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An early hand-written copy of the rules.
Rules and variations!
Rules and variations!
Broadly, the rules of the Australian game of road bowls fall into two versions - Chewton Rules and Nariel/ Numeralla Rules – although there are additional variants and local rules.
The basics of the two sets of rules are the same: the winning team is the team that completes the course in the least number of throws. And the basic rules are the same in each.
Basic rules
Once a team has bowled, a member of that team must put their foot on the bowl within a slow count of ten. If this is not possible - for example because of a lost bowl - then that team loses a point (a point is added to the team’s total number of throws).
In general, the bowl must be bowled from the position where it finished from the previous throw. If the bowl is in an awkward position – for example – behind a tree, then the bowler can stretch around the obstacle as long as they have a foot on the original position of the bowl.
If the umpire agrees that the bowl lies in an unplayable position – for example by ending up under a car - the umpire may call a “body length”, which means that the bowl can be dropped and bowled from no more than one body length from the unplayable position.
A "no penalty section" may be declared for an area which is dangerous or so difficult it could result in a lost bowl. In this case, special precautions may be taken to stop the bowl if it moves towards these no penalty sections.
The differences
The differences largely relate to the points or extras that may be added or subtracted from the score as penalties or rewards.
For example, under the Nariel/ Numeralla Rules, the umpire may reward a team for providing him or her with lavish refreshments or other comforts. Under these rules, teams may also be penalised for arguing with the umpire. Cheating (for example moving the bowl a few additional metres) may be allowed by the umpire as long as the opposing team has not noticed and objected.
The Chewton rules are much stricter, and the umpire can penalise any form of cheating, even if the opposing team has not noticed the infringement.
Special rules
Special rules may be developed for a course to allow for particular hazards or for safety reasons.
The current version of the 'Copmanhurst Road Bowls Rules'; They are based on the 1970s/ 1980s Chewton rules, and evolved to deal with local contingencies.
Supplied by Mazza.
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