Home green advantage helps in semi-finals
A report for The Mercury by Peter Kirby
Home green advantage played a big part in the results of Bowls South’s Thursday Women’s Division 1 Semi Finals on Thursday. Minor Premiers, Howrah, advanced to their third Grand Final in succession, defeating Kingborough in the Qualifying Semi Final, and Glenorchy Rodman ended Sandy Bay’s season in the Elimination Semi Final.
Howrah extracted maximum benefit from their advantage of playing on their indoor green in the Qualifying Semi Final against Kingborough, winning convincingly on all rinks, for a 36-shot victory, 77-41.
The match between Howrah’s Denise Tanner and Leonie Price was even until the 4th end with Tanner taking the next 3 ends to lead 9-4. From there Tanner won 10 of the remaining ends played, adding another 18 shots to her tally, while restricting Price to just 8 shots. A 3 on the final end to Price was her best gain for the day, Tanner cruising to a 14-shot victory, 27-13.
After winning the first end to lead by a shot, Kingborough’s Kerrie Lane struggled to win another 7 ends for the match, while her opponent, Charon Foster took out 13 ends to win comfortably. Despite this, Lane was in with a chance of claiming victory, trailing by just 2 shots after 16 ends. Foster put the result beyond doubt over the next 2 ends with big multiples, a 6 and a 5, to coast to an 11-shot win, 26-15.
In a close match until the 15th end, where Howrah’s Rosie Geeves put on a mini 3-end surge, gaining 7 shots to move 8 shots clear of Kingborough’s Maddie Johnston. Johnston attempted a move of her own, but Geeves snuffed out any chance of a revival by her opponent, picking up 5 shots on the 18th end to go 11 shots ahead, the final margin between the 2 teams, Geeves winning, 24-13.
In front of a vocal local crowd at Glenorchy Rodman the hosts avenged two losses to Sandy Bay during the roster season to record a meritorious 14 shot win in the Elimination Semi-Final, 70-56, ending Sandy Bay’s season.
Rodman’s Joy Voss, with Di Peck solid in the two position, was always in control of her match with Yvonne Buckley, leading 26-10 after 17 ends. Buckley rallied over the last 4 ends to add 8 shots to her total, Voss happy to finish 8 in front for an 26-18 win.
Crystal Brooks had good support from Cheryl Neilsenbeck and Deb Stearnes to run down Sandy Bay’s Jac Phillips to win by six shots, 23-17. Brooks was 12-17 down after 16 ends, but Phillips faded over the last five ends, dropping 11 shots to Brooks, ensuring victory for the home side.
With Barb Biernacki playing well, Rodman’s Peta Barnett led Peri Buckley 16-9 after 14 ends but a 7 to Buckley on the 15th tied the match at 16-all. Buckley played some big bowls throughout the game, but Barnett was equal to the task and the game finished in a 21-all draw.
Kingborough and Glenorchy Rodman will contest the Preliminary Final in the Kingborough Indoor Bowls Centre on Thursday 21 March.