Round of boilovers as top three teams all lose

BUCKINGHAM held off a fast-finishing Sandy Bay by five shots in Bowls Tasmania South Division One Women’s Pennant on Thursday, as the top three teams all suffered surprise losses to throw the race for the finals wide open.

Buckingham jumped Sandy Bay and held an 18-shot lead at the lunch break against an un- dermanned Sandy Bay without its two leading skips, Chris Dowl and Yvonne Buckley.

In a very even game with no more than two shots the difference all day, June Guy scored four shots on the last two ends to defeat Robyn Leggett by five shots. Alison Chamberlain totally outplayed Peri Buckley early on, moving to a seemingly unassailable 16-shot lead. However, Buckley fought back, winning all but one end after lunch and reducing the final margin to three shots. Sandy Bay won on the other rink, with Laura Best defeating Jeanette Land by three shots.

Sorell travelled to Rosny Park and played well early but could not hold off a fightback from Rosny Park, which won by 12 shots. Gaylene Ridgeway trailed Leona Smith by five shots at the lunch break but held Smith to just three shots after the break to win by seven. Ailsa Milburn gradually got on top of Jan Cowan, winning by six shots. Sorell’s Sandra Hawksley defeated Chris McGrath by one shot.

New Norfolk was at home to Kingborough and shocked the visitors, winning by 20 shots. Carol Banks-Smith jumped out to a 10-shot lead after nine ends against Kath- leen Page and stretched that lead to 14 shots at the end. Di Jones won seven of the last nine ends to defeat Greta Murray by 11 shots. With Sue Mann leading well, Leonie Price led Leonie Hyland all day and won by five shots.

Howrah had a solid 42-shot win over Claremont. Rosie Geeves had an easy 37-shot win over Rae Freestone and Lynne McDougall beat Gaye Coleman by nine. Claremont secured two pennant points, with Joy Voss defeating Charon Foster by four shots.

Dover RSL secured a oneshot win over Brighton. Sharon Delaney defeated Val Lukasek by nine. Brighton won on the other two rinks. Sue Grant defeated Barb Liddington by seven shots and Judy Williams scraped home over Carol Bannister by one shot.