STATE PENNANT FINALS
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Warilla will tune up for this weekend's State Pennants grade 1 finals with a practice match against an Illawarra selection side at Figgy Bowlo this afternoon.
With nine weeks since the Illawarra pennant finals, Warilla want a good hit-out before playing their sectional matches on Saturday at Dapto Citizens Bowling Club.
The practice match is from 2pm with Figgy Bowlo bowls co-ordinator Graeme Archer to take on his Scottish international mate Alex Marshall, who has returned from England to spearhead Warilla's bid for the grade 1 state flag.
Archer will be partnered by Guy Vozza, Mark Larsen and teenager Jarrod Beckford, and take on Marshall and partners Leif Selby (third), Geoff McGillivray (second) and Jesse Noronha (lead).
The star-studded rink will be one of the big guns for Warilla who are desperate to win a second State flag, after claiming their maiden title in 2004.
In the other rinks, Corrimal's Scott Bateup will partner Jared Hamilton, Brett Pieper and Roger Duggan against the Warilla rink skipped by Aaron Teys. The reigning Australian Open and Illawarra Singles champion is partnered by Hayley McDonald, Greg Jeans and Jamie Turner.
In the other rink, Towradgi's Wes Falconer will skip his composite side against Jeremy Henry. Falconer will play with Steven Green, Damien Lateo and Cory Thompson, while Henry's experienced rink features Jamie Mitchell (third), Erin Smith (second) and Wayne Crane (lead).
Warilla won't get a better opportunity to claim a state pennant title than playing virtually at home with their sectional round at Dapto Citos, who host the final, plus are co-hosting the sectional rounds with Albion Park.
Warilla's arch-rivals Taren Point play in section 4 and can't meet Warilla until the final.
Warilla face a crunch section 2 match against Merrylands (zone 10) in the opening game, before taking on Zone 8's Wagga Rules on Saturday afternoon (1pm) and then in what appears the easiest match-up in the section, Warilla face Inverell East (zone 3) on Sunday morning.
The section winner takes on the top side from Section 1 featuring St Johns Park, South Lismore, Port Macquarie City and Tuncurry in Sunday afternoon's semi-finals.
Ettalong Memorial appear the top side in section 3, while Taren Point and Belrose should fight out Section 4. Illawarra zone 16 have high hopes of doing well in the lower grade finals. Illawarra grade 2 champions Warilla play their sectional matches at Cabramatta against Picton, Leichhardt and Gwandalan.
In the grade 3 finals at Warners Bay, zone 16 champions Towradgi Park face Northmead, Asquith and Lithgow City.
Illawarra grade 4 champions Dapto Citizens are at Nelson Bay and face Halekulani, Ramsgate RSL and Adamstown.
Dapto Citizens are also the grade 5 champions and head to Dubbo Railway BC to face South Grafton Ex-Services, plus zone 7 neighbours Cooma and Wagga Rules.
In grade 6, Windang are at headquarters Northmead and face Macksville, Pittwater Memorial and Raymond Terrace. The Illawarra Grade 7 champions Jamberoo will need to rug up for the trip to Orange City BC. Jamberoo face West Dubbo, Cudgen Leagues and zone 7's Merimbula in section 1.