Southerners win thriller to claim fours crown

A SOUTHERN team comprising Rosny Park’s Peter Bannister and Connor Munnings, Sandy Bay’s Steve Graf and Cremorne’s Leigh Munnings took out the Bowls Tasmania men’s open fours championship at Burnie Bowls Club on Sunday.

In a heart-stopping grand final, Bannister finished one shot in front of Launceston’s Gene Ayton, Chris Lee, Aaron Page and Chris Roach.

In the semis, Bannister beat Chris Dudman, Phil Mundy, Lachie and Michael Sims by two shots and Ayton beat Dover RSL’s Jordan, Clinton and Heath Seabourne and Gary Brown by the same margin.

In the quarter-finals, Bannister had an easy 16-shot win over Kingborough’s Jack Butler, Will Coad, Jarrod Long and Robert O’Neill and Ayton beat the team of Keghan Booth,

Isaac Maughan, David Minns and Josh Walker-Davis by nine. Dudman finished five shots in front of Julian, Jacob and Colin Brown and Cameron Griffiths and Seabourne defeated Andrew and Josh Appleyard, Jarryd Brown and Ricki Richardson by five shots. IN ANOTHER tight game, the women’s open fours championship was won by Invermay’s Candice Ayton, Debbie Lee, Jess McMullen and Kim Saunders, who defeated a North-West team consisting of Dee Harman, Bronwyn King,

Alison Venn and Vicky Winley by four shots.

In the semis, Ayton beat a composite four consisting of Makayla Gibson, Jenny Suttie, Lyn Triffitt and Maureen Zoon by five shots and Harman beat Adriana Austin, Gaylene Elsworthy, Tracey Little and Pam Vant by six shots.

In the quarter-finals, Ayton had a 14-shot win over Maggie Campbell, Janet Rutherford, Barb Smith and Sheril Watts and Harman defeated youngsters Lauren Banks, Glenda Fielding, Jorja Maughan and

Kelly Mundy by 10. Gibson finished 10 shots in front of Jennifer Dargavel.

THE men’s B grade fours championships saw the Sandy Bay four of Bill Mottershead, David Lovett, Charles Thomas and Mark Quinane remain undefeated to take the state title. BOWLS Tasmania’s gala week of bowls continues today and tomorrow with finals in the men’s and women’s open and B Grade singles and pairs. In addition finals will be held for bowlers with a disability in singles and pairs.