The first round of Saturday pennant kicked off with Monbulk 1 playing Donvale at home. Eric Markham’s rink lost the first end but then won the next 8 ends to lead by 14 shots. They continued to control the game even though they dropped 3 multiples to win by 16 shots, 29 to 13. Calvin Connell’s rink was up against it in the first part of the game and was 10 shots down after 9 ends. After the break, the Monbulk rink turned the game around completely, winning 7 of the next 8 ends to lead by 4 shots. However, they dropped 6 shots on the nineteenth end which ended their hopes of victory eventually losing by 2 shots, 20 to 22. Brian Smith’s rink started brilliantly with Terry Wright leading well and led by 9 shots after two ends. They then dominated the game and after 15 ends led by 23 shots. A lapse in concentration saw them lose 9 shots in 3 ends, but they then picked up 5 shots on the nineteenth end and eventually won by 21 shots, 33 to 12. Karen Rice’s rink had a close tussle in the first half of the game and was level at the break. They then got on a roll winning 5 ends in a row to lead by 8 shots. They maintained this lead and when they picked up 5 shots on the last end they had claimed victory by 12 shots, 27 to 15.
Monbulk 1 had a convincing overall win by 47 shots, 109 to 62.
Monbulk 2 took the trip to Willow Lodge at Dandenong South and met some strong competition. Peter Lee’s rink led by 4 shots after 7 ends, but then lost the next 4 ends including a 6 to fall behind by 7 shots. They plugged away, but were not able to bridge the gap and lost 17 to 24. Don Barnetson’s rink was in the game early, but after dropping 6 shots on the eighth end they never recovered to lose by 13 shots, 14 to 27. Graeme Goller’s rink was travelling well in the first half of the game and led by 5 shots after 10 ends. They then were only able to win one more end for the day losing by 16 shots, 13 to 29. Jim Anderson’s rink had a game they would prefer to forget being 16 shots behind before they got on the board on the seventh end. Things did not get any better and they lost by 38 shots, 6 to 44.
Monbulk lost the overall by 74 shots, 50 to 124.
Cockatoo/Monbulk 3 journeyed to Mooroolbark and had a very close overall contest. Allan Brooke’s rink was nip and tuck all day with scores level on the fifth, eighth and sixteenth ends. They took the lead by one shot with three ends to play but dropped 3 shots on the next end to eventually lose by 2 shots, 16 to 18. Pat Rays’ rink started slowly and were 14 shots down after 6 ends. They then matched their opponents, but the margin was too great losing by 13 shots 16 to 29. Cockatoos rink led by Kevin Murray was well in front early when they led by 6 shots after 6 ends. They then won only 3 of the last 15 ends to lose by 14 shots, 18 to 32. Mark Coulter’s rink dominated the game losing only 6 ends to win by 28 shots, 36 to 8.
However, this was not quite enough to take overall victory with Cockatoo/Monbulk losing by one shot, 86 to 87.
