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February 9, 2009
REPORT ROUND TWELVE

The Hilton Mob topple ladder leaders 7/1 – Wanneroo turned the tables on Bedford 6/2 – The Carpet Kings made life hard for the Magic – Morley fashion a win over The Saints 7/1 and Leeming did what they have been excelling at this year and gave The Ravens their first win on the road

HILTON PARK 79 (7) V MOSMAN PARK 75 (1)

Following a drawn aggregate in round 3 Hilton did the business in round 12 - Ball senior beats Ball junior 22/14 – Dan Slade gets up over Johnny Rags 26/17 – Travis Simpson gets the better of Lester Mortimer by a single shot 17/16 and the highlight for the visitors came courtesy of Steve Withers and his rinks triumph by 14 shots over Chris McMahon.

Well three losses from four outings for our ladder leaders who now sit in third spot on the table. A week is certainly a long time in bowls.

When looking at this encounter last week Mossies had too many guns for the home team and there was no way I could envisage a win for the locals. Win they did and Hilton did it well.

For their troubles Hilton have moved to sixth spot on the ladder and for the time this club is clear of the dreaded RZ, well done Hilton – the beer must have tasted real good on Saturday night.

Not being at the game is always a little difficult commenting on individual performances – however the “Battle of the Balls” would have been a match I would have wanted to watch. Does the heart good to see seniority excel over youth. Danny Slade and his charges continued on with their great season – keep up the good work Hilton and you will be there next year.

Next week Hilton visit Morley and Mosman Park host Leeming

LEEMING 66 (1) V THORNLIE 99 (7)

Three big rink wins and a sizable loss saw The Ravens obtain their first “On the Road win for this season.

Paul Pohe led the way for the visitors with a massive 37/12 win over the Rutherford led rink – Bubbles Vaughan and his troops did what they do best and won again 28/14 over a competitive Gordon Parker – Tricky Ricky was on top of the Bartlett rink for the majority of the day running out winners by 10 shots 23/13.

That left the Tyrone, Tom, Dave and Gary show. They showed the big fella what bowls was all about and in doing so provided the only point for the Lions to dine on that night, the 27/11 win was very well deserved.

The game was played on a flat 13.5 plus green in windy conditions. The home side showed some fight and in losing were great company to compete against. Life is tough when clubs are demolished through players disappearing to other locations. Keep up the good attitude Leeming as things will get better.

As for the visitors Thornlie were very pleased to go home with 7 points and provide themselves with a little breathing space in fourth spot on the table.

Next week Leeming visit Mosman Park and Thornlie travel to Stirling.

OSBORNE PARK 74 (1) V MORLEY 86 (7)

The boys went to Ossie Park without any doubt that we would have to play at our best... Why? The news during the week that we would not have Robbie Urquart, due to work commitments, left us feeling a little hollow.
His return to the team last week was nothing short of sensational. No one would have thought that he hadn't bowled for around six months.

And then there was the big Pom, or should I say, there WASN'T the big Pom. His lovely wife Pat dragged him off to South Australia for some fun in the sun. He may well have been running hot over there, but his replacement ran even hotter over here... AB and his team played some damn good bowls on a green running around 18-19 seconds, with a nice howling gale blowing up our backsides.
But AB played above and beyond, saving big counts with absolute bombs...e.g... Five down, no problem... front resting toucher... five down (again), no problem... whack!!! Two up... Luck? Call it what you will, but those two ends alone meant a win... 25-16. Great job AB.

Alan Barron filling in as a skip played a big part in the Morley Mavericks win against the Osborne Park Saints
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Murray Robinson versus a skipper with thirty five years of experience... Rance Dewson... and he has still got the ability to do the job, which he did the further the game went.

The game was pretty tight early, but as is always the case when one team finally finds its feet, the longer the game went, the bigger the lead. Rance's second, BIG BUDD, and gees, he IS big (who, by the way, pretended to be a nice bloke) certainly didn't have too much trouble drawing shot when needed, and given the conditions should be pretty happy with his game.

The big Budd, Peter Budd played a pearler of a game against the Morley Mavericks on Saturday to help win the only point for the Saints
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Anything within a meter was a goody, and that was the difference here. Muzza's boys just weren't in the meter range often enough. Muzz played some great saving bowls early, but couldn't keep it up... not many blokes can, especially as the old stager (Rance, 72 not out) found his feet. Final score... Rance 27, Muzz 11.

Back in the winners circle....JA and his boys did the job on Keith Guelfi and as it turns out, an aggregate winning margin... 32-15. How did they do it? Buggered if I know, because it wasn't easy, but as usual, if the front end plays well, it normally follows that the back end jumps in to lend a hand.

Some truly great draw shots from the front two... Billy Urquart and Wayne Barker, shot savers from Gavin Grieve, followed up by draw and drive from JA. All in all, a great team effort.

Wayne Neilson and his boys didn't have it all their own way against Doug Eaton. Fighting it out for most of the day, with the score line favouring Wayne, one bad end saw the lead reduced.

A little chat with boys (which was probably heard in Quinns Rock) brought the boys back to basics, and from then on it was nip and tuck. Down to the last end with the score 17-16 Morley's way, four bowls to be played. Who had shot? No idea, but there were probably eight bowls within that magic meter. Wayne's first bowl... probably no more than eight inches away (20 cms to you young blokes)... great bowl!! Duggie's first?? A little rub and bingo. a back resting toucher!! Scores tied 17 all. Wayne's next? Around the place, but no change. Now comes the dilemma facing most skippers... settle for the draw and half a point, or go for broke...trail the kitty and win? Well Duggie decided on the latter and good on him for having the courage to do so. Down it went, with his catchers waiting, along with thousands (well, maybe not thousands) of very interested players...

A perfectly weighted bowl, on line...everything going according to plan so far.. I will point out that this bowl is being played on the wide hand, with the wind up its backside. NOT an easy shot!! But fantastic to say the least, because there WAS contact on the kitty. Fortunately for Morley it sprung forward. Result? Morley won the measure and the rink... 18-16. A good "hang in there" win. Well done boys!!!!!!

Next week Osborne Park visit Bedford and Morley are at home to Hilton Park.

STIRLING 77 (5.5) V MELVILLE 65 (2.5)

Stirling win at home (ya gotta luv that rug) save for one rink this was a very close affair.

Mark Pasalich (one of the unluckiest guys never to have been in a state side) keeps doing what he does best – winning by sizable margins. Mark got the better of Nifty Brierley by 19 shots with a score line of 29/10 and in doing so set the stage for a home side win.

The other three rinks were very competitive Steve Hughes got the better of Alan Erceg 18/16 – Marvelous Mal played out a drawn match with Nifty Stevens whilst the visitors courtesy of Fewings, Spadaro, Elborough and Leahy did their best to bridge the gap in the aggregate with a 5 shot victory over Tony Krajancic.

Nineteen shot losses are always hard to carry and Stirling for their troubles move into second place on the table, a great outcome for the home club.

Next week Stirling host Thornlie and Melville host Wanneroo

WANNEROO 80 (6) V BEDFORD 68 (2)

This was the third match this week that was decided by a margin of 12 shots.

The old saying of “Once a King always a King – but once a Knight is enough” held true for the home side with Knight and his rink getting the better of Cliff Graybrook by a massive 20 shots 29/9. This was a telling blow for the home side and left little doubt in the outcome of the match.

The other rinks were all decided by decisive margins – both sides of the ledger. Echo Widermanski went down by 13 to Watson 14/27 – Paul Hunter was 9 shots the better over Shagger Parmenter 21/12 – whilst Watson finished 14 shots ahead of Kevin Bourke 25/11.

Andy tipped a home team win however there was no way one could have envisaged a score line like the one produced.

Both clubs needed the win in their efforts to get away from relegation – and The Roos would have been happy with the outcome. Well done guys.

Next week Wanneroo travel to Melville and Bedford are at home to Osborne Park.

SUMMARY

Despite a couple of surprising outcomes most matches went as predicted. The two races that are now on in earnest gain more and more significance with each match that passes.

In the “Relegation Stakes” 9.5 points separates ninth from sixth spot and at the top of the table 10 points separates first from fourth.

Two interesting games next week are Stirling and Thornlie (second v fourth 7 points apart) and the Morley Hilton Park game may become a pivotal match for both clubs for very different reasons.

Great game this sport of bowls – ideally suited to “great sports” – make sure you are remembered for being one!!!

Tarah and good bowling to all