Kingborough runaway leaders at halfway mark
A report for The Mercury by Peter Kirby
In the final round of Bowls South’s Divergence Built Premier Division before the festive season break, Kingborough has established a commanding 18 point break over the rest of the competition, consolidating its lead with an authoritative win over Dover, 90-72, victorious on 3 rinks, and sharing the fourth.
A determined performance by Nogga Norris, with good support from his three, Jarrah Allan, stopped Kingborough from completing an all-rinks win by holding Jason Fowler to a draw, 17 shots all. A highlight of this match was the tight contest between the two leads, Dover’s Dawn Garland and Tony Rowe, with Rowe claiming the honours, but only just.
The most interest in the matchup between Dover’s Ricky Ormerod and Tigers’ Ryan Guy was which of Guy’s dual personalities would dominate, Ryan or “Russell”. Early on it was the calm Ryan in control, deftly drawing winning shots to establish a comfortable lead, only for his reckless “Russell” personality to take over and throw away his advantage, and for Ormerod to gleefully surge to a lead.
Fortunately for the Borough, in the latter stages of the match Ryan regained the ascendency once more in the struggle with his alter ego, Russell, and just in time to claim the last two ends of the match, and 6 shots to defeat Ormerod by 3, 26-23.
In a brilliant display of draw bowls from Nic Courto and his three, Nathan Dinning, Dover’s Cam Norris was frequently left bewildered by the shear brilliance of their performance, clearing out to a 12 shot win, 24-12.
Kingborough’s Will Coad had raced to a 14 shot lead, 19-5, by the 13th end and looked to be in total control of his match with the Diggers’ Roger Dale, on heading for a big winning score but Dale’s rink somehow managed to win 6 of the last 8 ends to lose to Coad by a respectable 3 shots, 20-23.
Glenorchy Rodman’s visit to Sandy Bay ended in heartbreak, winning on 3 of the 4 rinks but losing overall by 7 shots, 71-78, with Andrew Norris the hero for the Bay, defeating Jacob Sheerin-Wall by 13 shots, 24-9.
In a repeat of last year’s preliminary final, Sandy Bay hosted the mighty Rotters in moist, windy conditions.
The clash of the day saw in form skip Josh Lording take on the new multimedia personality Cameron ‘the Duke’ Tegg. Lording’s rink held the lead for most of the day, with Kyron Daly showing everyone how to play on your birthday. Tegg, as he’s does, had his rink up and about and went into the last end down by a shot. Having a similar situation in last year’s prelim which didn’t go his way, Tegg scored a three and got over the line by 2 shots, 21-19.
Close games on all rinks was the order of the day, with Lukie Howell taking on Ant Clifford. It was a front end battle between Danny Gahan and Stewart Cashion who both showed off their incredible jack rolling skills. As he does most weeks, Shane Peck returned to a former club and had a ding dong battle with Peri Buckley. The lead ebbed and flowed throughout the game with Howell getting his nose and moustache in front by 1 going into the last end. Clifford’s rinks held their nerve getting a 5 to win the rink by 4, 24-20.
Roddie’s superstar skip, Jacko Ellis took on Ryan McCoull in what was described as hydration off. Shout for shout they went from the roll-up with Jacko getting the early ascendency. Both teams were bowling well with the Phil Hobbs and Rod Turner clash in the 3 spot a highlight. Ellis held the trump card, Batman! The caped crusader setting up end after end to see Ellis win the rink by 2 shots, after trying to get the Magpies over the line in the latter ends. Final score 19-17.
The final rink saw Andrew Norris take on Jacob Sherrin-Wall. Norris was never headed from the outset, shooting out to an early lead. Norris claimed his rink of Jacquie Phillips, Stephen Graf and Brad Mabb was the sharpest looking rink he has had since Justin Plummer left at the end of last season. More importantly, they all bowled well and saw them get a rink win for the Bay, 24-9, and secure an overall win 8-6 by 7 shots for the Seagulls.
On a tricky green, due to the wind, Brighton looked to be cruising to victory at the halfway mark but rear guard action saw Howrah close to within one shot, Brighton winning in a split rinks decision, 82-81.
Much of Howrah’s comeback was due to Glenn Frame’s rink which was 2-20 down against Mick Daniels, but dominated the last half of the game to get up to by 2 shots, 24-22. The comeback was instigated by some fine bowling from Frame’s three, Denise Tanner.
Brighton’s Matt Breward, with fine support of his rink, won 22-16 over Bill Butler. “Judge” Jenkins was in fine form for Howrah against Grant Wakefield, on many occasions Jenkins found himself down multiple shots but was able to draw the ultimate in what was closely contested rink, winning by 5 shots, 23-18.
Brighton’s young “Pup” Davie continues to impress and managed a 20-18 win in another close contest with the evergreen John Sutcliffe. “Bugsy” Fehlberg continued his very good form in the three spot for Davie.
Cremorne sits just outside the top four following a comprehensive all rinks victory over New Norfolk, 103-63, in trying conditions at Cremorne’s seaside fortress. Cremorne has now made it four wins in a row.
Peter “Tex” Marshall and his team of Geoff Jones, Dave Watkins and Ralph Tieman jumped out to an early 15 shot lead against Kerry Hill. Hill made a comeback of sorts to narrow the gap at the halfway mark only to see Marshall score a six to extend the margin, eventually running out 19 shot victors, 34-15.
Leigh Munnings, skipping in place of the slightly injured Pat Hoffman, had a strong second half to record a 30-16 victory over Lauren Banks.
New Norfolk’s Mitch Banks and Cremorne’s Brad Knight had a tremendous tussle with the lead changing regularly, with Knight winning 4 of the last 5 ends to ensure victory, 21-15.
In form skip, Ash Banks, was finding it difficult to concentrate in his clash with Samual Winter, however Banks held on to win by 1 shot, 18-17.
On a slow green, Claremont grabbed total points against Bucks in an all-rinks win, 93-67. Chris Chalker’s rink was outstanding against Andrew Dingo’s rink, with barefoot wonder, Nick Evans, playing outstanding lead bowling, winning by 8 shots, 21-13.
Justin Plummer’s rink had obviously got over their hiding from the previous week, handing one out to Grant Chamberlain by 10 shots, 28-18, with Filthy Brown leading well.
Paul Hart’s rink was overall too good for Todd Oakley’s rink, with Diva Coad putting another quality display leading for Hart.
In a seesawing contest, Michael Taylor’s rink was 3 down going into the last end, but huge bowls from Elvis Smith and a very much hungover Adam Taylor, after his staff party, picked up 4 shots on the last end to defeat Owen by 1 shot, 18-17, and deliver a fourth rink win for Claremont.
The win will hopefully give Claremont some momentum going into the second half of the season.