SIDE 1 def Cheltenham 93-55 (18pts)

Top of the table clash. This game would decide top spot at the end of the home and away season!

The Wickers headed the visitors at the start and never really looked back.  He rink of Alan Clements, Jeff Parker, Peter Hodgson and Ethan Mills continued to widen the gap on the opposition and had a great win 30-10 to set the day up.  Young Mitchell Keel set up the Josh McQueen rink all day leading up front while John Horwood and Lawrie Edwards had blinders to give Rich an armchair ride all day.  David Bond and Steve Ellard were superb in the backend of their rink and the side eventually took all before them for four rink wins and finish top of the ladder.

It’s been a long time since the top side finished at the head of the section and they will now host Beaumaris on Saturday at home for the section semi-final.  Two wins against Beauy mean nothing come Saturday though as it’s now a knockout to see who gets through to the section grand final on Sunday.

SIDE 2 – SECTION RUNNER-UP

SECTION SEMI FINAL

Our 2’s went to Narre on Saturday to play the section semi-final. We said all week this would be a tight one and with changes in selection due to Covid and unavailability the task seemed to look too hard for the twos leading up to Saturday!  But, in what was a fantastic fighting effort, the twos managed a close win to see their way through to the section grand final on Sunday.

SECTION GRAND FINAL

What a game!!! What a heartbreaking result!!!

The 2’s travelled to Heathmont on Sunday to take on Dandenong Club in what we knew would be a close game! We didn’t think the result would be a heartbreaking 1 shot loss to take the section title!

Dandy Club flew out of the blocks and Tony French and his rink found themselves in trouble early facing a 12 shot deficit going into the break.  The big board showed we were down by 1 overall at the break with Azzopardi’s rink opening up a good lead to cover Frenchy!

At the business ends all had finished except of course Clarkey’s rink!  With the deficit against us by 3 with two ends to go Clarkey just couldn’t get the extra shot to take it to and extra end or 2 to get the win.  A great season by the 2’s but to go down in the Section Grand Final by 1 shot after 84 ends just goes to show how good they were this season.

SIDE 3 – SECTION PREMIERS

SECTION SEMI FINAL

On Saturday the 3’s hosted Narre Warren. We picked them to win and they didn’t let us down.  The game was relatively close all day but the 3’s had their noses in front and came away with the win to progress to the Grand Final on Sunday.

SECTION GRAND FINAL

It was the game that should have been.  Us v’s Hampton Park 1..  the two best sides all season!

Kane “Big Fella” Dalman jumped out to a 11-0 lead against ex Wicker Kerry Prescott and the 3’s were on their way.  Unfortunately the side couldn’t capitalise on Dalman’s start with rink of Dave Fitzpatrick, Jean Reddy, Carsten Jensen and Ken Graeber were leaking shots left, right and Center!!! By two thirds of the way through Graeber was down 19-6 and Prescott had taken the lead over Dalman’s rink!

Enter Chairman of Selectors, Karyn Mackie’s rink. Karyn was stepping up to skip in the absence of Craig “Cranky” Mills with Jim Weir, Rob McGrath and Lynn McCurran, they started to put a big gap on their opponents and Mackie was on fire with some big conversions at crucial times to break the Redback’s spirit!  It got pretty close with about 10 ends to go but the wickers took out the section premiership by 10 shots in a fantastic performance!

Well done to those who came in at late notice to cover the absences and now the 3’s will go to the Divisional quarter final next week to try their hand against the other section premiers.

Side 3 – Section Premiers Division 3 Section 6

SIDE 6 – SECTION RUNNER UP

SECTION SEMI FINAL

On Saturday the 6’s hosted Hampton in what could be a danger game. We picked the win for them and they didn’t disappoint!  A totally dominant display and we didn’t think they would be pushed too hard in the semi!  Big rink wins by Helen Watson and Bill Stilo set the day up with the other two rinks having close wins.

SECTION GRAND FINAL

We picked the Grand Final to be us v’s Churchill Park Waverley Golf.  Clearly the top two sides in the section all year and deserved finalists!

Unfortunately Watson and Stilo couldn’t carry over their form from Saturday and both went down, by 13 and 12 respectively.

John Wonnacott, Albert Bertoncello, Avril Steere and Pat Steere had a great 15 shot win to help cover the deficit and Vaughn Smith’s rink had a 5 shot win.  It was tight on the big board at the business ends with only 2 shots the difference with 7 ends to play but Churchill Park got the better of the last couple of ends to win by 5 shots overall.

Such a fantastic effort by the 6’s and we are so happy as a club that our lower grades got to taste some finals action after some tough years previously.  Be proud of your efforts 6’s, you have represented yourselves and the club valiantly and successfully all season.

SIDE 7 – SECTION PREMIERS

SECTION SEMI FINAL

We said the pressure was on the 7’s this week to make the Grand Final after a 55 shot overall win last week against the same side they were playing in the semi!  Both sides personnel had changed significantly and it was much closer than the previous weeks thrashing!  The 7s got through on Saturday by winning two of the three rinks and an overall win of 11 shots!

SECTION GRAND FINAL

Well it was off to play Moorabbin at Burden Park in the Grand Final.

We picked the 7s last week to go all the way and they certainly didn’t disappoint! After Saturday’s close win we thought the pressure of finals may be getting the better of the 7s but wow!  They were dominant! Leading all day, and with some good leads on 2 rinks.

Alf Reina kept his rink within striking distance finishing with a draw.  Rob McIntyre, Helen Adair, Leon Keel and Ron McGrath set the day up with a 16 shot win and Caroline McClary, Kevin Fewster, Marg Jorgensen and Johnny Stoker backed them up with a 9 shot win!

A great reward to be the section Premier this season the 7’s will now play off in the Divisional Finals next week. Well done 7’s.

Side 7 – Section Premiers Division 7 Section 7

SIDE 8 – SECTION FINALISTS

THE 8’s probably had one of the toughest games of the weekend on Saturday.  It was a very competitive section and the ladder positions were different nearly every week.

Only winning 1 of the 3 rinks on the weekend and Beaumaris enjoying the quality of our grass greens the 8’s just couldn’t get back to get over the visitors. This side was only put together and entered the week before the start of the season so to play in a section semi final was a fantastic achievement.  Well done to all that played in the 8’s this year and to those who helped out when we were decimated with people unable to play.

NEXT WEEK

So, there’s still more to come!  Our 1’s host Beaumaris at home on Saturday in what is sure to be a ripper! Beauy are passionate and always competitive so the top side need to show consistency and poise throughout the day to get the win.

The 3’s will continue in the Divisional Finals as will the 7’s.

In a quick recap, the Wickers have 6 out of 8 sides in finals to date, 4 section Semi finals and 2 section premiers.  And, there’s still more to come we hope!  Get out and support the sides this week in what will be some fantastic games of bowls.

Go wickers!!!