Howrah favourites for 4th successive pennant
A report forΒ The MercuryΒ by Peter Kirby
It will take a mighty effort from the following pack to stop Howrah from claiming a fourth straight Bowls South Womenβs Thursday Division 1 Pennant title, with the first round of competition to be played this Thursday, 17 October. Howrah will commence the season having retained all of its squad from their successful 2023-24 campaign.
Howrah has gained Marlene Wakefield (Rosny Park) and Bernadette Carroll (Nelson Bay, NSW), with Carroll likely to prove a valuable gain, having featured prominently on the honour boards of her previous club, Nelson Bay Bowling and Recreation Club, winning major singles, pairs, triples and fours club championships, some multiple times.
Kingborough, runner-up to Howrah in 2023-24, will be boosted by the return of Sue Clark from Dover, and the transfer of State Open Womenβs Side member, Crytal Brooks, from Glenorchy Rodman. This should more that make up for the loss of Maddie Johnstone who has decided to take a break from Thursday Pennant. Kingborough should challenge Howrah, but it will take a mighty effort to overcome a supremely confident three-time premier.
Claremont look to have strengthened their Thursday Division 1 side, gaining Christine McGrath from Rosny Park and Ingrid Makowski from Glenorchy City. These additions to the playing group should enable the Mont to challenge for a higher position on the ladder in the coming season than that of sixth in the previous season.
Brighton, fifth in 2023-24, should be expected to challenge for a top four finish this season, having gained Michelle Moate from Glenorchy Rodman, while newly promoted Orford should consolidate its position in the top Thursday division after a very strong performance in Division 2 last season.
The loss of their skip, Ingrid Makowsky, will not be helpful to Glenorchy Cityβs hopes of a better finish than eighth in 2023-24, and reliance on a hoped-for huge home green advantage may not be enough to ensure that the side can make any gain this season.
Buckingham has been quiet on the transfer front, having no known gains or losses. Pre-season performances indicate that the side will be competitive and should be the cause of a number of upset results.
Rosny Park has lost three key players in the off-season, Dianne Nieuwhof (to The Waves, Qld), Marlene Wakefield (to Howrah) and Christine McGrath (to Claremont), and it will be relying on some miracle results to avoid relegation at the end of the season.
With the loss of two key players (Michelle Moate and Crystal Brooks) Glenorchy Rodman will be hard-pressed to repeat its top four finish in season 2023-24, but with a strong club spirit should result in a few favourable upset results during the season.