BOWLS
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Unbeaten leader Wiseman Park Wollongong City, and champions Warilla are the teams to beat in Illawarra grade one pennants following big wins over flag contenders in round five.
Wiseman Park made it four wins and a draw this season with a thumping 73-44 victory over struggling Dapto Citizens, who look nothing like the club that has played in the past seven finals.
Skip Robbie Warren (Wiseman Park) and partners had a 20-18 win over Kyle Johannes, Shane Garvey (Wiseman Park) thrashed Brian Harriott 31-12 and Steve Haines completed the clean-sweep with a 22-14 win over Ben Ford.
Warilla remain just a point behind Wisos after their fourth win in five rounds with a 78-40 victory away to Figgy Bowlo.
The call of the cards was not kind to Warilla world No. 1 Alex Marshall and his good mate and former Scottish international clubmate Graeme Archer (Figgy Bowlo) who were not drawn to meet one another.
Marshall and partners beat Steve Green 29-16, Jeremy Henry beat Greg Thurling 22-9 and Aaron Teys defeated Archer 27-15 for a comprehensive victory by the defending champion Gorillas.
Albion Park continue to have a great pennant season and consolidated third spot with a 79-43 belting of Corrimal.
Dean Aitken's rink led the way for Albion Park with a 27-9 victory over Paul Sweeny, with Warren Turner (Albion Park) beating Scott Bateup 29-17.
Mal Pearson completed an Albion Park sweep with a 23-17 win over Corrimal bowls co-ordinator Brett Pieper.
While the victory strengthens the Park's grip on a top four semi-final spot, Corrimal slip to equal sixth, with out-of-form Citos.
In other round five games, Woonona edged out Thirroul 65-64 in the match of the day.
Woonona's Warren Hamilton beat teenager James Jones 30-20, with Barry Martin (Woonona) and Dave O'Keefe having a 24-24 draw.
Frank O'Brien (Thirroul) beat Woonona's Ernie Ronald 20-11, but Woonona won by a shot overall to claim the two points.
Finally, Windang beat another struggling side Towradgi Park 62-58 at Towradgi.
Windang's Greg Stevens beat Wes Falconer 23-19 and Mark Walters beat Rod Busst (Towradgi) 24-14 in the crucial rink of the match.
Guy Vozza (Towradgi) had a 25-15 win over Rick Malley but Windang had done the damage on the other two rinks, leaving promoted Windang with a very respectable two wins a draw from the opening five rounds.
The pennant competition takes a break over Easter before returning on April 11.