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ONE BLUE NORTH PREVIEW

November 7, 2007
The first round proper brought us the usual few surprises. Firstly, Osborne Park pulled the biggest surprise by playing what appears to be mainly the team that were promoted from second division last year, probably believing that their best chance of getting to One White is the One Blue South pathway. Given the obvious strength of a couple of the teams in the North division it seems logical to me.

Secondly, North Beach won on three rinks but still did not get the aggregate. Thirdly, Sorrento losing to Doubleview was not a huge upset but the rinks of Neil Adams and John Brown losing by a combined total of 23 was. Last season they only lost about 4 games between them.

BEDFORD vs DOUBLEVIEW

With the game being played at Bedford it gives them some hope but as well as Peter Hunter, David Crook & company can play I really cannot see them beating the very strong Doubleview outfit.

Doubleview were brilliantly led by the rinks of young Jason Wholohan and “Mr Reliable” Eddie Johnson last week when they dismantled an equally strong Sorrento.

Eddy Johnson (pictured) alway hard to beat over the years



Doubleview 7/1

OSBORNE PARK VS NORTH BEACH

Chalkey White will make things hard for the visitors but I think that the John Coles led rink that lost by 23 against Wanneroo last week was an aberration. John is a very good player and a top person to go with it so for his sake I hope he bounces back.
North Beach 8-0

SORRENTO VS MORLEY

Sorrento will bounce back this week. Whilst I have great respect for Murray Robinson and Jim “Chirpy” Corrin form the Morley side I think they will find Sorrento has too much depth across the rinks. Expect John Brown and Neil Adams to come back with a vengeance.

Sorrento 7-1

SORRENTO VS MORLEY

Sorrento will bounce back this week. Whilst I have great respect for Murray Robinson and Jim “Chirpy” Corrin from the Morley side I think they will find Sorrento has too much depth across the rinks. Expect John Brown and Neil Adams to come back with a vengeance.

Murray Robinson (pictured) been a steady player for many seasons


Sorrento 7-1

WANNEROO vs STIRLING

This will be a really good game. Doug Watson was on fire last week whilst any rinks skippered by Derek Bowen and Echo Widermanski can never be dismissed. I think they will take the game right up to Stirling but at the end of 84 ends I expect the likes of Tony Krajancic, Tommy Norac, Mark Pasalich and Andy Tucker to be the difference between the two sides.

Stirling 6-2

WARWICK VS SCARBOROUGH

I am really looking forward to this game. Having fully recovered from a serious shoulder injury that kept me out for most of last season I get the opportunity to play third for my son, Michael.

Whilst I was walking a beat at the Red Bull Air race last Saturday my team mates battled to a 6-2 win over Bedford. Barry Powell & Ron Kuziela were good winners and advised they were reasonably pleased with the “Seagulls” performance.

On the other hand Warwick lost to the strong Stirling team and whilst the loss may not be of a great concern the rinks led by O’Sullivan & Gertz losing by a combined total of 30 shots will be. It was these types of score lines that got the “Magpies” in so much trouble last year.

Scarborough 7-1