An Illawarra Bowls Blitz

Illawarra Mercury

Monday August 4, 2008

By MIKE DRISCOLL

ILLAWARRA Zone 16 will have a record four teams playing for a state pennant flag in this morning's finals at venues across NSW.

The three-day state finals feature the top 16 clubs in NSW in the No 1 to No 7 grades of competition.

Warilla are bidding to make it back-to-back state No1 pennant crowns for Illawarra Zone 16 after advancing to this morning's final against East Cessnock (Zone 6) at Batemans Bay Bowling Club.

Last year Towradgi Park won the state No1 pennant crown and title as the best bowls club side in NSW.

The finals format in all seven grades consists of the 16 best clubs pooled into four sections. Each team plays the other teams in their section, with section winners meeting in yesterday's semi-finals.

Warilla thrashed Ettalong Memorial 75-46 in their opening pool game and backed up it with a narrow win over Armidale City (59-55) in round two, then beat Westport 59-44 in round three.

Warilla then thrashed Gymea 73-40 in the semi-finals to advance to meet East Cessnock in today's final.

Meanwhile, Windang are today hoping for a double celebration with their Grade 6 team into the final at Lismore and No7 Grade team into the decider at Parkes.

Windang No6s belted Cronulla 80-35 in their semi and face Picton (Zone 5) in the final. In the No7s, Windang edged out Cudgen Leagues 63-55 in the semis and now face Ganmain in the final.

The Albion Park No 4 Grade team will play for the state pennant flag against Cootamundra Ex-Services at Bathurst.

Illawarra's Grade 2 representative Shellharbour, and Grade 3 rep Thirroul won their opening two pool games but were denied a spot in the semis after losing their third pool game.

Today's pennant finals are: (9am start)

GRADE 1: WARILLA v East Cessnock at Batemans Bay

GRADE 2: East Cessnock v Lambton at Cabramatta

GRADE 3: Tuncurry v Guildford at Tumut

GRADE 4: ALBION PK v Cootamundra Ex-Services at Bathurst

GRADE 5: Armidale City v West Dubbo at Tuncurry

GRADE 6: WINDANG v Picton at Lismore

GRADE 7: WINDANG v Ganmain at Parkes

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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