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ONE BLUE NORTH REVIEW
February 18, 2008 ROUND THIRTEEN REVIEW
WANNEROO LOOK TO WHITE
With 13 rounds completed this weekend, results see Wanneroo beautifully placed to finish the home and away season on top of the ladder. After comfortably disposing of Scarborough at Wanneroo on Saturday they would have been delighted to find out that Morley who has not won a game since Round 1 caused the boilover of the season by defeating the highly fancied Doubleview.
Only this time last week I believed Doubleview to be the best team in the competition but if the ladder stands as it is at the moment then all finals will be played on the carpet at Stirling. If that is the case Stirling become the new favourites for that second promotion, leaving Doubleview in this division for another year.
At the other end of the table I think Bedford have joined Morley as certainties to be relegated. The other two to go down will come from Warwick, North Beach, Osborne Park & Scarborough.
A quick look at the remaining games see North Beach have to play the three top teams and Stirling at Stirling. Osborne Park also have to play three sides in the four, Warwick play only two as do Scarborough. Scarborough’s advantage is that we play four of the last five at home with only a trip to Sorrento.
Wanneroo 99 (6) (1st) def Scarborough 72 (2) (5th)
---------------------ROOS TOO GOOD FOR SICK SEAGULLS
Derek Bowen probably would like to play against Scarborough every week. In the two games this year he has trounced the “Seagulls”. This Saturday it was to the tune of 35-13 against the previously well performed rink of Brian Axford. I should have realised this was going to happen after “I pumped the tyres up” on Brian and his team in last weeks column.
Ken Boswell Wanneroo (pictured) Played a great game in the rinks big win over Brian Axford
Doug Watson and his rink continued his outstanding season with a 27-15 disposal over Steve Stokes. Michael & Tim Murray’s rinks both salvaged invaluable points for the visitors. If Scarborough is not relegated this season they can thank our ability to usually win on a couple of rinks when being defeated.
Six of our seven losses have been 2-6 with the other game being a 1-7 at Stirling.
Stirling 80 (6) (2nd) def Sorrento 79 (2) (4th)
------------------STIRLING BY ONE SHOT AGAINST SORRENTO
In an outstanding game on the carpet at Stirling the home side outlasted the visitors by one solitary shot. Mark Pasalich and his rink were the catalyst with a comprehensive 25-15 victory over Alan “Angry” Anderson. John Hammond and team returned to their best form to offset that for the “Swans” with a 30-16 hiding over Andy Tucker.
Tony Krajancic made a welcome return to the winners circle with a 19-13 win over Neil Adams. John Brown ruined Alan Erceg’s perfect record a 21-20 win
North Beach 101 (7) (7th) def Bedford 64 (1) (9th)
-----------NORTH BEACH DO IT IN STYLE AGAINST THE BULLS
North Beach were far too good for Bedford out on the coast on Saturday. The result keeps North Beach in the race whilst for Bedford it may be goodbye from the First Division (North).
John Coles returning to skipper set up the win with a 36-12 thrashing of Bruce Fullagar. Up until recently Bruce has been skippering in the Premier league so it makes the win even more meritorious.
My old Denison roommate, Geoff Devenish continues to shine as a skipper and probably is thinking that we would have won that carnival more times than we did if he had the reigns.
Mike Vitale North Beach (pictured) had a good win against Dave Crook
Mike Vitale gave my long time friend Dave Crook a nice old touch up 31-15 whilst Brian Werndley and his rink are going through a rough patch at the moment this time losing to second game skipper John Carlsen 13-20.
Osborne Park 91 (7) (6th) def Warwick 81 (1) (8th)
SAINTS REALLY HURT MAGPIES
Osborne Park has thrown Warwick into distress mode with a solid win away from home. I picked Osborne Park because they are the form team of the competition and will take some stopping.
Stirling & Doubleview will be preying they continue their form with a win against top of the table Wanneroo at Osborne Park this week. This will be game of the day.
The architects in Osborne Park win were the rinks of Ken Sutcliffe 29-17 over Evan O’Sullivan and Ben Poggi 26-13 over his Warwick.
At the risk of sounding like a cracked record Warwick’s Brian Friend and rink extended their season record to 11-2 + 95 shots. I apologise to John Smith for not mentioning him as Friendy’s leader last week.
Warwick simply must win against Sorrento at home this week.
Morley 85 (6) (10th) def Doubleview 70 (2) (3rd)
---------------------MORLEY IN UPSET OF THE SEASON
Congratulations to the Morley side for their outstanding effort in defeating Doubleview on Saturday. In defeat, Doubleview have all but thrown away their chances of finishing on top. It was only a matter of time before Morley broke through after countless narrow losses.
They travel to Scarborough this week and we know that we have to be on our best behaviour because I thought we were lucky to beat them in the first round.
My selections for this week
Round 14
Scarborough to defeat Morley
Sorrento to defeat Warwick
Wanneroo to end Osborne Park’s winning run
Doubleview to bounce back against North Beach
Stirling to defeat Bedford