BERWICK BOWLING CLUB
• Berwick 1 def Bacchus Marsh 1 86-79 (Home). Ladder: 5th
Probably two to four points shy of what the ones wanted this week only picking up two rink wins and 14 points for the day. It sees them fifth still with Parkdale at home this week. The ones sit 14 points behind Whittlesea at present and can only do one thing from here and that is win their last two games and rely on Whittlesea losing one of their last two games! Not the ideal scenario but in what has been a great challenge this year, the competitive side are hanging in by a thread. The rink of Ethan Mills set up the day with Dylan Booth, Ed Wilson and Cooper Kraus scoring a big 13-shot win backed up by Steve Ellard with a nine-shot win. The focus is clearly on our Div 2 to Div 9 finals teams this week so hopefully the ones are still alive after the weekend.
• Berwick 2 def Moorabbin 101-53 (Home). Ladder: 1st
What a way to finish off the home and away season with a 52-shot drubbing of Moorabbin 2. The four skips in Dennis Griffin, Tony French, Charlie Azzopardi and Graeme Manifold have the twos humming at the moment and with a home final against Clayton 3 – and a double chance – we are tipping the twos to go straight through to the section final with a big win in their first final. If by chance they do go down (and we are no way thinking they will) they will back up again on Sunday against the winner of third-placed Edithvale and fourth-placed Mordialloc at a neutral venue. Last time they played Clayton 3 was away at Clayton, a tough green to win on. They went down overall by four shots, losing two rinks, but at home, on a green some say are the best going around, we are predicting the win and progression through to the sectional final.
• Berwick 3 def Burden Park 2 81-86 (Away). Ladder: 8th
Another win – the third for the season – and an awesome way for our development side to finish off the year. They buried the finals hopes of Burden Park 2 and managed a five-shot win and took three rinks to top off a great day. We would like to thank all the threes that played this year for their commitment, attitude and effort. They continued to enjoy their experience at a level they had not been accustomed to, and with the help and guidance of our four skips throughout the year they have come on in leaps and bounds. Well done threes, great effort.
• Berwick 4 def Hampton Park 2 102-57 (Home). Ladder: 2nd
Yet another huge win, this time for the fourths against seventh-placed Hampton Park 2. The fours have had a great season this year to finish second on the ladder and will travel to Pakenham on Saturday to take on their second side in the qualifying final. Last time they met was at home and the fours got over the Lions by four shots, winning one rink and a draw. Pakky has been the yardstick all year and the fours will need to be at their very best to go through to the section final. All four rinks won well on the weekend and it’s a great confidence-booster going into next week. The side will look a little stronger than last time they met Pakky so we are predicting a nail biter under the dome at Pakenham.
• Berwick 5 def Mulgrave CC 94-64 (Away). Ladder: 5th
With drama through the week and nearly 30 other clubs having to forfeit their games in Round 13 due to players included who were not eligible, the fives were unfortunately relegated to fifth spot after having to give last week’s four points to Burden Park 3. The selectors’ interpretation of the rule unfortunately was not correct and at the end of the day it has cost the fives a spot in the final. One more drawn rink, or one more rink win throughout the season would have got them over the line as well. They have finished on the same points as fourth spot, but fifth on percentage. It is a heartbreaking finish for the fives who have been in the four for most of the year. It’s fair to say BV has already stated the rule will be looked at in the coming months. Well done fives, and from the selectors it’s a big apology.
• Berwick 6 def by Cranbourne 4 75-79 (Home). Ladder: 2nd
The 6s have managed to scrape in for the double chance by taking two rink wins on the weekend and the loss overall. Finishing 2nd sees them off to play Dandy Club on possibly their own green as this side has been playing it’s home games at Burden Park on grass but we’ll have to wait for the draw to see where they’ll be playing. Last time the 6s met Dandy Club was at home on Jan 14 and that proved a nailbiter and both teams sharing the points in a draw. A qualifying final that has only been separated by 6 shots overall in two games is a mouth watering prospect and this now probably sees it as the match of the rounds this week. Can the 6s with a full squad come away with a sectional final birth?
• Berwick 7 def Vermont Sth 64-50 (Home). Ladder: 1st
Our second side to finish on top of the ladder after the home and away season and again, after sitting in the top two, they have been see-sawing with Churchill Waverley 2 all year for top spot. Alf Reina’s and Terry Wood’s rinks did it for the sevens on the weekend and covered the losing rink very well to take the 14 points. The sevens will host Churchill Park, probably under the roof, and the last time they met the sevens took an overall seven-shot win in round eight and an 11-shot win in round one. Does that mean they have the wood on the opposition? Finals are a different game but they must go in very confident of a good showing and a sectional final berth awaits the sevens who have been the team of the year in this section.
• Berwick 8 def by Brighton 3 49-66 (Away). Ladder: 5th
Well, the eights fought right to the last bowl this year to try and snatch fourth spot but coming up against the top side with only two losses for the season was always going to be a big ask. With the amount of changes in the eights every week it’s a testament to the efforts they have provided. To miss by only five points is heartbreaking and like other sides this year, a rink win here or there can prove the difference. The eights, we know, will hold their heads up and to those that have helped them out to fill in this year we send a big thank you. Well done eights.
• Summary
Six out of eight wins for the last round (Div 2-Div 9) is a great way to finish off the home-and-away season. This week’s games see the ones at home in a must win against Parkdale 1, the twos hosting their qualifying final against Clayton 3, the fours away against Pakky in a qualifying final, the sixes away against Dandy Club in the qualifying final and the mighty sevens hosting Churchill Waverley at home on Saturday for their qualifier.
All in all, we’ll have four sides playing Saturday and depending on results all four playing another game with a second chance. Great job Berwick!
Special thanks goes to Jeff Parker and his team for hosting what was believed to be a very successful Trivia Night on Saturday night, with plenty of laughs, lots of fun and a great night had by all. Our Corporate Challenge continues each Monday night through February as well with 42 full teams of local businesses thrashing it out for the 2023 Corporate Challenge winner.
-John Rich-
