Yesterday the annual State Women’s Pennants play-offs were getting under way at West Tamworth with a field of bowlers littered with state and international talent, including local star Melanie Macaulay.

It followed state success for two local rising stars with North Tamworth’s Chris O’Neill and Kootingal’s Mitch Austin winning the 2008 NSW State Junior (U18) Pairs at Warilla.

Representing Zone 3, O’Neill and Austin defeated Zone 16’s Suzana Stojcevska and Jesse Noronha 18-14 in the first of their three round games on their way to Saturday’s final.

Macaulay had a great start to her No.1 Pennants assault yesterday with her Cabramatta side, which includes Australian representative Karen Murphy, winning their two opening matches.

They were one of only two sides to achieve that, picking up a maximum five points from a first-up 61-25 win over Denistone, and 4.5 from their second, a 68-29 success against Albury SS&A.

Wiseman’s Park were the other dual winners for the day, defeating North Haven 39-33 and then Kurri Kurri 42-35.

The No.1 flag contenders will play a round robin competition with the top-placed side after the nine games taking the crown, and there will be a new title holder with last years winners Marylands, and runners-up Engadine both not qualifying for the play-offs.

State vice-president Jewel Buchan said it was a great opening day to the finals carnival, which will conclude on

Thursday.

The No.2, No.3 and No.4 pennants will all kick into gear today with the twos playing at South Tamworth, the threes at Tamworth City and the fours at North Tamworth.

The local interest will be held at West Tamworth with Macaulay and at Tamworth City where the South Tamworth eight will be hoping to go one better than they did last year, when runner-up.