By Jack Rollings
Saturday pennant started up again this week after the Christmas break and it was hot and windy. So hot it had some bowlers reaching for the rulebook and others who should have reached for the rulebook.
Monbulk 1 played away against Boronia 1. It was first versus second. The winner could claim the top spot. The Boronia main green has been top-dressed recently. It is greening up nicely but is not ready just yet. So, the match was played on the second green. It wasn’t as slow as predicted, but it did have a few runs that trapped the bowls into straight lines. At least they were traps for both teams.
Karen Rice’s team led throughout the front half. It wasn’t until the fourteenth end that they dropped a 3 to give up the lead. Boronia started hitting their targets towards the finish and making conversions that Monbulk couldn’t restore. Monbulk lost the rink 12 shots to 19.
Jim Bras’ team had a close game with level scores on several ends. There were no scores higher than a double for both teams. Then, after 10 shots all on the fourteenth end, Monbulk managed to grab five of the final ends with 3 doubles, whereas Boronia managed only two singles. Monbulk won the rink 18 shots to 12.
Brian Smith’s team trailed for most of the game, even though the number of ends won was fairly even. A couple of clangers in the front half hurt Monbulk on the scoreboard. Then, with just three ends to go, Boronia had a lead of 11 shots. And that’s when Monbulk turned it on, with a 3, a 4, and another 3, to almost claim the rink, but more importantly to give the composite big board a crucial boost. Monbulk lost the rink 20 shots to 21.
Eric Markham’s rink had level scores several times. The ends won were even and there were some clangers dropped by both teams. The lead seesawed towards the finish. By the second last end, the other rinks had finished and the composite board was looking very close. With the other players looking on, the second-last end went to Boronia with 2 shots. The pressure was then full on for the final end. Monbulk needed a 2 to win the rink or a 4 to win the overall match and the top spot on the ladder. Monbulk steadied with solid draw bowling. Boronia tried to disrupt the head with weighted shots, but the desperation didn’t work. It came down to a measure, but, in the end, Monbulk picked up the 4 vital shots. Monbulk won the rink 23 shots to 20.
Overall Monbulk won 73 shots to 72 with two rinks up, to stay on top of the ladder. Next week Monbulk plays away against Bayswater 1 who is sitting sixth on the ladder. But, be aware, Bayswater has won four matches this season, all on their home ground.
Monbulk 2 played at home against Pakenham 3 who are on top of the ladder with no losses for the season. It was always going to be a tough assignment. And Pakenham wasn’t worried by the Monbulk synthetic surface – they have synthetic too, so the Monbulk home ground advantage was reduced. And Pakenham was just too good on the day.
Mike Harris’ team won nine ends, but the losses included a 6 and two 3s. With just four ends to go, Monbulk trailed by 16 shots. Monbulk then finished strongly and was able to reduce the margin by half. Monbulk lost the rink 16 shots to 24.
Peter Lee’s team copped a hammering this round from a very strong team. Monbulk did win seven ends but there were several clangers among the losses. Monbulk lost the rink 11 shots to 34.
Alan Hamilton’s team had a close match for most of the day, until the eighteenth end when they dropped a 3 and trailed by 4 shots. Then, in a thrilling finish, Monbulk won the final three ends with a total of 8 shots. Monbulk won the rink 25 shots to 21.
Jim Anderson’s team won nine ends, but the losses included three 3s and a 4, and that total of 13 turned out to be the losing margin. Monbulk lost the rink 10 shots to 23.
Overall Monbulk lost 62 shots to 102 with just one rink up. Monbulk remains third on the ladder with a win/loss ratio of 6/4. Next week Monbulk play at home against Ferntree Gully 4 who are sitting fifth on the ladder, but they are knocking on the door with only a handful of ladder points between third, fourth and fifth. The Monbulk run home to the finals looks hopeful, with the final four matches scheduled against sides below them on the ladder. And a bit of luck wouldn’t hurt.
Cockatoo/Monbulk played at Cockatoo against Yarra Junction 1.
Mark Blythman’s team had a close match all day with the lead changing several times and no margin greater than 3 shots. They didn’t win as many ends, but the Cockatoo/Monbulk wins included a good 5 shotter. They forced a draw at 15 shots all.
Mark Coulter’s team took the lead on the seventh end with a 5 shotter and then took control of the game. They grew the margin and only dropped seven ends for the day with nothing worse than doubles, while the wins included a couple of good 3 shotters. Cockatoo/Monbulk won the rink with a healthy margin 26 shots to 11.
Allan Brooke’s rink was fairly even in the number of ends won, and both teams picked up multiples to change the lead dramatically several times. They managed to contain the loss on the final end to a single shot and hang onto the lead. They won the rink 25 shots to 24.
Anthony Young’s team performed strongly in the heat, only dropping seven ends and all of those for minor scores. The wins included five 3s, one 4, and a 6. They won the rink 33 shots to 12.
Overall Cockatoo/Monbulk won 99 shots to 62 with three and a half rinks up. The ladder is incomplete but currently this side is sitting third. They also have the top score percentage on the ladder at 137.66, mainly due to the lowest shots against them of all the sides in this competition. Next week Cockatoo/Monbulk will play at Cockatoo against Mooroolbark 7 who are sixth on the ladder with only three wins. The combined side is now only eight ladder points below second. The wins are coming at the right time of the season if they can keep up the momentum.
