Beltana keeps finals hopes alive
Derwent Eye Specialists Premier Division report by Connor Munnings
5 February 2022 (Round 14)
Beltana is turning out to be the surprise packet of the Derwent Eye Specialists Premier Division after running out as easy 12-2 winner against Cremorne by 44 shots. Nic Courto’s rink of Greg Sandford, Chris Dent and Debra Jeffrey were dominant all day against Patrick Hoffman, winning by 10 shots. Beltana’s Mick Coppleman had a tight tussle early on against Brad Knight with scores only one the difference on the seventh end. However, Coppleman took control of the game and widened the end margin to 18 shots. Shane Young was pushed by Leigh Munnings, but a seven on the 18th end to Young put the result beyond doubt, eventually winning 26-15. Cremorne’s lone winner was Peter Marshall who defeated Steven Midson 14-10. The win puts Beltana in seventh position on the ladder, only 12 points behind fourth placed Claremont.
Brighton also moved a step closer to the final four with a 22 shot 12-2 win over Claremont. The win was set up by Tony Bartninkaitis and his rink of Lyn Triffitt, Riley Davey and John Nichols who were all in great form to defeat Joy Voss by 12 shots. Grant Wakefield, with second David Cure playing well, outlasted Shane Peck to win 25-21. Matt Breward and third Ricky Limbrick played some crucial shots to turn the head in favour of Brighton to defeat Paul Hart by eight shots. Mick Taylor secured two points for Claremont with a 20-18 win over John North.
On a fast green, Glenorchy Rodman overcame a gallant Dover side to win 12-2 by 13 shots. With John Tapp leading well, Dover’s Gary Brown had the better of Jack Ellis early on and led 7-1 after seven ends. However, from then on Ellis put on a clinic to run out as 14 shot winner. Rodman’s Tony Vince, with great support from lead Michelle Moate, jumped out to a 17-4 lead after 11 ends against Roger Dale before Dale mounted a comeback. However, it was not enough, with Vince winning 25-17. Paul Cruise defeated Jacob Sherrin-Wall by two shots, while Josh Lording picked up two points for Dover with an 11 shot win over Isaac Maughan.
In the battle of the bottom sides, it was Buckingham who had a thrilling 12-2 one shot victory over Rosny Park. The game came down to the last bowl from Buckingham’s Craig Owen who added to his rink’s bowls to score a six on the last end against Dale Maundrill. Maundrill was unlucky to miss a drive by millimetres with his final bowl. After a slow start, Grant Chamerlain defeated Michael Eiszele by 10 shots. Andrew Chamerlain picked up a two on the last end to win by one shot against Darren Monks. Peter Bannister’s rink of Grant McCormack, Connor Munnings and Michael Rankin kept Rosny in the game with an 18 shot win over Todd Oakley.
Sandy Bay gave Kingborough its first loss for the year with a 10-4 seven shot victory. For Sandy Bay, Keghan Booth defeated Ryan Guy 24-17 while Justin Plummer had a comprehensive 10 shot win over Jarod Long. Jason Fowler beat Bryce Guy 26-16 and Will Coad defeated Ryan McCoull by eight shots, but it wasn’t enough for Kingborough to claim victory.