BERWICK BOWLS
• Berwick 1 (Saturday) def by Heathmont 1 58-88. Ladder: 5th
With a big weekend ahead of them the ones hosted Heathmont at home.
Sitting in the four marginally at the start of the weekend, and playing the top-two sides in the last double header of the season, the ones needed a big game on Saturday. They started well with most rinks level pegging up to about the 40th end but very quickly the margin started to widen and eventually the game became out of reach for the top side by about the 65th end. Josh McQueen managed the only rink win against Darren Mays with the other three rinks going down. Whittlesea managed to get over Bacchus Marsh at Bacchus Marsh which was a great result for them and pushed the Berwick side out of the four on Saturday night.
• Berwick 1 (Sunday) def by Flem/Ken 1 56-90. Ladder: 5th
Out of the four and up against the top team at home with both their fly-ins playing was a big ask. There was one substitution in for the day and one no-show didn’t get the day off to a great start! Similarly to Saturday, the ones got off to a great start and at the 35th end were only seven shots down on the big board. Very quickly though, in what seemed to be 10 minutes of bowls, the ladder leaders were showing their class across all rinks and the score had blown out by 20 shots. Under pressure and needing a near miracle to change the result, all four rinks were finding out how good Flemington were. Some great bowls on show from both sides but Flemington was just way too consistent and solid across all rinks.
The ones find themselves now having to win all three of their remaining games and just maybe, if they can do that, they will probably rely on Whittlesea losing to Flemington in the last round to scrape in.
Their destiny is in their own hands now…lose any of the remaining three and they’re probably done for the season and won’t see finals.
• Berwick 2 def Coatesville 96 – 89. Ladder: 1st
This one probably got a little closer than the two’s would have liked. Two rink wins and two rink losses saw the game reasonably close and the seconds just got over the line. They’ll need to stay on their toes with the last round this weekend playing Moorabbin at home. A loss could see them host them again next weekend in round one of finals so it’s important for a big win across all rinks to ensure they go in to week one of finals with a big psychological advantage. The rinks of Tony French and Dennis Griffin got the two’s over the line with Manifold down by 11 and Azzopardi down by 8. They probably won’t be able to cover that come finals time so smart bowls is a must for the twos this week to ensure any rink losses are kept to a bare minimum. They’ll get over the opposition this week we think and be primed for finals week one.
• Berwick 3 def by Narre Warren 48 – 105. Ladder: 8th
The threes (development side) got a big lesson from second-placed Narre Warren 1 this week. Narre Warren are pushing to make Division 1 next season and showed they are a big possibility of getting there after showing their dominance this week. The players in our threes are developing and gaining a very fast tracked opportunity in experiencing a level of bowls that they probably aren’t ready for. But with every week they are learning, gaining great experience, learning to read and set up heads and shot selection which is something they’d not gain if they were still in the lower sides. With one week to go, many of the threes – who’ve only won two games for the season – are happy and enjoying the opportunity at Division 2 level. They’ll be much better for the experience next season.
• Berwick 4 def Noble Park 2 91-69. Ladder: 3rd
This was a good win by the fours over Noble Park with three rinks up and taking 16 points for the day. Mulgrave CC took three rinks wins and a draw which means the fours drop to third spot but with Pakenham 2 on top of the ladder hosting Mulgrave CC this week, a good win by the fours may see them jump back to second spot if they can get a big win over Hampton Park. It means they’ll go to Pakky in week one of finals if they finish second, but after their recent win over the ladder leaders it’s all looking pretty good for the fours at the moment. They are doing it very well the fours, keeping rink losses to a minimum and winning big on other rinks, so with minimal changes and consistency on their side they’re looking pretty good with one week to go.
• Berwick 5 def by Burden Park 2 70-79. Ladder: 4th
This one was a heartbreaking loss for the fives against sixth-placed Burden Park 2. It was a see-sawing battle all day and came down to the last two ends but it does see the fives now drop to fourth place and in real danger of missing finals if they can’t manage a win this week away against bottom side Mulgrave CC 5. The fours sit on 115 points with both Burden Park 2 and Keysborough 3 both only four points behind on 111. We’d expect to see the fives win well against Mulgrave but with some pressure now to win, a spot in the four on the line, anything is possible and the fives need a big day out on Saturday.
• Berwick 6 def by Pakenham 4 72-89. Ladder: 2nd
The sixes have kept their second-chance alive for finals despite the loss to sixth-placed Pakenham on the weekend. BUT…….with Cranbourne 4 sitting only 11 points behind them in third, the game between the two is a must win for both sides this week. The winner will take second spot and the double chance in to finals so for the sixes it’s their opportunity to get some consistency in their game and some confidence going in to week one of the finals. Tom McDermott’s rink (the club’s best performed skip on Bowlslink) had a narrow loss, Bruce Shearer drew, Avril Steere had a rare big loss and Tony Wynen had a big 17-shot win. I’ve been asked to apologise for some of my comments on the sixes last week by a concerned member of the sixes so I’ll eat humble pie and say sorry for being too honest and will be more diplomatic in regards to this side going forward. Concentrate on the win this week sixes and the big double chance up for grabs.
• Berwick 7 def by Mulgrave CC 52-62. Ladder: 2nd
The sevens have lost their top spot after a very narrow 10-shot loss to fifth-placed Mulgrave CC. In what was touted as a win for the sevens down at Mulgrave, top spot now goes to Churchill Waverley Golf. The sevens are only two points behind and play fourth-placed Vermont Sth at home. The ladder leaders play third-placed Keysborough so the only change can be for the sevens that they finish on top or second. It’s been a big season for the sevens so a big win this week will see them raring to go for finals.
• Berwick 8 def Clayton 5 65-47. Ladder: 5th
They’re coming hard the eights! They continue to keep the finals dream alive with another win over fourth-placed Clayton. They just don’t give in this side and continue to put their best foot forward every week. With a draw and a two-shot loss on two of the rinks it was the rink of Alex Bigdelis, Reg Rowswell, Janet Pearson and Barry Richards – with a 20-shot win – that got the eights up with a huge win. A tough ask to get themselves in to finals by beating top side Brighton at Brighton this week but I’m going to tip the upset as they never say never the eights. Go get em!
• Summary
Well, all in all not a great weekend for the Wickers with only three wins from nine.
There is only one week to go for sides’ two to eight before finals and three weeks for Division 1.
At this stage we’re looking at a great representation in finals again for the second year running and it’s so important at this stage of the season for sides to communicate well, encourage each other and get out on the greens together as a side for practice sessions.
Exciting weeks ahead!
-John Rich-
