By Jack Rollings
The BOM predicted rain and possible thunderstorms. Instead, it was a cloud-covered sky, jackets off for most of the day, no wind and not much to complain about if you were playing bowls for Monbulk.
Monbulk 1 travelled to Healesville which hadn’t been able to use its greens during the recent floods. The floodwater didn’t make it onto their greens or into the clubroom, but bowlers just couldn’t get in there because the access road was flooded in a big way. On the way to Healesville, some of the paddocks in the low-lying areas near the rivers and creeks were still covered in what looked like an enormous lake on both sides of the road.
Monbulk went into this round without a loss. This matchup, on an away ground, was going to be a test, with Healesville sitting in third place on two wins. Just before the game started, the Monbulk side captain prepared the side for a tough one. Focus was the main strategy.
The Healesville main green is a sand-filled synthetic that has been recently professionally cleaned. Each rink had a very narrow side and a very wide side. The Monbulk bowlers had all arrived early for a few practice rollups, but even so, the rink sides were so different that it took a few ends into the games for some of the Monbulk bowlers to really trust their own aiming lines.
Eric Markham’s team had a strong start, only giving away four singles in the front half and taking the lead to an 11-shot margin. Marg O’Brien, as Lead, put in some tight shots to give Monbulk an early upper hand on several ends. After the cuppa break, Healesville won six ends in a row including a 3 shotter to get within 3 shots. Monbulk steadied, focused, with the finish in sight, and grabbed the important mats. Monbulk won the rink 18 shots to 13.
Karen Rice’s team won the first end but then dropped the next four ends including a 3 and a 4, to trail by 7 shots on the fifth end. Then they won two 3s in a row, and after that, were level pegging up till the cuppa break. After the break, the Monbulk team was all about focus. They only dropped four ends, all for minor scores and picked up some doubles and a 3. The Healesville skip resorted to killing the final ends in an attempt to make up the numbers, but Monbulk replayed the ends, with focus, and won the rink 21 shots to 15.
Brian Smith’s team never looked in danger. They won thirteen ends including a couple of doubles and a couple of 3s. One 2 shotter was the worst they lost. Halfway they were 5 shots up and they grew the margin in the back half. Monbulk won the rink 18 shots to 10.
Jim Bras’ team had a tough start. They picked up only two ends in the front half and trailed by 10 shots at halfway. After the break, with renewed focus, they gave away only three more ends. But one loss was a 3 shot-clanger. With six ends to go, they were still trailing by 10 shots, but Monbulk managed to win each of those six ends and almost topple their opponents. They certainly had them worried. Monbulk lost the rink 16 shots to 18.
Overall, Monbulk won 73 shots to 56, with three rinks up. They are undefeated and well on top of the ladder, 26 ladder points ahead of second, and a massive 90-shot score difference ahead of second. Next week there is no play because the Vic Open is on, but the following week Monbulk plays at home against Lilydale 3 who are fourth on the ladder. With only two matches to go, to complete the front half of the season, the pressure is on Monbulk to maintain good form.
Monbulk 2 played at home against Upwey/Tecoma 3. The opponents were winless so far this season and Monbulk was on home ground, so they went into this matchup, not with cockiness, but with real belief. And it showed on the scoreboards.
Alan Hamilton’s team had a huge front half. The wins included a 3, a 4 and two 6s. At the halfway break they were 22 shots up. In the back half the opponents won five ends including one 5 shot clanger that Monbulk let slip, but Monbulk also picked up a 4 and a 5. They increased the lead and took the rink 40 shots to 13.
Don Barnetson’s team has had mixed results recently so it was great to see such a steady game from the crew today. They dropped only six ends for the day. Yes, one of those was a 6 shot clanger, but they already had a big lead, on the rink and overall. Monbulk wins included four 3s, a 4, and a lot of doubles. Monbulk won the rink 32 shots to 10.
Graeme Goller’s team took a few ends to settle in and was down by 6 shots going into the eighth end. Then, in a massive turnaround, they picked up the next six ends, including two 4s and two 5s, to lead by 16 shots. That fruit cake at break time must have done the trick. In the race home, Upwey/Tecoma won more ends than Monbulk, but the Monbulk wins were all doubles, so they held onto the margin and won the rink 29 shots to 13.
Peter Lee’s team won thirteen ends and didn’t drop any clangers. The wins included two 4s and several doubles. Upwey made a good showing in the final third, but Monbulk nailed the last end with a big 4-shotter to finish on a high note. Monbulk won the rink 22 shots to 10.
Overall Monbulk won with a massive 123 shots to 46 and four rinks up. They are now fourth on the ladder with three wins and two losses. But, they are more than 10 ladder points below third spot, so they have some catching up to do. After the one-week break, Monbulk plays the next match against Dandenong RSL Rec 1 at the Keysborough Bowls Club. Dandenong RSL is yet to score a win this season.
Cockatoo/Monbulk played at home against Eastwood Golf. They played on the Monbulk bottom green, which isn’t too bad with all the recent rain. It was a huge win today for the combined team. But, as the lead kept growing throughout the day, the combined scoreboard actually ran out of numbers – they were in lofty new territory. It was the first side’s outright win for the season, so the celebrations went on for a while afterwards.
Allan Brooke’s team had a close front half, with Eastwood’s noses just in front at the break. Then the combined side fired up in the back half, collecting a 3, a 4, and a 5. They won the rink 31 shots to 18.
Mark Coulter’s team took a few ends to feel comfortable on the bottom green, but, after the fifth end, they were all over it, only dropping four more ends. Their collects included two 3s, a 4, and a 5. They won the rink 29 shots to 10.
Case Broekhof’s team was 5 shots all going into the ninth end. After that, they only dropped three ends, for minor scores, while the wins included good multiples. They won the rink 25 shots to 10.
Anthony Young’s team had a day out. They dropped only seven ends, with only one double. The wins included four 3s, three 4s, and a 5. They won the rink by a huge 35 shots to 8.
Overall, Cockatoo/Monbulk won the day 120 shots to 46 with four rinks up. Today the line was drawn in the sand, and this side successfully defended it. They are still sixth on the ladder but now they are within one game of the fourth spot. After the one-week break, they play away against Lilydale 4 who are third on the ladder.
