clubs involved should well consider this a “Pyrrhic victory”.

If enough clubs do the wrong thing, they have power to override the rules, the proper management of the Association, its competitions, and the other clubs who do comply with the rules.

The abuse and criticism levelled at members of the HBA Committee for applying the rules is unconscionable – especially in circumstances where the clubs show little interest in joining or assisting the Committee, or acknowledging the considerable amount of work done by the Committee to ensure the smooth running of competitions.

Dora Fuda (President)

Alex Reynolds (Vice President)

Terry Stephen (Secretary)

Adrian Pobke (Treasurer)

Committee members – Val Deeble and Barry Lenny.