By Jack Rollings
Section grand final day. Monbulk 2, in division 4, was the last surviving Monbulk side in the Midweek competition and they travelled to Berwick to play against the top side, Pakenham. The game started as expected, with the strong Pakenham side getting some early points and taking a 7 shot lead on the big board after the fifth end. Then Monbulk bowlers started finding their range and staged an impressive fightback. By the halfway mark Monbulk was 5 shots up, looking sharp, and their opponents were getting narky with each other. Then the lunch break came, and as sometimes happens, switches get flicked.
Klaus Eisele’s team, who had been leading by 4 shots, dropped a 4, then a 5, and then five ends in a row, to finish the twenty-one ends with a 10 shot deficit, 17 shots to 27.
Peter Lee’s team had been trailing, but, after a cuppa, they swung into action, only dropping three ends in the back half, and collecting some good multiples to finish the twenty-one ends with 9 shots up, 21 to 12.
Alan Hamilton’s team had a close match until, in sight of the finish, Monbulk stacked on a few ends in a row to take a 7 shot lead with just two ends to go. But then they dropped a 1 and a 5 to finish with a minimal lead 18 shots to 17.
A quick calculation will show that the scores were then level, and that meant all three rinks had to play a one end sudden death playoff – a rare sight that gets all the hearts racing.
It was close, but Pakenham ultimately came away with the chocolates. Overall Monbulk 2 lost 57 shots to 59. Yes, it was frustrating to be so close to the premiership and see it slip away, but it was a mighty effort against a side that has been on top all season. It was a season for Monbulk to be proud of.
