Sandy Bay into fifth consecutive Grand Final
A report for The Mercury by Peter Kirby
In a disappointing finish to the season Glenorchy Rodman bowed out of the finals race of Bowls South’s Divergence Built Premier Division, beaten by thirteen shots by Sandy Bay, 91-78.
In a Round 18 rematch, Rodman’s Grant Allford and Sandy Bay’s Lachie Sims were drawn to play each other again, with Sims keen to avenge his loss to Alford. With his trusty lead Ben Jones back in the side finding his range, and Lucas Howell converting well at three, Sims jumped away to an early lead. A late fight back by Allford failed to make up the deficit, enabling Sims to secure a comfortable victory by eleven shots, 30-19.
Sandy Bay’s Alby Norris renewed acquaintances with Cam Tegg. Norris went into the match with 801 game legend Bobby Bye as his two. In a close game, Norris maintained the ascendancy throughout and with three ends to play on this rink, the Bay held an eight-shot advantage over Rodman. Tegg tried his best but couldn’t overcome Sandy Bay’s overall lead and hands were shaken on end 20 with the Bay holding an unassailable lead, with Norris four shots in front, 21-17.
In a close game, an over hydrated Jack Ellis played some big bowls against Sandy Bay’s Josh Lording in a dingdong battle. Lording prevailed by two shots in the end, 23-21, with Ellis announcing his retirement from bowls at the conclusion of the game.
Rodman’s Anthony Clifford, with his front end of Danny Gahan and Ben Stearnes playing well, worked hard to defeat Stewart Cashion by four shots, 21-17. Cashion, skipping the rink in the absence of Josh Mabb, who was unable to back up from Saturday’s Semi Final, jumped out to 13-3 lead. Stearnes in the two position was instrumental in Clifford’s efforts to slowly peg back the deficit to lead by six heading into the last end. Cashion picked up a two on the last end to ensure Sandy Bay’s overall win.
With the win, Sandy Bay enters their fifth consecutive Grand Final on Saturday, having won two of the last three. They meet old rivals Kingborough in season finale on Saturday in a match that is likely to go down to the wire.
Other Divisions
Sandy Bay features prominently in other Grand Finals this season:
- Rosny Park plays Orford in Division 1
- Franklin plays Sandy Bay in Division 2
- Glenorchy Rodman plays Sandy Bay in Division 3
- Claremont plays Royal Hobart in Division 4
- Huonville plays Howrah in Division 5
- Howrah1 plays Franklin in Division 6, and
- Sandy Bay plays Geeveston in Division 7.