Ferny Grove crowned Qld champs
Little Brisbane club overcomes the odds to claim State Pennant title They may be inexperienced and from Queensland’s smallest district, but that didn’t stop newcomers Ferny Grove from storming through this year’s State Pennant Finals to raise the Division 1 flag at Tweed Heads.
The Grovers cruised through sectional play unscathed and into this afternoon’s final, where they led from the start and were never seriously challenged by a Bargara side struggling with the conditions.
The Brisbane girls triumphed on two of three rinks, with Rae Imberger and Sue Bond clocking up 28-14 and 20-13 wins respectively.
Jessie Cannon got a pride-saving win for Bargara, defeating Kerry Meehan 22-20, but it was little consolation, with the pennant already safely tucked up in Ferny Grove’s team luggage.
“We were a bit apprehensive before our first game, because the team is very inexperienced at this level,” Ferny Grove skip Sue Bond said, following her side’s 68-49 final win.
Bond is one of only two bowlers in the side with state-level experience, former Queensland rep Kerry Wilson being the other.
“As the games went on we just combined really well and held our own.
“Our round-three game against Bribie Island was probably our toughest and we were behind for a while. But we fought back and got there in the end,” Bond said, as her teammates belted out an off-key version of Queen hit ‘We are the champions’ in the background.
“It’s our first time at the state finals and it’s just a huge thrill for everybody,” Bond said.
“It’s actually the first time we’ve beaten a Gateway club to reach the state play-offs,” Wilson added.
“We beat Victoria Point (at group level) to get here and that was huge for us, because we have such a small district, whereas they play against all these big clubs, so just to reach the state finals was a really proud achievement.
“To go on and win with such an inexperienced side is just amazing,” Wilson said.
Unfortunately for Bargara, who have reached the state play-offs four years running, the wait continues.
“Ferny Grove just outplayed us,” Bargara skip Gail Crompton said.
“At the end of the day they just played a better game. They converted more shots, they had good lead and second bowls in the head and they deserved the win.
“We’ve been here for the last three years and never got out of sectional play, so this is the furthest we’ve got.
“It would have been nice to win, but we’re all pretty happy with how far we got, and there’s always next year,” Crompton said.
Ferny Grove 68 – 49 Bargara
Rae Imberger 28 def Judith Everett 14
Sue Bond 20 def Gail Crompton 13
Kerry Meehan 20 def by Jessie Cannon 22
