By Jack Rollings
The Bureau assured us that Saturday’s temperature would be 26. Well, they missed
the mark there, it was cooler than that. But they were correct about the wind which
was swirling all afternoon. Tail winds became head winds before the bowls had
reached the head. It was challenging for all sides.
Monbulk 1 played at home against Upwey-Tecoma who have yet to register a win.
They would be throwing everything at Monbulk and that’s what happened. It was
hard work all afternoon.
Eric Markham’s team won twelve ends and didn’t give up the lead all day. In the
closing stages Upwey made a move and got to within 2 shots heading into the last
end, but Monbulk steadied, picked up a 3, and won the rink 20 shots to 15.
Jim Bras’ team trailed throughout the front half. After the tea break, they won three
ends in a row to draw level. Upwey fought back and, with two ends to go, had a 5
shot margin. Monbulk won the last two ends with doubles, just falling short and
losing the rink 17 shots to 18.
Karen Rice’s team also had a rough front half, not getting on the scoreboard until the
seventh end and trailing by 7 shots. After the break they won four good ends in a row
including a 3 and a 4, and got their noses in front on the fifteenth end. The race
home see-sawed and scores were level going into the last end. Monbulk managed to
hold onto a single and win the rink 19 shots to 18.
Brian Smith’s team fought a close match for the first two thirds. Then they grabbed a
couple of 3s to put in a healthy margin. By the eighteenth end this had grown to a 9
shot lead. But with the finish in sight, Monbulk dropped a 4 shot clanger to give their
opponents a glimmer of hope. The final two ends were singles each way, so Monbulk
won the rink 22 shots to 17.
Overall, Monbulk defeated Upwey-Tecoma 78 shots to 68, gaining 16 ladder points.
Now Monbulk is second on the ladder but it’s a tight fit with all top four sides having
recorded two wins and one loss. Next week Monbulk play away against Lilydale 2
who are fifth on the ladder. Yesterday Lilydale lost a home game to Heathmont so
they’ll have a strong incentive to make up for that.
Monbulk 2 played away, also against Upwey-Tecoma.
Peter Koomen’s team won nine ends but they were low scores, whereas their losses
included a 4, a 5, and a 6. And that was the exact difference at the end of the day.
Monbulk lost the rink 13 shots to 28.
Graeme Goller’s team led for most of the front half but only managed to win two
ends in the back half. Mostly they were able to contain the losses to minor scores,
but disaster struck after the break when Monbulk dropped a 3 and then a punishing 7
shot clanger. Monbulk lost the rink 12 shots to 26.
Andy Smith’s team started strongly and picked up a 4 shotter on the second end.
Their opponents fought back in the middle of the game and grabbed some multiples
of their own and took a 7 shot lead. Monbulk won more ends in the race home but
they were all singles and the margin was too great to make up. Monbulk lost the rink
14 shots to 20.
Mike Harris’ team won seven ends including a 3 and a 4. But their losses included
two 3s, two 5s and two 6s. It proved an impossible task to make up for those
clangers. Monbulk lost the rink 14 shots to 41.
Overall Monbulk lost the third round 53 shots to 115, with no ladder points gained.
Monbulk remains on the bottom of the ladder. Next week Monbulk will play at home
against Cockatoo who are in second bottom place. This is a must-win match.
