By Jack Rollings
Again, it was a hot windy day. The fire siren went off in Monbulk and the emergency app reported several fires in the zone. But luckily all the Monbulk sides were able to complete their games with the temperatures hovering just below the cutoff of 36 degrees. Mind you, it felt a lot hotter than that out on the greens.
Monbulk 1 played at home against Boronia 1. The Monbulk players were expecting some motivated competition, after the one-shot win against Boronia last Saturday. But in fact, they were fairly subdued opponents on Tuesday.
Jim Bras’ team dropped only seven ends for the day, with nothing more than doubles, and only two of those. While on Monbulk’s side, they picked up a 3, a 4 and a 5, as well as five doubles. The Boronia team was not at full strength with two players brought up from a lower side. But the Monbulk team took no chances and didn’t relax until the last bowl went down. Monbulk won the rink 28 shots to 9.
Brian Smith’s team won the first two-thirds convincingly, only giving up four ends and building a margin of 12 shots. The final third was a whole different story. Monbulk managed to win just one more end while Boronia kept winning the mat and eating into the margin. Luckily the finish line arrived while the score was still in Monbulk’s favour 21 shots to 17.
Eric Markham’s team dropped a 5-shot clanger on the first end, and that 5-shot losing margin kept haunting the game, on the fourth end, the eighth end, the thirteenth end, the fifteenth end and the eighteenth end. But the final three ends belonged to Monbulk. In a near repetition of Saturday’s come-from-behind win, Monbulk managed to wipe out the deficit and, in a perfect bookend finish, they even claimed their own 5-shotter on the last end to win the rink 21 shots to 18.
Overall Monbulk won the round 70 shots to 44, with three rinks up. Monbulk is now third on the ladder, and not far off second. Next week they travel to Healesville, which is in seventh place. Monbulk needs those points.
Monbulk 2 played away against Pakenham. And although the Monbulk bowlers got to play under the roof, out of the sun, they still reported that it was very hot and sticky. Pakenham is on top of the ladder, with only two losses for the season.
Peter Lee’s team won seven ends including a 3 and a 5, but in between, Pakenham took some big scores and kept up the pressure. Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 37.
Tim Stapleton’s team won a 4 on the first end, then dropped a 5 on the second. So, from the start, all the bowlers could see it was going to be a hard-fought game. Monbulk led by 2 shots at the halfway mark, then stretched the lead to 5 shots with just four ends to go. Then, in a strong run to the finish, Monbulk picked up 10 shots to win the rink 32 shots to 17.
Alan Hamilton’s team had a struggle all day, one of the hardest matches for the season. They could only get hold of the mat four times, five if you count the toss. One positive was that Monbulk only dropped two clangers – they were able to contain the other losses to minor scores. Monbulk lost the rink 7 shots to 27.
Overall Monbulk lost the round 62 shots to 102 with one rink up. Yes, it was a thumping, but Monbulk is still third on the ladder, close to second. Next week Monbulk plays at home against Cranbourne who are nipping at the heels in fourth place.
Monbulk 3 travelled to Yarra Glen to play against their second side. Matches were played on a new synthetic green with a lot of sand still on the surface. Yarra Glen is second on the ladder with only two losses for the season. Monbulk wasn’t able to worry them in this round.
Mike Harris’ team won six ends, but the losses were many, and many of those were clangers. Monbulk lost the rink 8 shots to 45.
Graeme Seymour’s team led for most of the front half but dropped a couple of 5 shot-clangers around the middle of the game and couldn’t recoup those losses. Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 22.
Bruce Cockerill’s team suffered a shocker this round. Bruce happens to be the highest-ranked Monbulk player in this section – out of all the 161 players from all the sides, he is ranked 14th. Unfortunately, in this round, his team came up against the Yarra Glen skip, Geoff Rowe, the number one player in the section. Monbulk was able to win only three ends, while Yarra Glen feasted. Monbulk lost the rink 5 shots to 51.
Overall Monbulk lost 28 shots to 118, with no rinks getting over the line. Yes, it was a thumping. It wasn’t Monbulk’s day. And Yarra Glen was too good. Monbulk is now fifth on the ladder, but still within one good win of a top-four spot. If they can break back into the top four and get a foot in the finals, anything can happen. Next week Monbulk has the bye, so no points on offer, but the run home after that will be against sides that are absolutely beatable.
