BERWICK BOWLS
Berwick Bowls had plenty of ups and downs this week right across the board.
With 36 players unavailable for the weekend the club’s depth was really tested from the seconds’ right down to the eights.
Our sixths received a forfeit from Dandenong Club and thankfully, due to that happening, it allowed us to fill some vacant positions throughout the grades.
• Side 1 – 83 def Keysborough 79
Travelling to Keysborough is always a tough task and their green didn’t help at all with varying pace and runs throughout on Saturday.
Thankfully for us, Keysborough also had to adjust as they also didn’t know what to expect form their own green either. With Berwick off to a good start it quickly became a nail-biter throughout the afternoon. The rink of John Horwood, Andrew Bunnell, Lawrie Edwards and John Rich got out to a great lead and continued that throughout the day. As expected, the final result came down to the last two or three ends. Ellard picked up two on his rink and Rich a couple also which saw the Wickers come away with a four-shot overall win.
• Side 1 – 81 def Upwey-Tecoma 67 (Ladder position 1st)
Sunday saw the second leg of a double header and a couple of tough away games. The ones got off to a great start with an early overall lead which took the pressure right off. Steve Ellard, David Bond, Ed Wilson and Paul O’Day were all over it and it saw them out to a big lead which eventually set the day up with a rink win of 29-11. McQueen was well down against some amazing bowls from the opposition skip early but fought back hard to have a chance to win the game on the last end but wasn’t to be. Rich’s rink won a tight one by a shot and Mills rink was just down after some great bowls by the mullet throughout the game. With another double header next week the ones will need to consolidate a great weekend of wins by hosting Mordy on Saturday then travelling to Clayton on Sunday. Now in top spot, they have a red-hot chance of the home final in a couple of weeks but their fate is in their hands.
• Side 2 – 54 def by Cranbourne 1 92 (4th)
The twos were decimated this week with unavailability and Covid isolations. Cranbourne One got our twos on a day that our twos weren’t at full strength and it really has hurt the ladder position of the seconds. Sitting in top spot after a great win last weekend they’ve now dropped to fourth.
The section we’ve said all year is probably one of the most competitive in the clubs competitions for weekend pennant and sitting in fourth spot and only 10 points clear of Ferntree Gully in fifth, a big win against Vermont Sth this week with many returning back to the side is paramount. Who knows, with the twos playing their last home and away round an 18 point win and the possibility of some upsets in other games, the twos just might see themselves back to the top two. Fingers crossed it’s a big win and the results go our way. Again, their fate is now in their hands.
• Side 3 – 114 def Chelsea 1 51 (2nd)
A huge win by the threes this week against Chelsea’s top side at home. Rink wins of 19 (K. Graeber), 10 (C. Fothergill), 8 (K. Dalman) and a massive score of 35-9 by Jim Weir, Lynn McCurran, Karyn Mackie and Craig ‘Cranky’ Mills saw the threes really consolidate their ladder position of second. Again though, this week could see some change in ladder positions. The threes play Cranbourne 3 at Cranbourne. It could be a tough game on their synthetic but we’ll back them in (just). The third side, Cranbourne RSL, host Narre Warren so we don’t see the top position changing but with a good win, the threes will secure their second spot and a home final the following week.
• Side 4 – 82 drew with Mulgrave 3 82 (7th)
Great to see the fours bounce back after last weeks’ game. They weren’t happy with our assessment of their effort and came out determined to give a better effort and they did. One rink win and two rink draws saw both teams come away with nine points for the day. The fours play their last game this weekend against South Oakleigh at home and who knows, the fours just might help shape the final four with a win over second place in their last game.
• Side 5 – 64 def by Mulgrave 4 77 (7th)
The fives have been great the past few weeks and nearly knocked off the third placed Mulgrave on the weekend. Their wins have been few and far between but their past month has seen them get a couple of wins on the board and some very close games against good sides. This week the fives travel to Keysborough to play their third side. They’ve got nothing to lose and could end Keysy’s hopes of sneaking in to the four with a win in their last game. Great effort this week to all in the fives and let’s see you get yourselves up for the last game and create an upset at Keysborough. Hopefully, you’ll play on the back green and not the dodgy front green.
• Side 6 received forfeit from Dandenong Club (1st)
Well, the sixes are our first confirmed home final sitting on top of the ladder after receiving a forfeit over Dandenong Club. This week they head to Churchill Waverley Park which sees first play second. The sixes couldn’t ask for a better warm up to finals and after a week off they’ll be refreshed and keen to get on the green and secure top spot.
• Side 7 – 51 def by Carrum 2 58 (1st)
Although the sevens went down this week they still hold top spot and won’t have to play on what can be one of the toughest greens to play on near the beach at Carrum. Now 12 points clear in front and a game this week against Cranbourne 5, they can’t lose a top-two spot which will see them now confirmed to play a home final on the weekend of 12 March. This week will be a good warm up to finals. A win will see them most likely host Carrum in week one of finals, but a loss could see them playing Cranbourne again in the first final at home.
• Side 8 – 58 def Murrumbeena 3 50 (2nd)
Another good win away by the eights this week. They have also confirmed their home final on 12 March with a 25-point margin between them and third spot. Another great lead up to finals this week at home against Sandringham 3 and a win could see them pinch top spot and play Beaumaris 5 in the first final or Brighton Beach if they are to stay in second.
So, we’ve locked in three home finals already. The 1s, 2s and 3s this week have massive games in contrast of how finals might look for them and whether we have more teams playing at home in week one of the finals.
The 6s, 7s and 8s have great lead up games before finals the following week and it’s important that the 4s and 5s go out and enjoy themselves and maybe help shape the top-four in their sections.
Get on the greens…practice with purpose and cross our fingers results are in favour of the Wickers next week.
-John Rich-
