Sports reports: Joel Berkley wins national super sedan title

This story includes contributions from Murray Bridge Speedway and Derek Vanderzon. Email your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

In one of the most dramatic finals seen in many years, Queensland’s Joel Berkley has become the new SSA Super Sedan National Champion over the weekend.

It may have been Berkley’s ninth ever race meeting in Super Sedans, but the former National SSA Production Sedan Champion was consistent throughout the weekend, qualifying himself into position four for the final and outlasting the drama to claim a popular win.

The forty-lap main event hit drama from the get go, Queenslander David Musch, who had qualified into the feature through the B Main, struck engine dramas and despite his team working frantically on the infield through the driver presentations, he was unable to get the car mobile.

Mitchell Gee as high points man elected to start the feature from the outside line with Matty Pascoe taking the inside front row.

Pascoe made the most of the opportunity, getting the jump as Gee bounced through turn two which allowed defending champion Darren Kane underneath to take second while Berkley was right on Gee’s tail.

Pascoe began to build a gap as Gee fought back on the outside of Kane and retook second on lap three.

Cars went everywhere as Brad Pascoe’s #18 machine expired in a cloud of smoke, but he was able to safely get to the infield without stopping the race.

Pascoe with five complete was one and a half seconds ahead of Gee, with Kane and Berkley right behind.

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Lower Murray bowls preliminary finals played

Murray Bridge have earned another crack at Mannum for this season's division one LMBA pennant with a solid win over Karoonda in a match shortened by the extreme heat.

The home side was off to a great start with all rinks winning their opening two ends to race out to  a 13-0 lead, which ultimately became the winning margin with 18 ends lost due to the heat despite an early start.

Darren McIntosh, Tony Trewren, Troy Penhall and Paul Smart made a perfect start with a five to start proceedings, but Josh Porker, Malcolm Waechter, Erin O'Malley and John Wegner worked back into the contest to trail by only one shot after ten ends.

McIntosh pulled away again over the next four ends, adding another five shots, taking the score to 14-8 before the heat brought an early end to the match with nine of the final ten ends resulting in singles to either side.

Brian Traeger, Ben Traeger, Helen Lindner and Andrew Meddle were also off to a good start with a three followed by a two against Rowan Zadow, Rohan Tomkinson, Len Symonds and  Gary Zadow, and were in control 18-11 when the game was called after 16 ends.

Although Zadow was able to match the number of ends won at eight each, he was restricted to singles and the odd two, always lagging behind on the scoreboard.

Bruce Attrill, Charlie DiSanto, Mike Ferris and Brian Leckie had to be content with a draw against Ian Symonds, Garry Mason, Aaron Jones and Malcolm McKenzie after Symonds finished with a four on the 15th, and ultimately final end.

Three successive threes from the 9th end had given Attrill a decisive break until this point. 

It was a disappointing end for the reigning champs who started their title defence in great form and had looked set to build a dynasty.

With their relatively youthful profile they should bounce back next season but will view this as a wasted opportunity.

Murray Bridge will go into Saturdays grand final with a fair degree of confidence, given the home ground advantage and having settled on a combination which seems to be working well.

Mannum have undoubtedly been the best side this season, and would be hot favourites had it been scheduled on their home greens.

They would also be buoyed by twice defeating Murray Bridge at the venue this season.

I see no reason they can't do it once more.

In division two Jervois have held off a determined Meningie to win a berth in the grand final, leading 51-42 before the temp hit the 38 degree cutoff.

Daryl Little, Rob Tyas, Jock Hart and Stuart McCulloch led the way for the home side with a 22-14 win over Greg Miller, Ruth Miller, Don Magnusen and Roger Marsh.

Marsh was causing plenty of headaches on the lead, but Little was also outstanding, and pulled off some big shots to get his rink home, winning the final six ends after earlier surrendering the lead.

Rod Harris, Owen Allen, Scott Dinham and Malcolm Clayson were 16-15 winners over Sally McKechnie, Heath Mitchell, Merv Hill and Jason Morris.

It was a solid team performance from the locals, but McKechnie was the standout performer on the rink, and was probably unlucky to be on the wrong side of the score after winning ten of the 17 completed ends.

Trevor Mann, Len Gommers, Coralie Batchelor and Grace Hameister drew 13 all with Glen Andrews, Graham Harvey, Jeff Cutts and Syd Grieg.

Gommers was dominating early, but when he went off the boil Meningie worked their way back from a seven shot deficit to draw level.

Overall Meningie would be pleased with their efforts after only fielding division three sides last year, and certainly showed they are competitive.

Jervois will now take on Murray Bridge at Murray Bridge in the grand final.

They should put up a good showing, but will need a very strong performance to topple the minor premiers.

In division three Mannum defeated Murray Bridge 28-14, and will meet Jervois in the grand final which will also be held in Murray Bridge.

Jervois will be favoured to win in a close match.