BERWICK BOWLS
• Side 1 def Parkdale – 3rd
The ones bounced back strongly away against Parkdale. A big shift in attitude and positivity saw a great fighting effort from all rinks. Ellard was well down early but fought back to be one down with one end to play while McQueen edges in front and Mills’ rink was neck and neck all day. Klooster, Bunnell, Edwards and Rich teamed up well to get a 16-shot margin and the two up, two down, 14 points overall. A shock loss to Cheltenham now see the top-four pretty much set and only one point separating the top three. The double headers commence this week so with Mulgrave at home and then Beaumaris away on Sunday the ones have to get two out of two to keep the pressure on.
• Side 2 def Dandenong Club – equal 1st
The twos continue to show how good they can be and another great win over the top side Dandenong Club sees them both now on equal points. With inclusions to the top side this week there’ll be some tinkering with sides and these changes should only strengthen the twos in important games coming up. The weekend’s win was mainly due to a 15-shot win by Kurt Oswald, Tom Cantwell, Alan Hughes and skip Tony French. The twos play three of the top five teams on the run home but this is a very competitive section and with three other games this weekend involving top-four sides playing each other, a win could get them a break and a cemented top-four spot.
• Side 3 def by Cranbourne RSL – 3rd
A couple of big rink losses hurt the threes chances of cementing their top-two spot. Two losses in two weeks to top-four sides mean the threes are really in need of a big win against Cardinia Waters this week to put a gap between the top-four and the rest! If not, they could actually see themselves fighting for a spot in the four after being on top of the ladder after round 8!
In some positive news for the club and the threes, it was great to see Jeff Janetzki back out on the green on a Saturday doing what he loves best. He’s been through a battle of massive proportions and to see him back out there this season is one of the feel good stories of the season. Well done Jeff and it’s great to see you back out there.
• Side 4 def by Cheltenham – 7th
Four losses on the trot for the fours this week and they are now desperate for a win this week. We’ve said all season across all grades it’s tough to cover big rink losses let alone two on the same day. Cheltenham is a strong club and it was always going to be a tough game but unfortunately only the rink of Lamble, A Jones, Rushton and Doug Fisher could manage a win. Hosting Parkdale is a game the fours can and should win so with some players back in to the team this week a win is a must and we’ve got them on top for the win.
• Side 5 def by Narre Warren – 7th
Narre are knocking of the door of the four in this section so to go down by only 14 overall was a pretty fair result for the fifths. The fifths are working hard for another win and the efforts by those being given opportunities is a positive sign for these bowlers and the club. Another tough assignment this week as they travel to Upwey to take on their second side but the fighting fifths are always a chance and that was shown last when they beat the top side.
• Side 6 def by Hampton – 2nd
It was a very narrow unexpected loss by the sixths this week, going down overall by only two shots. They’ve set up a home final already but it’s important they don’t get ahead of themselves at this later stage of the season. One of the strongest pennant rinks in the club this season again nearly helped snatch a close one with John Wonnacott, Albert Bertoncello, Avril Steere and Pat Steere getting up easily again by 11 shots. The average age of this rink is probably 75 and it definitely shows the importance of experience.
• Side 7 def Mordialloc – 2nd
A 24 shot win by Caroline McClary, Sheila Korda, Marg Jorgensen and Terry Wood set up a big win by the sevens at home! They took all 16 points and have now set up another home final for the club in a few weeks’ time. They haven’t skipped a beat this season and continue to be very hard to beat. Away this week to Moorabbin they can wrestle back top spot.
• Side 8 def Hampton – 1st
Another thumping given out by the eights this week taking all the points and all three rinks winning by 12, 15 and 16 for a 43-shot win overall. We are not going to make a call on where the eights might finish in four weeks’ time when finals start as there is still only one game between the top three and two games between the top five. We don’t expect the eights to lose too many on the run in but we’ll save our judgement of a home final for another week or two after we assess some other results as well.
With only four games remaining for our twos to eighths it’s important we are all working hard to ensure our bowls are as good as they can be.
Get on the track, get some bowls down and keep enjoying ourselves.
Selections may also be based on qualification requirements for some bowlers over the coming weeks as we want as many bowlers as possible qualified for finals. It is very possible that we could see as many as six home finals (we’ll deal with that if it happens) so get excited, be positive and support each other over the coming weeks and hopefully we see some amazing results by seasons end.
-John Rich-
