Austi Blue Rule Over Vikings At Sea

Illawarra Mercury

Monday November 3, 2008

By TIM KEEBLE

MORUYA Vikings and Bulli Gold put series favourites Austinmer Blue on notice in Saturday's opening round of the Warilla Bowls Surf Boat Series at Woonona Beach.

The Vikings led the open men's pointscore after three preliminary rounds and proved their efforts were no fluke when they threw down the challenge to Austinmer in the final.

But after a tight first half of the race, the vastly experienced Austi crew powered around the turning buoy, quickly increasing their lead to two boat lengths to set up an impressive victory.

Moruya were still gunning for second spot before being mowed down by the typically uncompromising Bulli Gold crew. The Vikings settled for third, with Wollongong City fourth and Corrimal fifth.

"The rain and strong southerly wind made it tough going for the 70 crews that started," series co-ordinator John Masters said.

"The conditions deteriorated during the day and the number of rounds was reduced in several divisions."

The Moruya Viqueens achieved what their male clubmates could not, prevailing in the open women's final after Corrimal set the pace during the preliminary races. Austinmer White claimed second spot and Corrimal were third.

Batemans Bay won the reserve division ahead of Bulli Gold and Moruya, while Woonona Weight Watchers claimed line honours in the veterans final in front of Helensburgh-Stanwell Park and Gerringong. Reigning Australian under 23 men's champions Austinmer Blue didn't have it all their way in the early rounds of their division, as Warilla-Barrack Point, Corrimal and Bulli Gold all performed strongly.

But the Austi crew wasn't to be denied in the final, winning easily from Bulli Gold and Warilla. Warilla-Barrack Point Chatterboxes won the under 23 women's final, with Broulee second and Helensburgh-Stanwell Park third.

The under 19 men's division was a toss-up after crews shared the points in the preliminaries, but Batemans Bay emerged triumphant in the final in front of Warilla and Port Kembla. Round two will be hosted by Shellharbour on December 6.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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