The weather was blowy all day for the seventh round of the midweek pennant.
Jackets and hoodies mostly stayed on, with just a few toughies in their shirt sleeves and overnight rain dampening the greens.
Monbulk 1 played at home against Warburton 1. It was always destined to be a close battle, with both sides in the top four.
Eric Markham’s team was convincingly beaten in the front half, dropping six ends, and being down on the scorecard 4 shots to 12 going into the tenth end. The back half was a completely different story. They only dropped two ends and picked up several doubles and some even better multiples. They took the lead with a 5 shotter on the thirteenth end, grabbed a 4 on the next, and then it was pretty much clear sailing to the finish. Monbulk won the rink 27 shots to 15.
Brian Smith’s team had built a good lead of 8 shots by the lunch break, but then gave themselves a scare by dropping a 5 shot clanger early in the back half. After that they focused and won twice as many ends as Warburton, finishing with the 8 shot lead restored. Monbulk won 22 shots to 14.
Jim Bras’ team had a close game for most of the front half, then around lunchtime, they grabbed a 5 and a 2, to lead with an 8 shot margin. After lunch there was a big turnaround, Warburton put the foot down and Monbulk dropped a couple of clangers to trail by 6 shots. The final two ends were pressure moments where Monbulk managed to salvage some of the margin, but lost the rink 21 shots to 23.
Overall Monbulk won 70 shots to 52 with two rinks up. They are now fourth on the ladder, just one ladder point below third and two points below second. Next week is the start of the return matches, so Monbulk will host Upwey-Tecoma who are currently eighth on the ladder.
Monbulk 2 played away against Hampton Park 1.
Peter Koomen’s team struggled in the front half, taking only two ends and heading into the eleventh end 10 shots down. Then they won three ends in a row to get within 3 shots. Hampton Park won the next three ends, but Monbulk kept on coming back. They won the last two ends but the finish came too soon and Monbulk lost the rink 17 to 19.
Graeme Goller’s team won thirteen ends, including a couple of 3s. And twice they won five ends in a row. They were 12 shots up with two ends to go and that’s when they dropped a 2 and a 3. But they still managed to hold onto a crucial margin, winning 21 shots to 14.
Peter Lee’s team had a close battle. They didn’t get on the scorecard until the fifth end and trailed by 6 shots. After lunch they staged a big comeback and levelled by the sixteenth end and took the lead by the seventeenth end. With two ends to go, they were up by 2 shots. Then they dropped a 2, so that meant they went into the final end on 15 shots all. Unfortunately, Monbulk dropped another 2 and lost the rink 15 shots to 17.
Overall, Monbulk won 53 shots to 50 with one rink up. It just proves what a team game pennant is, with each rink contributing to the overall win. They are now third on the ladder, just 9 ladder points behind top spot. Next week they play under the roof at Narre Warren, who are in second spot on the ladder in what is expected to be a great match up.
Monbulk 3 played at home against Eastwood Golf 2.
Bruce Cockerill’s team led strongly all day. They did drop a 4 shot clanger around the two-thirds mark, which let Eastwood into double figures, but they also picked up a 3, a 4 and a big 6. Monbulk won the rink 24 shots to 15.
Graeme Seymour’s team, like several Monbulk players, struggled on the freshly-cleaned Monbulk carpet. It just wasn’t behaving like the Monbulk green normally behaves. They dropped a couple of 3 shot clangers and couldn’t get hold of the mat enough to pressure Eastwood. Monbulk lost the rink 10 shots to 21.
Mike Harris’ team had a close game for most of the day. Scores were level four times. Then, with just six ends to go and the scores on 12 shots all, Eastwood made a move. Monbulk could only win one more mat and Eastwood took the lead and grew the margin. Monbulk lost the rink 13 shots to 19.
Overall Monbulk lost 47 shots to 55 with one rink up. They are now fourth on the ladder, just 6 ladder points below third spot. Next week they play away against Boronia who are just below on the ladder.
