BOWLS
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South Coast clubs Tomakin and Malua Bay won prized State Pennant flags, while Taren Point are kings of the blue-ribbon grade 1 for a second straight year.
With former Corrimal star and reigning co-NSW Bowler of the Year John Green playing a key role, Taren Point made it back-to-back finals wins over Belrose 56-47, at Belrose BC on Monday.
Green played third for Wayne Turley in a 17-13 win over Shawn Thompson, leaving Belrose as beaten state grade 1 finalists for a fourth straight year.
Meanwhile, Tomakin BC won the grade 4 flag and Malua Bay the grade 3 state final in a great day for South Coast Zone 7.
Tomakin beat Cabra Vale Diggers (Zone 12) 52-49 in a tense final at Ettalong Memorial BC in which Diggers won two of the three rinks.
Ethan Tierney beat Tomakin skip Ken Franklin 16-15 and Tomakin's Henry Butler and partners were also beaten by a shot, 17-16 by Mark Short.
But Les Vincent and his Tomakin partners won their rink 21-16 against Stephen Smith to give the South Coast club an overall win by three shots, after 63 ends.
Tomakin were worthy champions after winning their three sectional matches and beating Barmedman (Zone 8) by 11 shots in Sunday's semi-final.
Meanwhile, Malua Bay celebrated their greatest day in club bowls by beating Molong (Zone 5) 59-55 in the grade 3 final at Mt Lewis BC.
Malua Bay held a 20-shot lead midway through the final but had to withstand a Molong comeback.
Former South African national champion Eric Johannes, who had stints with Warilla, Oak Flats and Corrimal, was the catalyst for the Bay's win.
Johannes skipped his team to a vital 10-shot win in the final after winning his semi-final against Rydalmere Central by 17 shots.
Tony Melrose also skipped his Malua Bay team to a two-shot win in the final, while Doug Ebsworth lost a tough rink 23-15.
"It's an awesome achievement," Johannes said. "We've lots of guys aged in their 60s and 70s in our team so to win a state flag is just a great day for everyone at the club."
In the other state finals, Cabramatta beat Taren Point 73-47 in the grade 2 final and Narrandera beat South Tamworth 63-45 in the grade 5 decider.
Lawson overcame Westport 71-38 in grade 6 and Coonamble beat Gulgong 70-46 in the grade 7 final.