BERWICK BOWLS
Half of the Berwick Bowling Club was smiling and the other half were licking their wounds after four wins from eight matches in Saturday Pennant bowls.
Division 2 to 8 sides have the pressure on heading in to finals, with only three games left in the home and away season before finals, and the Division 1 side has six games left and a tough run home to the finish line.
Berwick 1 (Sunday) – Def by Whittlesea 1 73-83 (away): Ladder Position: 4th
In what was probably the best quality game of pennant for the season the ones fought tooth and nail but unfortunately fell agonisingly short! An away trip to Whittlesea on a Sunday isn’t an easy draw as there was a fair crowd on hand to support the Eagles. Whittlesea got the jump on Berwick early getting out to nearly 20 shots in front after the first quarter and Berwick then fought hard to ensure it didn’t increase. By the 70th end of the match, the overall score was dead level and the Wickers were right in it. A couple of ends late cost the Berwick side where some luck didn’t go their way and Whittlesea eventually snuck away with a 10-shot win. The fight and effort from both sides and the quality of bowls across all four rinks was a treat for the local crowd and it was a great game to be a part of. It’s a tough gig now though for the ones who have to win possibly four out of the last six games. They may sneak in with three from six but will rely on results if they can’t get the wins on the board.
Berwick 2 – Def Mordialloc 1 97 – 63: Ladder Position: 1st
The twos are flying…43 points clear on top of the ladder and only one loss for the season against Mordialloc early in the season. The twos are reasonably settled and should be for the rest of the season with only minimal changes likely. They are working well amongst rinks and as a team overall and their position is reflected by this. Tony French’s rink set the day up for the big win with an 18 shots smashing of the opposition. The twos have Clayton, Coatesville and Moorabbin on their run home and need to stay focused on the task and not look too far ahead as the three sides they come up against are all capable of an upset.
Berwick 3 – Def by Ferntree Gully 74 – 95: Ladder Position: 8th
Ferntree Gully away is a tough ask for any club with a very quick, old, synthetic green running 17 seconds and it can be a very hard challenge to conquer. The development side found that out first hand and will gain valuable experience from their loss on the weekend. They are still showing a lot of fight and all players are enjoying their opportunity to play at a very good standard of bowls in Div 2. The threes have Keysborough, Narre Warren and Burden Park left to play and are itching for another win. Could it be Keysy this week at home? I’m saying yes, the threes for a big win this week
Berwick 4 – Def Pakenham 2 80 – 76: Ladder Position: 2nd
What a fantastic win by the fours over top placed Pakenham on the weekend. The fours have been a settled side for a while now and it’s starting to show with some very consistent results. Pakenham have been the yardstick so far this season and the weekend was always going to be a tough ask. The win by Carsten Jensen’s rink including Bob Gladman, Sue Balkwell and Mike Hodges by seven shots proved to be the difference, with a draw, a one-shot loss and a two-shot loss across the other three rinks. It proves the theory that keeping rinks close, losing ends by minimal shots, and not playing the hero shots keeps your whole side in the game and an opportunity for one rink to do the work for the win.
Berwick – Def Dandy Club 80 – 70: Ladder Position: 3th
Two big rink wins by Keith Dargie and Paul Hunt got the fives over the line after a shock loss the previous week. They needed it to keep their top two hopes alive and a home final. Dandy Club are on the up and a formidable opponent at the best of times so to get the win away from home is a fantastic win after the loss last week. The fives have two home games now with Narre Warren this week who sit on the top of the ladder, then against Burden Park who sit fourth, so they’ve got a great opportunity now with two home wins to earn themselves a top two finish. We’re backing an upset this week and a big win the following.
Berwick 6 – Def Carrum 2 98 – 59: Ladder Position: 2nd
The sixes are back on track without the Steere’s leading the way and now sit only four points behind ladder leaders Dandy Club. They’ve got three very winnable games coming up on their way to finals and even though two of them are away, we don’t see them dropping one from here to finals. The weekend saw a clean sweep against a struggling Carrum who also had one of our members fill in for them. They are looking good and with the Steere’s back in a week, there’ll be a couple of minimal changes.
Berwick 7 – Def by Dandy Club 43 – 63: Ladder Position: 1st
This was an unexpected loss for the sevens on the weekend to sixth-placed Dandy Club. The game was played at Burden Park on grass, so no excuses and the sevens can put this one down to just a bad day we think. Going forward, they should win their last three based on ladder positions and as we settle the sides going to finals they’ll gain some confidence in the remaining home and away games. They managed two points for the day and remain 13 points clear.
Berwick 8 – Def by Coatesville 52 – 59: Ladder Position: 5th
The eights came agonisingly close this week to third-placed Coatesville in a cracker of a game under the roof at Berwick. Ron McGrath and Barry Richards rinks did their part with a six-shot win and a one-shot win respectively but unfortunately Phil Giles came across a stacked rink and went down by 14 which was just not enough for the eights to hold the win. Now a game behind fourth place, we think the eights will need to win at least two of the last three – if not all three – to sneak back in to the four. They are capable and we’ll sit tight and see how it finishes up.
Three rounds to play for Div 2 to 8 and many within reach of finals or pretty close!
Selectors will be keen to settle sides with only minimal changes so consistency is key and now is not the time to be out of form.
Hit the track and work hard to ensure they aren’t looking at your form.
Go Berwick and let’s look forward to some great success in the coming weeks.
-John Rich-
