Now, after winning the district flag, the women have their eye firmly fixed on bringing home regional honours.

The team of eight ladies won the grade three Newcastle District Women's Bowling Association pennant flag in May after a nail-biting final against Nelson Bay.

Played at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club, the Tilligerry Peninsula team narrowly defeated their Tomaree Peninsula rivals 44-39.

“It was a really really good game,” team member Anne Cheetham said.

The win was the first for the women’s club since 2010, when grade four won the flag.

For the grade three side, it last won the Newcastle pennant flag in 2008.

The 2008 the ladies team made it to the state pennant playoffs.

Two women, Delma Price and Lyn Jordan, were with the team in 2008.

They are also on the team this year, joined by Cheetham, Jeanette McClure, Kath Rados, Margaret Drury, Margaret Lewis and Annette Davis.

“For me, personally, it was wonderful,” Cheetham said of the Newcastle district pennant win.

“It’s the first time I’ve won a pennant flag.”

The women’s season began March 21 and finished April 27 before the one-match final decided the winner.

Now the women will move into the regional final where they will face Maitland City at Soldiers Point Bowling Club on July 3-4.

The winner of that match will move into the state final, which will be held on the Central Coast on August 14-18.

Cheetham said she felt the Lemon Tree Passage team had a good chance in beating Maitland City at the regional finals.

“We get on well together, play well together, and are determined,” she said.

“It’s a pity there’s such a gap between the [district] win and regionals, but we have been practising and playing other clubs, visiting different venues.”

The Lemon Tree Passage Women’s Bowling Club has won seven flags since 1987.