Broadside sinks leaders
Champions bring down Hamilton to go top of PLQ
CHAMPIONS Broadbeach have taken back top spot on the Premier League Queensland ladder after seeing off genuine title challengers Hamilton in the eighth round.
Broadbeach leapfrogged Hamilton and Enoggera, previously first and second, into top spot on the standings.
The Bulls are level on 12 points with Pine Rivers, who beat Victoria Point 60-47 at Victoria Point on Saturday.
On a packed ladder, seven times series champions Helensvale are third on 11 points after a three rinks to nil, 70-40 win over Enoggera, who tumbled to sixth after their defeat.
The downside to Broadbeach’s effort was the loss, his third in a row, by Canadian international and Commonwealth Games medal hope Ryan Bester.
Bester’s rink had gone unbeaten in the first five rounds at the head of the Bulls charge, but he has since lost to Tweed Heads, Kawana and on Saturday to Aaron Teys, by 22-17.
But wins by fellow skips Paul Girdler (25-14) and Sean Ingham (18-13) gave Broadbeach the breathing space they needed.
At Helensvale, Commonwealth Games triples and fours team skip Aron Sherriff found some of his old touch with a 24-9 win over Peter Brown’s team.
With fellow Comm Games bound clubmates Brett Wilkie (22-19) and Nathan Rice (24-12) also winning, the Hawks are looming menacingly for the finals.
The Hawks have by far the best shot margin, that of plus-113, in the competition.
South Tweed kept their finals hopes flickering by beating bottom side Booval Bombers 66-53 at South Tweed while border rivals Tweed Heads Ospreys fell 53-55 away to Belmont where club bowls co-ordinator Wayne Turley was the only rink winner.