State Pennant thriller at Bribie
In the fight for the flag, Helensvale and Maryborough Services (men), Broadbeach and Bargara (women) are in pole positions. State Pennant is never without its surprises and this year’s shock was when two highly fancied teams failed to fire.
The exuberant Coolum Beach women from Sunshine Coast and Edge Hill men from TFNQ couldn’t muster up a win, both teams to underestimate at your peril, but today they went home empty handed.
WOMEN
In the opening round, 2010 Division One flag winners Cleveland were brilliant out of the blocks, still fielding eight of the same Pennant winning players from six years ago, unexpectedly blowing the talented and dynamic Coolum Beach out of the water, 70-46.
In Round 2, Bargara were equally on song, Julie McInally’s rink of Val Morris, Chris Long and Adele Pershouse dismantling the rink of Coolum’s State Over 60s skip Louise Witton for an overall 62-46 win.
2015 winners Broadbeach will almost certainly get the chance to defend their title, the only women’s side to finish the day with two wins.
Their Round 3 match tomorrow against State Final debutantes South Toowoomba is not expected to give trouble, given the Downs girls couldn’t secure a win today.
The “titans of the north” TFNQ Marlin Coast V Souths Suburban Mackay Round 3 clash tomorrow should be one for the spectators, given both teams finished Day One with a win and a loss, finishing very close in the margins.
However neither is in a position to overtake Broadbeach at the top of the Section One ladder (unless South Toowoomba pull off an unlikely coup).
In Section Two, Bargara (Bundaberg) finished the day on top of the ladder but with no guarantee of a finals berth against Broadbeach.
Both Bargara and Pine Rivers had a win today – and a draw – against each other.
Cleveland is also on a win, and any of these teams could go through to the final – the only team who can’t go through is Coolum Beach, with no win today.
However if Coolum Beach plays to their potential tomorrow, the result could be devastating for Pine Rivers and with Cleveland and Bargara playing each other, it’s most likely the winner of this game will be the team to face Broadbeach in the final.
The Gold Coast marquee women’s team is likely to retain its title, playing at a level above the other clubs and able to draw on a lengthy playing list of team members with state, national and international experience.
LADDER – END OF DAY ONE – WOMEN
Section One
Bargara 113 – 97 (3 points, +16)
Pine Rivers 115 – 113 (3 points, +2)
Cleveland 132 – 110 (2 points, +22)
Coolum Beach 92 – 122 (0 points, -30)
Section Two
Broadbeach 145 – 87 (4 points, +58)
Marlin Coast 108 – 112 (2 points, -4)
Souths Suburban Mackay 108 – 122 (2 points, – 14)
South Toowoomba 89 – 129 (0 points, -40)
MEN
For all the breast beating about Club Helensvale not having the services of Aussie reps Brett Wilkie and Mark Casey available to them for State Pennant, the Gold Coast Tweed finalist and 2014 Division One flag winner was still extremely strong, the only team in Section One to win two games today.
The opener against Greenslopes was a surprise, Helensvale more than doubling the Geckos score 86-41.
The second game against Hamilton was a heartstopper, only four shots the difference, 55-51, the sort of game any sports nut would like to see at a State Final level.
Helensvale will almost certainly go into tomorrow’s final, given they play South Suburban Mackay in Round 3 tomorrow, the boys from the North’s premier bowls city unable to secure a win today.
With a win each, Greenslopes and Hamilton finally play each other tomorrow, but unless Helensvale loses to Souths Suburban Mackay and Hamilton piles on a swag of points against the Geckos (both unlikely scenarios), Helensvale’s finals berth is safe.
The other finalist will most likely be Maryborough Services Memorial, given they finished at the top of Section 2 today, also with two wins.
The surprise was Edge Hill (Cairns) from TFNQ going down to State Final debutantes Chinchilla in a thrilling opening round 63-57.
Another surprise was Across the Waves (Bundaberg) being defeated too easily by Maryborough Services 39-64, which should mean a good spectator show tomorrow in Round 3, as the Bundy boys try to salvage some pride against the finalists from the Far North, Edge Hill, also with something to prove.
With no win today, Edge Hill can’t win the section and even Chinchilla and Across the Waves, with one win each, would need magic to topple Maryborough Services from the top of their section, which sets up a Helensvale V Maryborough Services Memorial final.
The day started off with rain but it cleared to an overcast and humid day, overall good bowling conditions.
The bowls starts early tomorrow (Sun Nov 27) at 7.30am (trial ends at 7.15am), with the finals scheduled to start at 12 Noon.
LADDER – END OF DAY ONE – MEN
Section One
Club Helensvale 141-92 (4 points, +49)
Hamilton 118 – 101 (2 points, +17)
Greenslopes 99 – 141 (2 points, -42)
Souths Suburban Mackay 101 – 125 (0 points, -24)
Section Two
Maryborough Services 140 – 98 (4 points, +42)
Across the Waves 103-116 (2 points, -13)
Chinchilla 115-121 (2 points, -6)
Edge Hill 116-139 (0 points, -23)
Today’s Round Scores are on BQ website click here https://www.bowlsqld.org/Events/State-Events/State-Pennant-Final#Draw-Results-394