Women’s Tuesday Pennant Wrap Up

by Aaron Delaporte on March 17, 2021

Another great season of Blooms The Chemist Women’s Tuesday Pennants came to a close when six clubs received a pennant flag during a bumper finals day of action at Yokine Bowling Club on Wednesday March 17th 2021.

It was a rather tough season for the players in this competition with two rounds abandoned due to heat and a third due to the covid lockdown but here is how it all panned out.

All Women’s Tuesday Pennant Competition Finals results are available at https://www.bowlswa.com.au/bowls-wa-competitions/

Premier League

Manning and Mosman Park dominated this division once again as they have done for the past 11 seasons however what was great about this year was the competitiveness across all 10 teams.

The last round of play saw four teams fighting to save relegation whilst three others were trying to secure the last finals spot. Commiserations must go to Leeming and Wanneroo who both finished on 39.5pts and head back to 1st Division White next year. Melville 40ps and Safety Bay 42pts will be thankful they survived.

In the finals North Beach produced a great fighting effort to come from behind to defeat Osborne Park 64-59 whilst Manning overcame the home ground advantage held by Mosman Park beating them 68-56. Mosman Park quickly hit back to qualify for the final steam rolling North Beach 63-36 to set up the grand final that everyone would have predicted at the start of the year.

So into battle went both sides full of optimism and hope, Mosman Park had sat top of the table all year whilst Manning are always up to the task in the big matches. Both teams were playing well and the scores were close for most of the first half of the match but as the game progressed it was Manning who began to once again establish themselves as the powerhouse in Women’s bowls.

The stars of the day without doubt were the rink of Therese Hastings, Liz Matthews, Sharon Lyster and Saffronne Alden who demolished a rink who had barely lost a game all season in Lee Poletti, Linda Warburton, Judy Allen and Jill Adam 32-11. WA State Coach Therese Hastings showing she hasn’t lost any of the skill that made her a four time WA Bowler of the Year with a great display.

Premier League – Manning

1st Division White

In what was the closest finish for the finals day North Beach provided the upset of the day coming from fourth to defeat Thornlie on the last end of the match.

The 1st White competition was extremely close all season but Thornlie edged on top of the table after the scheduled 18 game season on 65.5pts with Manning on 65pts, Victoria Park Carlisle 61.5 and North Beach 58.5 scraping into he four at the expense of Mosman Park who had 58pts.

The finals were always going to be whoever hit their best form and the semi finals saw Thornlie defeat Manning 64-51 and North Beach win 70-53 over Victoria Park Carlisle. North Beach then recorded a huge 82-27 win over Manning in the preliminary final to advance to the final.

The grand final could have gone either way as both teams took the lead at different stages. Going into the last end Thornlie held a shot advantage however the jack was spilt out the side of the head it was North Beach in right position at the right time and they manage to hold 3 shots to record a fantastic win.

Competition rules mean both Manning and North Beach will remain in 1st White next year whilst Thornlie and Victoria Park Carlisle will move up to Premier League.

1st Division Green North

Osborne Park Bowling Club finished well clear on top of the 1st Green North ladder during the regular season and they showed the competition why with two impressive finals wins to claim a well deserved pennant flag.

In the semi finals they defeated North Beach 78-53 whilst Dalkeith Nedlands defeated Wanneroo 65-51. Dalkeith Nedlands then defeating North Beach 60-45 to move into the grand final.

Osborne Park where just too good in the grand final and in particular the rink of Helen Hitchcock (skip), Pamela Allen, Mary Buktenica and Noeline Mudge getting home 36-13 a big reason for the 77-50 victory.

1st Green North – Osborne Park

1st Division Green South

Like their Saturday counterparts Warnbro Tuesday ladies bowled their best when it really mattered and that is on grand final day.

In the semi finals Kalamunda were too good for Warnbro at their home ground winning 69-43 whilst Cockburn defeated Safety Bay 65-55. Warnbro however were able to bounce back in the preliminary final with a 63-48 victory over Cockburn.

In the grand final Warnbro reversed the earlier loss to Kalamunda proving too good on the grass at Yokine with a 59-41 victory. All 3 rinks recorded wins with the best of them by Elaine Meehan (skip), Sandra Baker, Marilyn Smith and Jennifer Starling 23-12.

1st Green South – Warnbro

2nd Division

Bassendean look to be a club on the rise in the ladies competition and will return to first division next year, they snuck into finals in the very last game of the year when ladder leaders Belmont City got beaten by 3 shots at Mundaring and they took full advantage of the opportunity to claim the flag.

The semi finals saw Bassendean defeat Morley 56-54 whilst Kardinya were too good for North Beach 68-41. The two winners then met in the grand final in a very competitive affair.

Bassendean got the early lead in the grand final match and despite a great fight back from Kardinya they were able to hold on and secure a 56-50 win. The rink of Caroline Soro (skip), Shirley Johnston, Sharon Colegate and Annette Joesbury winning 25-15 proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Good luck to all four teams as they move into 1st Division next season.

2nd Division – Bassendean

3rd Division

The final of third division was played the day before at Osborne Park Bowling Club. A full report can be found at https://www.bowlswa.com.au/2021/03/16/forrestfield-win-womens-3rd-division/

4th Division

South Perth Bowling Club fielded their first ladies team in the Women’s Tuesday Pennant Competition for more than a decade. With a mix of new and experienced players they had a tremendous season losing just one game. In the semi final they had a big 72-17 victory over North Beach. Peita Alberti’s rink winning 31-10 and Kerry Reagan 41-7.

In the grand final they played East Fremantle who battled hard to make South Perth really earn the title. South Perth however always held the upper hand and were just a little more consistent on the day as they won 56-32.

A big congratulations to South Perth ladies who on the Saturday prior celebrated their first pennant flag in 60 years and backed it up with another just four days later. South Perth should prove very hard to beat again next season when they move into 3rd division.

4th Division – South Perth