A big weekend with 5 out of 7 wins and a forfeit received by our 7th Side. This now sees 6 of our 8 sides sitting top two with only 2 rounds till finals.
If it stayed this way until the home & away games were complete we will have to look at playing some morning games in the first week of finals to fit everyone in on our greens with home finals.
Side 1 78 def Pakenham 1 56 (2nd)
Well, the top side made up for the home loss last week by trouncing the old foe Pakky at home on Saturday.
It was a pretty tight contest up to the break with the wickers going in with a 15 shot lead overall. All rinks were reasonably close but after the break 3 of the 4 rinks dominated Pakky and the fourth rink stayed in touch to see the top side pull away by the end of the game.
Josh McQueen and his rink continue to be in fine form and proving very hard to knock off. 2 double headers await the 1s in the next two weeks with a 2nd v 3rdcontest at Keysborough on Saturday. A win on Saturday could see the home final we’ve been wanting tucked away. The top 3 are all capable on their days of knocking the others off so no predictions at this stage but opportunity awaits.
Side 2 93 def Narre Warren 1 75 (1st)
Two draws, a 3 shot win, and a flogging by the rink of Carol Klooster, Dave Reddy, Dennis Griffin and Rob Morley by 15 shots set up the win against the fancied Narre side.
Klooster and Griffin bolstered the strength of the twos this week after playing in the top side last week and being moved to allow the return of two of the top side players. Both should probably be playing 1’s but the club’s depth and their qualifying requirements allowed selectors to strengthen Morley’s rink after being trounced last week.
The 2’s are off to Cranbourne in a 1st v 2nd showdown this week in which a win by our side will just about seal the top spot on the ladder.
Cranbourne will be desperate for the win as they’ll travel to Ferntree Gully in the last round who are in fine form. So, this will probably be the game of the round in the 2’s and we will back them in away against Cranny and seal top spot.
Side 3 78 def by Narre Warren 2 83 (2nd)
What a heartbreaking loss for the 3’s this week under the roof at Narre!!! 3 rinks up and yep, we’ve said many times this year, you can’t cover big rink losses!
Three reasonably tight rink wins but a 16 shot rink loss at this level just won’t cut it!
Sometimes it’s more beneficial to just play with a defensive mindset rather than chase shots. We need to remember, 1 rink loss by a few shots will generally get you the 10 points overall with the other 3 rinks doing their job.
The 3’s will now sit 2nd only 1 point in front of Cranbourne RSL but have an opportunity to have two big wins against sides outside of the 4. They’ll need to make the most of their chances too as 1st v 3rd this week and 1st v 4th the following could see the 3s bounce back for finals if two big wins are put on the board and secure a home final but they will want to big wins.
Side 4 44 def by Mordialloc 2 107 (6th)
With all due respect to Mordialloc, our 4’s are not this bad! Four rink losses, one of them by 30 shots just doesn’t seem right for this group.
Some in form bowlers went back into the side this week and others from higher sides so we would have expected a much better performance on a relatively good green at Mordialloc. Maybe the 4’s know they can’t make finals and they’re just rolling with the punches at the moment but this one is probably a little embarrassing and we’d like to think the 4’s come back this week with a much more competitive effort.
We can all go and enjoy our bowls and not come home with the points but this type of loss just doesn’t see anyone enjoy their day. C’mon 4’s, lets see a big improvement this week. There are still opportunities for some of these bowlers in form to push for a finals selection in higher sides but their form needs to be better than this.
Side 5 84 def Burden Park 2 62 (7th)
A big win in the bottom of the table clash for our 5’s. It’s been a very frustrating and tough year for our 5’s but they are finishing the season off strongly even knowing they can’t make finals.
David Leitch and Vince Miceli are relishing their opportunities to play back end and are having an impact for the 5’s.
Great to see them enjoy their day, and their bowls, and take the opportunity on. The 5’s host Mulgrave next week and who knows, the way they are going they may just starting having some say on the final 4.
Side 6 106 def Hampton RSL 4 51 (1st)
We expected and predicted a big win by the 6’s this week and boy, they did not disappoint!!! All rinks up and 55 shot drubbing of the opposition on their home turf.
A great effort by all and some big wins. Vaughn Smith’s rink including Scott Waterfall, our own “Ben Button” in Trevor Munday and Val Fowler had a 25 shot win. Vaughn is relishing his skipping role this year and leads the Player Rankings for the section with only 1 loss for the year.
The 6’s have secured the top two, home final spot however will have a great lead up game into finals playing 2nd place Churchill Waverley in two week’s time. They have been the two standout clubs in the section all year and we can’t wait to see what finals brings.
Side 7 received a Forfeit from Noble Park (2nd)
Well the 7’s have probably received their home final and top two spot but do have to play the 4th and 3rd sides in the run home.
They have beaten Carrum comprehensively in the initial rounds but travel their this week and we know what the conditions on the beach at Carrum can dish up so they won’t get it all their own way.
In the last round they also come up against Cranbourne 5 who got the better of them narrowly in their previous encounter so it could be interesting. We are backing them in to win at least 1 of the 2 in the run home though and secure their home final.
Side 8 63 def Moorabbin 6 61 (1st)
What a nailbiter!!! A 2 shot win overall and 2 rinks up see the 8’s sitting on top of the ladder clear of Parkdale by 2 points. Parkdale have a much tougher run home as do the 2nd and 3rd sides in this section so it’s highly possible the 8’s will also finish on top and see a home final in two weeks.
Don’t get complacent though, we know what happens if we think it will just happen and you’ll get the win. Time to knuckle down over the next two weeks and get a couple of big wins. The rink of Rod Pearson, Helen Adair, John Stoker and Mike Ferey set the day up this week with a fantastic 9 shot win in a close game overall.
The run home
With only two weekends to go, and many sides playing finals, it’s time to remember that the club is bigger than the individual! Selection was tough these past two weeks and if you get the dreaded call from the selectors, just remember, think about your form and the teams form before others form.
The selectors have put it out there this week that the club and the sides that have got teams to this point will be considered before individuals. If your form is poor, own it, get on the green and practice, and make it even harder for the selectors to pick the sides.
Club Culture before individual needs, always!!! GO WICKERS