BOWLS
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Warilla can clinch the minor premiership in Illawarra men's Grade 1 pennants on Saturday with a match to spare after winning their rescheduled round-two clash last weekend.
Warilla won two rinks and drew the third in a 60-42 (5.5 points to 0.5 point) away win over Corrimal to take a half-point lead over Dapto Citizens at the top of the table.
Warilla skip Aaron Teys had a 20-13 win over fellow young gun Kyle Johannes, while World Cup champion Jeremy Henry skipped his Warilla side to a 24-13 win over Jack Forbes.
Warilla were denied the full six points with their world No 1 Leif Selby and Corrimal's Paul Sweeny playing out an exciting 16-16 draw.
Dapto Citizens had the weekend off after having already beaten Thirroul 74-48 (6-0) at home in their rescheduled round-two match.
Six Grade 1 clubs play their final match of the regular season in round nine on Saturday, with two more catch-up matches from round six due to be played on Saturday week.
Warilla are scheduled to host fourth-placed Wiseman Park, while Corrimal are at home to Shellharbour on May 10.
In last weekend's other rescheduled round-two matches, Towradgi Park kept third spot with a 56-47 (5-1) win over Figtree RSL.
Wiseman Park Wollongong City had a 61-38 (6-0) away win over bottom club Woonona in a match tougher than the scoreline indicated, while Albion Park kept their top-four hopes alive with a 63-56 (4.5 to 1.5) away win over Shellharbour.
The Park's Dean Aitken beat Greg Stevens 31-20 in the rink that sealed the overall win. Shellharbour's Mal Pearson skipped his team to a 20-16 win over Ian Barrett, while Tony Piana had a 16-16 draw with John Ferguson.
The Park are 3.5 points behind Wiseman Park and are at home to Wiseman Park in their final round match on Saturday.
Albion Park must have a big win and then need Wiseman Park to lose heavily to Warilla to have a chance of snatching fourth spot.
Towradgi host second-placed Dapto Citizens in another match of huge significance on Saturday, while Warilla can wrap up top spot if they win all three rinks at home to Woonona.
In the other round-nine games, Thirroul are at home to Corrimal and Shellharbour have their last home game as a Grade 1 club, taking on Figtree RSL.
With Shellharbour BC to close at the end of the season, no Grade 1 club will be relegated to Grade 2 in 2015.
The top grade will remain a 10-team competition, with the Grade 2 champions to be promoted.