Kingborough hot prospects for premiership
A report for The Mercury by Peter Kirby
Bowls action on Saturday marks the beginning of the second half of the season of Bowls South’s Divergence Built Premier Division Saturday Pennant. Kingborough has a 19-point lead and is almost assured of finishing Minor Premiers for the second consecutive year.
Other than a 6 shot loss to Glenorchy Rodman in Round 6, although winning on 3 of the 4 rinks, Kingborough has enjoyed comfortable winning margins in all of its matches this season and will be primed to continue their dominance of the competition.
All interest will be on the side most likely to finish second to Kingborough, with Glenorchy Rodman currently holding a 10-point advantage on perennial top four side, Sandy Bay. Brighton holds 4th spot by 11 points over Cremorne.
Cremorne had a disastrous start to the season, losing its first five games, then a flurry of four wins to be in 5th position. No doubt the horrors of those early losses will be front of mind, hoping for better results in Rounds 10 to 14 to have any chance of challenging Brighton for a top four finish.
Sandy Bay pulled off a recruiting coup leading up to Christmas, persuading draw bowling ace, Rohan Cooper, to come out of retirement to bolster their player roster. With Steve Graf set to depart for sunny Queensland in February, Cooper’s availability will ensure that the Seagulls remain a good chance to surprise.
Howrah languish at the bottom of the table and will be desperate to avoid relegation after one season in the top division. Good results from Rounds 12 to 15, when they take on sides in the lower half of the table, will be vital to Howrah’s chances of survival.
Mick Taylor will be hopeful that his Claremont side’s topsy turvy season is at an end, and that more consistent performances will be achieved, starting with a good result against visitors, Dover, on Saturday.
In other Round 10 matches, the home sides appear to have the wood on their visitors. Brighton should be too strong for Buckingham, repeating their away win over Bucks in Round 1.
Kingborough gave Cremorne a 48-shot hiding at Cremorne in Round 1, and the beach boys can expect no mercy in the Tiger’s Den at Margate on Saturday. Howrah take on Sandy Bay, at the Bay, and a strengthened Seagulls side should take the points easily.
New Norfolk travel to Glenorchy Rodman where the home side has excellent prospects of sending the visitors home winless.