Glenorchy jack high in unbeaten pennant charge

GLENORCHY Rodman is the toast of Southern Tasmania bowls after winning the state pennant title in style over the weekend, remaining unbeaten in the round-robin competition against premiers from the North and North-West.

Glenorchy Rodman took on last season’s state premier North Launceston on Saturday morning and won by 22 shots.

Luke Turner maintained his red-hot form from last weekend defeating Andrew Whitmore. Turner led by six shots after five ends and put the pressure on in the home run winning six of the last eight ends to win by 17 shots.

Josh Baker started strongly against David Minns and led by 11 shots after 15 ends. But Minns finished strongly to reduce Baker’s winning margin to just three shots.

Tony Vince scored seven shots in the last three ends to defeat Tim Douce by two shots.

North Launceston bounced back on Saturday afternoon to defeat North West premier South Burnie by 11 shots, but it was not enough to win backto-back state premierships.

David Minns defeated Cameron Griffiths by five shots, Andrew Whitmore beat Luke Richardson by four shots and Tim Douce finished two shots in front of Alan Carver.

In very wet conditions on Sunday morning, Glenorchy Rodman jumped South Burnie early and set up a commanding 20-shot lead after 11 ends and eventually won by seven shots.

Josh Baker led the way for Glenorchy Rodman with a solid 16-shot win over Cameron Griffiths. Baker won the first five ends to jump to a 15shot lead and increased that to 20 shots after 11 ends.

South Burnie won on the other two rinks with Alan Carver defeating Luke Turner by five shots and Luke Richardson beating Tony Vince by four shots.

In other Saturday State Pennant finals, winners were Howrah in Division 1, Trevallyn in Division 2, Ridgley in Division 3, Swansea in Division 4, Oatlands in Division 5 and Invermay in Division 6. THE barefoot bowls competition’s champion teams from Brighton, Buckingham, Claremont, Glenorchy Rodman, Howrah, Royal Hobart and Sandy Bay will face each other to determine which team is the best in the Bowls Tasmania South Barefoot Bowls Champion of Champions event at the Kingborough Indoor Bowls Centre on Wednesday at 6pm.