Howrah locks up third place

HOWRAH consolidated its position in third place with a 51-shot rout of Rosny Park in Bowls Tasmania South Women’s Division One pennant on Thursday.

The game was played in the comfort of Howrah’s Indoor Centre while the rest of the round was washed out.

Charon Foster set up the win for Howrah with a strong win over Jenny Suttie. After leading by just two shots after eight ends, Foster powered away winning eight ends in a row to eventually win by 24.

Rosie Geeves was too good for Ailsa Milburn. Milburn was on top early but Geeves scored 12 shots in six ends to break open the game and went on to win by 15. Sandra Hawksley raced to a 10-shot lead against Gaylene Ridgeway after five ends and won by 14.

The in-form Kingborough’s hopes of sneaking into the top four courtesy of a barnstorming finish to the season were dashed by the rain. After winning just one of its first seven games and languishing last on the ladder, it lost just two more games for the rest of the season and finished fifth.

Buckingham finished on top of the ladder and has earned the right to play on its synthetic green against Sandy Bay in the second semi-final.

Sandy Bay has dominated Women’s Division One pennant for many years winning the past nine grand finals and will be pulling all stops out to make it a record 10 in a row. If experience counts for anything it will be hard to beat again.

Howrah dropped out of the top four last season in the final round and will be keen to make a good showing this season.

Claremont makes up the top four after a mixed season and cannot be discounted after making last year’s grand final having just scraped into the top four.

Final ladder: Buckingham 157, Sandy Bay 153, Howrah 130, Claremont 122, Kingborough 115, Dover RSL 106, Rosny Park 87, Sorell 83, Brighton 75, Orford 52.

BOWLS Tasmania’s gala week of bowls starts on the northwest coast today and continues through until next Friday.

State championships will be held for men and women in singles, pairs and fours — including separate competitions for B grade players.

Championships will also be held for bowlers with a disability in singles and pairs.