Sports reports: Mannum upset Karoonda in Lower Murray bowls

This story includes a contribution from Derek Vanderzon. Email your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

Mannum went into the Christmas break on a high, usurping Karoonda at the top of the ladder after comprehensively beating them on all three rinks at Mannum.

Meanwhile Jervois is under severe pressure after four consecutive losses, this time to RSL who are now well within striking distance.

Tailem Bend have also breathed life back into their campaign with a big win on one rink enough to upset Murray Bridge.

At Mannum, Gavin Pfeiffer, Tom Towns, Steve Gregory and Ainsley Roberts set the tone early against Rowan Zadow, Rohan Tomkinson, Jayden Turner and Gary Zadow when they raced out to a 16-0 lead after just six ends in a completely one sided opening.

Zadow stemmed the bleeding with four of the next five ends, but singles and the odd two were hardly enough to bridge the gap, and Pfeiffer cruised to a 25-11 win.

David Kempe, Graham Leathers, Gary Odgers and Todd McDonnell were also in good touch as they led Ian Symonds, Garry Mason, Malcolm McKenzie and Bill Cornish 9-1 after seven ends.

Symonds never really threatened, and a five on the 17th to Kempe saw the locals home easily, 22-10.

Terry McDonnell, Marty March, Tony Gill and Ron Van Tijn were hardly off to an ideal start when they dropped a four on the opening end to Josh Porker, Malcolm Waechter, Erin O'Malley and John Wegner, but by the 10th end were nine shots up and in control.

A four on the 9th was immediately backed up with a six to give a match winning break. Porker threatened on a couple of occasions on the run home, but McDonnell eased to a 27-19 win.

The win leaves both sides level on points, but Mannum go top with a superior percentage.

At the RSL, the home side were solid 60- 44 winners over Jervois, two rinks up.

Jason Sipos, David Thiele, Michael Jacob and Gary Daniel were too good for Graeme Herbert, Jeremy Scannell, Denis Hicks and Graham Schenke with a 22-10 win.

Herbert was restricted almost exclusively to singles, whereas Sipos secured multiples on eight occasions and stretched the lead further and further as the match progressed.

Noel Kneebone, Ann-Marie Kuchel, Matt Wynne and David Newell were also largely untroubled against Shawn Hicks, Graham Fromm, Bruce Smith and Shane Fromm in a 22-13 win.

Kneebone was well on top in the first half, and although Hicks briefly challenged to close within three shots the rally was all too brief with a four to Kneebone easing any concerns.

A wrong bias to Kneebone was his only hiccup in a dominant display.

Tim Hicks, Kevin Spinks, Derek Vanderzon and Neil Morris salvaged two points for Jervois with a 20-16 win over Karen Kneebone, David Graham, Allan Wooldridge and Phil Day.

Hicks held sway for most of the day, but some big conversions by Kneebone hauled RSL back into the contest and they briefly took the lead after 16 ends.

The visitors finished a little stronger to get up by four shots.

At Tailem Bend the home side won just the one rink, but the 26 shot margin to David Hoare, Rob Hales, Con Jones and Stuart Rooke over Ben Traeger, John Pohl, Andrew Meddle and Haydn Hein inflicted enough damage to secure the win. 

There was little resistance as Hoare piled on the shots from the outset, scoring multiple shots on 11 of their 16 ends won, and never conceding successive ends at any time.

Bruce Attrill, Charlie DiSanto, Mike Ferris and Brian Leckie  eventually prevailed in a tight contest, 20-15 over Duane Edwards, Michael Thorne, Steve Gordge and Chris Slattery. 

Singles were the order of the day early with just 16 shots scored over the first 14 ends with the score eight apiece. 

A five to Attrill looked to break the game open, but Edwards immediately responded with a four to stay in touch.

Attrill again took the advantage with a two and four to kill off the challenge and win by five shots.

Travis Schenke, Merv Stevens, Kevin McDonald and Grantley Byrne were slow starters against Darren McIntosh, Tony Trewren, Troy Penhall and Paul Smart, but through a series of threes' they took an eight shot lead after 17 ends where they led 21-13.

A single to McIntosh saw him still seven down, but almost unbelievably he was in front by the next end after picking up an eight.

Another single to McIntosh gave him a bit of breathing space and he finished with a two to pull off an unlikely win.

Tailem Bend still sit bottom, but are well in contention given the closeness of the comp.

Mypo remain on top in Murray Towns cricket

Mypolonga 224 defeated Meningie 9/71

• Mypolonga best: Brady Wrigley 71, Aaron Zrim 51 and 3/11
• Meningie best: John Zadow 4/31, Zeke McNicol 4/46, Paul McNicol 51*

Monarto 1/118 defeated Tailem Bend 116

• Tailem Bend best: Brad Kleinig 32, Indika Kumara Batuwanthudawa 1/19
• Monarto best: Jarrad Kowald 5/17, Josh Mildwaters 4/25, Roclin Bates 49*

Mannum 7/194 defeated Wanderers 7/174

• Mannum best: Dwayne Krollig 55*, Max Loller 3/30
• Wanderers best: Jalen Kowalick 3/22, Cameron Cox 47