BTS Women’s Thursday Pennant Preview
A report for The Mercury by Peter Kirby
Bowls South’s Women’s Thursday Division 1 Pennant commences today with Premiers, Howrah, hosting Glenorchy Rodman. Howrah will be relying on the proven strength of the side that was successful in the competition last season, while Rodman has been bolstered by the inclusion of Joy Voss, Denise Price, and Di Peck, transferring from Claremont, and Cheryl Ann Nielsenbeck (formerly Glenorchy City). Howrah’s indoor green will prove formidable, but Rodman can be expected to prove to be a more difficult opponent this season.
Glenorchy City welcome Division 1 newcomers, Brighton to their Berriedale synthetic green but will be without two of their top players from last season, Cheryl Ann Nielsenbeck and Tayla Munro (now skipping for Brighton), but have gained Miriam Garrett from Buckingham. City should win but Brighton can be expected to be competitive to the end.
Kingborough travels to Sorell, with both sides having new inclusions from last season. Sorell benefits from the recruitment of two players from Glenorchy City, Margaret Cowen and Cheryl Holland, while Kingborough has made several changes caused by departing players, Liz Richards (to Geeveston) and Sonia Martin (Darwin), by promoting Yvonne Duffy and Sally Bowes, and Leonie Price moving to skip. The change in personnel makes this an interesting contest and home advantage should favour Sorell, but Kingborough may just prevail on the day.
After struggling all season in the relegation zone last season, Rosny Park will recommence its battle to remain in the top division against visitors, Claremont. Both sides have suffered significant losses in the off season, with Rosny losing their skip, Ailsa Milburn, to Buckingham, and Claremont losing a trio of players to Rodman, Di Peck, Joy Voss and Denise Price. Rosny has gained Elizabeth Deburgh from Cygnet, and Claremont welcomes Teena Bennett and Judith Hollaway from Brighton, but time will tell as to whether this is enough to remain competitive at the highest level, but Claremont should open their season with a win.
The final match of the opening round has Sandy Bay hosting Buckingham. Sandy Bay will be relying on their side from last season, while Bucks welcomes Ailsa Milburn to its side. This will be an interesting contest, but Sandy Bay is expected to win in a very tight contest.
Congratulations to Kevin Bowkett (Rosny Park) and Jacob Sheerin-Wall (Glenorchy Rodman) who won the silver medal in the Para Nationals Open Men’s Pairs, coming agonisingly close to gold, losing the final to a NSW/ACT composite team by a single shot, 12-13.