Grand final replay kicks off season in style
SANDY Bay’s domination of Bowls Tasmania South Division One Women’s Pennant continued on Thursday when it accounted for a determined Buckingham by 15 shots.
It now has a chance of winning its ninth straight premiership in the grand final next Thursday.
Chris Dowl set up the win for Sandy Bay by overcoming the competition’s leading skip Jeanette Lane by 21 shots. Gail Price was superb as Dowl’s lead and was well supported by Jacqui Phillips and Peri Buckley. Lane kept in touch for the first six ends before Dowl pulled away to open up a matchwinning 15-shot lead after 13 ends.
Dowl scored multiples throughout the day and was able to answer any threat posed by Lane.
In a tight game Robyn Leggett was able to overcome Janet Rutherford. Leggett opened up a six-shot lead on the 15th end with five shots in two ends, but Rutherford replied with five shots on the following three ends. Scoring three shots to one in the final three ends, Leggett secured a three-shot victory.
Buckingham won on the other rink. June Guy was able to nullify the close shots of Ann Hinkley and Helen Barnes in her game against Yvonne Buckley. Buckley got to within three shots of Guy on the 12th end but Guy was able to stretch her advantage to nine shots over the second half of the game despite some fine bowling from both sides.
Claremont has struck form at the right time of the season, winning its third game in a row to defeat Kingborough in the elimination first semi-final at Sandy Bay.
Maree Morgan showed why she is Claremont’s leading skip this season with a resounding 11-shot win over Vicki Bannister and Jan McPherson accounted for Greta Murray by 10 shots. Joy Voss made it a clean sweep for Claremont when she edged Kathleen Page by one shot.
Buckingham may get another chance to play Sandy Bay, but only if it can beat Claremont in the preliminary final, which will be played at Kingborough on Tuesday. SATURDAY Pennant Premier Division semi-finals start today with top side Kingborough at home to Sandy Bay in the Kingborough Indoor Centre, while the elimination first-semi-final will see Glenorchy Rodman taking on the in-form New Norfolk on grass at Kingborough. THE opening round of the Oatlands District Football Association today has last year’s grand finalists Bothwell and Campania going head to head in an early-season blockbuster.
Both sides have retained their coaches and the outcome of this match will provide a key psychological advantage at the start of the season.
Home side Bothwell will be presented with last year’s premiership flag by association patron Mark Shelton MP.
Bothwell is aiming for a fourth consecutive premier- ship, an association equal record.
Coach Bradley Chaplin is leading a fresh young team after losing 11 players from last year’s grand final side.
Nathan Eyles returns from Glenorchy and Jeremy Percey also joins the side as a key inclusion to fulfil the role of ruckman. Tom Steele has also joined from Lauderdale as another handy inclusion. Jack Jenkins and Jamie Sokolski have stepped up during the pre-season and will provide plenty of forward drive.
Campania continues to search for its first premiership in the competition after 12 seasons. The club has had a strong pre-season under coach Nathan Senior and will be led on field by co-captains Sam Medhurst and Matthew Triffett.
Recruit Nathan Brown is expected to lead from the front, while Kyle Smith should add class to the side.
Mt Pleasant will open its season against Campbell Town at Mt Pleasant. The Mounties will be led by triple premiership coach Nathan Barwick, and his side will be bolstered on field by the return of Jordan Byers, while Thomas Birchall is expected to be a key asset to the side in the ruck and across half-back. Dougal Morrison returns from interstate studies and his presence and creativity around the ground will cause headaches for the opposition.
Campbell Town will be led by club stalwart Jodi Ashman and welcomes to the side Caleb Eady, Toby Laycock and Bailey Freeman.
Oatlands hosts Swansea in the final match, which looks an interesting encounter. The Tigers have a new coach, Josh Hills, who has brought a raft of fresh faces, including former association best and fairest winner Nathan Ross. Joining Ross are his brothers Lincoln and Patrick, while Andrew Higgins will add height in the contests. Sam Thomas has been reappointed captain.
Swansea is keen for success after rebuilding over the past two seasons. Recruits include Luke Jackson, Jarrod Walker and Heath Thompson.
Triabunna has the bye.