LAWN BOWLS - ZONE 16 PENNANTS
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Defending champions Warilla look even stronger, while Dapto Citizens and Wiseman Park head a list of title contenders in Grade 1 pennants with the new season beginning on Saturday.
Warilla have won five of the past seven top-grade Zone 16 flags, but have been unable to add to their maiden NSW Grade 1 flag claimed in 2004.
The Gorillas appear more formidable this season with world No 1 Alex Marshall to arrive for round three, giving them three of the world's top 10 bowlers in Jeremy Henry, Leif Selby and Marshall.
The hardest decision at Warilla in the off-season is who to leave out of their Grade 1 side, with highly-regarded youngster Greg Jeans and Zone 7 rep player Jamie Turner also joining the club.
With the Grade 1 competition to be overhauled at the end of this season and no-one sure who will be joining or leaving Zone 16, this could be the last time Warilla face only Illawarra-based opposition for the crown.
While Warilla start another season as the club to beat in Grade 1, Dapto Citizens and the ever-ambitious Wiseman Park reckon they can spring an upset.
Dapto Citizens have had a huge turnover of top players with John Ferguson, Aaron Spears, Jordan Taylor, Trevor Suckley, Peter Thelan, Kyle Johannes and Brian Harriott joining in the off-season.
Steve Green is a major loss having taken up the greenkeeping contract at another ambitious club Figgy Bowlo, with Corey Thompson also joining Figtree, while Scott Bateup has signed for Corrimal.
Wiseman Park have lost youngster Jordan Taylor but are always active in recruitment with Paul Luke, Mal Lyons, John Ritchie, Ken Hunt, Paul Robertson, Adrian Jones and Tom Hull signing on.
The club have some excellent players - led by Shane Garvey and Dylan Skinner, but need a couple of strong leads and seconds in their top pennant teams to go from semi-finalists to championship contenders.
Figgy Bowlo will target the top four having signed Steve Green and former world champion and new bowls co-ordinator Graeme Archer, who arrives next week and is available from round two.
Corrimal have also been active in the off-season with Brett Pieper their new bowls co-ordinator and Scott Bateup, Daryl Webster, Rob Baker, Liam Dun and Geoff Hancox joining the club.
Corrimal, Towradgi Park and Figgy Bowlo will likely be battling for one semi-final spot with realistically Warilla, Citos and Wiseman Park again making the top four as they have done for many years.
Albion Park are another club in the top-four mix with Mal Pearson and Ricky Thompson joining the club, while John Ferguson has left to play for Citos.
Towradgi have also been active with Mal Lyons, Brian Harriott, Paul Luke and Geoff Hancox finding new clubs and Dave Roberts, Daniel Ellem, Anthony Jones, Steve Cheney and Paul Condon joining.
Thirroul struggled last season and have gained Neil Newson, while Paul Robertson, Daryl Webster, Paul Condon and Anthony Jones will play for other clubs.
Woonona also struggled in 2014 and are hoping new signings James Berriman and Simon McGovern will strengthen a club which brought in a host of new players 12 months ago after Bulli closed down. Promoted Windang have Greg Stevens, Gary Sampson, Paul Hart and Matthew Cooper and should hold their own having retained most of their grand-final winning Grade 2 squad from 2014.
