---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
.
.
To read Martin's previous previews or to see where a club stands on the Premiership table, click on the above buttons
April 10, 2008
REPORT ON ‘ONE WHITE’ 2007 / 2008.
PREVIEW - THE FINALS
The One White finals will commence at the Dalkeith-Nedlands Bowling Club, Jutland Parade, Dalkeith, at 9.30am this Saturday, 12 April 2008.
The two semi-final matches will be played simultaneously in the morning. The winner of the 1st (elimination) semi-final will play on in another elimination match in the afternoon while the loser is ‘G O R N’ gone for the season. The winner of the 2nd semi-final will go straight into the grand-final to be played the next day while the loser will play on in the afternoon elimination final.
The winner of the afternoon final will be the second side into the grand-final. The Grand Final will be played the next day, Sunday 13 April 2008, commencing at 12.30pm at the Carlisle-Lathlain Bowling Club, corner of Roberts Road & Bishopsgate Streets, Carlisle.
Martin says:- I take this opportunity to say that I hope that each individual player in the One White finals plays at the top end of their own ability so that each can come away happy that you as an individual contributed well to your team efforts regardless of the end result.
THE HOME AND AWAY RESULTS
Special congratulations to Dalkeith-Nedlands on winning the minor premiership. As a result they receive their well deserved automatic promotion to Premier Division for the next season as their reward.
Congratulations to all the Finalists (in order): Dalkeith-Nedlands, Yokine, Thornlie and Morley.
Well done to the survivors in One White: Mosman Park and Leeming.
Condolences to the relegated ‘in the blues’ quartet of: Bassendean, Kardinya, Safety Bay and Gosnells.
LAST WEEK
What a let down to miss so many exciting match-ups in the absolute crucial last round of the home and away fixtures due to the weather. Probably hardest done by was Bassendean who have been relegated by a half a point when they had one last chance of escaping demotion when set to play Leeming, the very team who were the half a point in front of them.
Second hardest hit was Thornlie, who are also entitled to feel a little aggrieved as they missed their chance to have their final encounter with equal point holder, Yokine, to decide the important 2nd spot on the ladder for the finals.
However that’s life and good fortune to both Leeming and Yokine for having put themselves in their respective higher positions.
Because the majority of our competition has been so close for most teams in this division, each club could look back to over a hundred different ends during the season that would have changed their final standing.
On the bright side at least Dalkeith-Nedlands escaped their danger game against Gosnells in that none of their players was injured in a traffic accident, lightning strike, train derailment or from blue ice. The last round saw all games treated as a 4 point all draw.
FINAL HOME AND AWAY LADDER:
Dalkeith-Nedlands 115½; Yokine 82; Thornlie 82; Morley 80; Mosman Park 72; Leeming 70; Bassendean 69½; Kardinya 65; Safety Bay 58½; Gosnells 25½.
FIRST SEMI-FINAL
THORNLIE (3rd) (82) V’s MORLEY (4th) (80)
Round 3 – Thornlie 54 (0) def Morley 87 (8) at Thornlie.
Round 12 – Thornlie 87 (7) def Morley 63 (1) at Morley
THORNLIE
Paul Pohe (Sk) Alan Petchell Jim Stein Andy Lill
Jim McKenzie (Sk) Mick Hansen Rod Kimble Jim Irwine
Glyn Vaughan (Sk) Ross McMillian Ian Rewell Tony Churcher
Greg Reagan (Sk) Terry McCormack John Walker Ray Halse
VERSUS
MORLEY
Peter Aungier (Sk) Gavin Grieve Brad Moyle Andy Elmer
Robbie Urquhart (Sk) John Armstrong Joe Heiden Rod Revell
Allan Barron (Sk) Graham White Bob Giekie M. Callcott
Wayne Neilson (Sk) John Sheridan M Robinson Glen Britten
-------------------------------------JOHN ARMSTRONG
---------------
John Armstrong has been good player for Morley over the years playing as a skipper gets this bowl away well for a good result
This elimination semi-final means there is no tomorrow, or to be more precise - no afternoon - for the loser. The honours were shared between these two good sides in their home and away head to head clashes.
Glynn Vaughan Thornlie (pictured) An oustanding player for the Ravens will be looking for a big result over the coming weekend
Clearly though, Thornlie has been the better of the two teams in the second half of the season winning 5½ of 8 games to Morley’s 3½ from 8 games. Thornlie’s wins in the second half of the season include beating both Yokine and Morley convincingly.
On the other hand Morley in the second half of the season lost to all three other finalists in Yokine, Thornlie and Dalkeith-Nedlands. Having said that, Morley obviously made 4th place on the ladder and only finished 2 points behind both Yokine and Thornlie. We also well remember that Morley are the only team to have defeated Dalkeith-Nedlands all season and only lost their second game to them by 7 shots.
However, some sides line up better against others, and for mine Thornlie line up better against Morley so for that reason, and their stronger finish to the season, I think Thornlie to win.
Martin’s Prediction: THORNLIE.
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
DALKEITH-NEDLANDS (1st) (115½) V’s YOKINE (2nd)(82)
Round 3 - Dalkeith-Nedlands 80 (7½) def Yokine 65 (½) at Yokine.
Round 12 - Dalkeith-Nedlands 75 (7) def Yokine 69 (1) at Dalkeith.
DALKEITH-NEDLANDS
Marco Krajancic (Sk) Vinnie Santostefano Norm Sutton Ross MacKenzie
John Morgan (Sk) Ross Donald Steve Back Vaughan Colley
Peter Bacich (Sk) Mark Lindsay Alex Gryta Peter Gason
Tom Williams (Sk) John McIntosh Gordon Wilson John McCormack
VERSUS
YOKINE
Rod Heaton (Sk) Ian Cooper John Bills Bill Morrison
Alan Davis (Sk) Juris Lorencs John Gallop Chris Busing
Scott Edmonds (Sk) Darren Kellond Tony Kay Ian Goghill
Jamie O’Keefe (Sk) Adrian Durrant John McGrath Wayne Coffey
Needless to say Dalkeith-Nedlands have been awesome all season in only dropping the one game. They have won both their games against Yokine during the home and away season by 15 shots and 6 shots respectively. Not exactly what you’d call ‘over convincing’ but as I’ve said several times during the year – very good sides seem to find a way to keep winning - and Dalkeith-Nedlands have done that when challenged in all but one game all season.
Rod Heaton Yokine (pictured) Has been a pace setter for his club with a great stat sheet to show for he and his rinks efforts this season
On the other side of this coin, Yokine have done well to have held second spot on the ladder since round 5. That said, one can only wonder if all is right and harmonious at the home of the doggies.
I can’t help but go back to the Yokine contact’s report following their Round 12 loss to Dalkeith-Nedlands when he wrote the following as part of his article:-
“we didn't gel like a team in second spot. The Dogs need to stop playing for themselves and PUT THE CLUB FIRST. We only fell six shots short of the aggregate but never threatened the Silvertails”.
Even with that plea to his team mates Yokine only won 3 of their last 8 games and they surely must be worried by that finish to the season. With a pennant and a promotion on the line there can be no more incentive for the doggies to heed the words of their team mate than right now, if in fact there is any truth to the rumours of some disharmony.
Martin’s Prediction: DALKEITH-NEDLANDS.
REPORTS FROM THE CLUBS
DALKEITH-NEDLANDS:
Click---Here--To Read the Dalkeith report
THORNLIE:
A report from the Thornlie contact is as follows:
The Finals
The Ravens are tuned and ready to go.
Saturday at 10am we need to "do the business" with Morley.
Both clubs are one each. Morley won at Thornlie - 8 to 0 with a plus of 33 in Round one and the result was reversed at Morley with Thornlie winning - 7 to 1 with a plus of 24.
As home ground advantage does not appear to mean much for either of these two clubs - the encounter at Dalkeith (on a neutral green) may have the makings of a huge match.
Thornlie take an unchanged 16 into this game - a 16 that has finished strong over the last five weeks. There is an attitude present in this club that this writer has not seen before at this late stage in a season.
This in no small way could be attributed to a number of things and personnel.
Bubbles Vaughan (like him or hate him) has delivered a little quality to this team. His ability and insistence on big efforts has had his rink performing well. Together with Tony "two cocks" Churcher - Buddah Rewell and Rosco McMillan have produced well throughout the season. If this rink is not winning - losses have been maintained to an absolute minimum. They will go well on Saturday.
"Ya Gotta Get it Up" Pohe together with Al "The Pal" Petchell, Jimmie Stein and Handy Andy Lill have also produced well this year. Paul has had a good year and is receiving strong support from his rink and we are confident that Saturday will see another solid performance from these players.
The "Rink of Reagan" has had another very solid season. Ray Halse, "The Phantom" John Walker and Terry McCormack have proved to all be solid contributors most outings. Terry McC is to be congratulated as he is one team member who has had quite a brilliant season.
Winning a State Senior Title along the way. well done Terry. Keep up the strong performance fellas.
Last but by no means least is the Big Fella together with Bruiser Hansen, Doc Kimble and Hava Chat Irwine. It has been an up and down year for this rink either winning by good margins or having a shocker ( also by big margins). Still in all the rink has settled well over the last half dozen weeks and McKenzie has high expectations for his boys and their performance throughout the finals.
Predictions are dangerous however my tip is The Ravens 6 to 2 with a plus of 8 shots.
Yes it will be close however the Ravens know how to win the close ones this year.
YOKINE:
A report from the Yokine contact is as follows:
DOGS BIG DAY
The Yokine doggies know that this seasons home and away fixtures have fallen favourably for them, in their lap some may say, to have finished where we did. With the final round washed out (commiserations to all teams that were affected by the washout) leaving the dogs in second spot by only percentage. The dogs run up to the finals has been less than impressive, recording 5 losses from the last 6 games. Thankfully so many other results went our way.
But... we all know that finals are a different story. The finals weekend is where the results for the whole year come down to a few games, the winner being the best team in those few games.
The dogs know that teams on a winning run are only closer to a loss, and teams that haven’t had their season go to plan sometimes find that something special at the end. I am sure the dogs have plenty left in their tank for this big weekend.
Congratulations have to go to Dalkeith–Nedlands (the silvertails) for winning promotion to the Premier League for next season with 17 wins out of 18 home and away games.
It would seem that the silvertails, with promotion in hand, only have to go through the motions to have the Flag come home on Sunday afternoon to the top of the hill. It seems so certain to them that they have even allowed one of their skips to holiday in Europe on early annual leave before the result is finalized.
The other 3 clubs have more to lose than the silvertails and know that a Flag, or even just promotion, will change their club for the future. We all saw that the silvertails were the best team last year and faulted in the end in both finals.
Us doggies will take every opportunity that comes our way in the finals. Yes our form has sometimes been ordinary. Yes our team moral has been low. Yes our confidence in each other has wavered over the season.
BUT WE KNOW THERE IS NO TOMORROW; WE KNOW THAT NO PLAYER IS BIGGER THAN THE YOKINE BOWLING CLUB; THE PAST IS WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
SATURDAY IS OUR TIME IN THE SUN TO FINISH THE JOB WE STARTED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR; TO PLAY AS ONE UNIT; TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED IN PURSUIT OF OUR GOAL.
BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL SEE THE YOKINE THAT WE HAVE PROMISED TO SHOW ALL YEAR.
MORLEY:
No report received at this stage.
MY PREDICTED FINAL
YOKINE (2nd)(82) V’s THORNLIE (3rd)(82)
1st Round – Thornlie 90(7½) def Thornlie 65(½)
2nd Round – Washed Out
THORNLIE
Paul Pohe (Sk) Alan Petchell Jim Stein Andy Lill
Jim McKenzie (Sk) Mick Hansen Rod Kimble Jim Irwine
Glyn Vaughan (Sk) Ross McMillian Ian Rewell Tony Churcher
Greg Reagan (Sk) Terry McCormack John Walker Ray Halse
VERSUS
YOKINE
Rod Heaton (Sk) Ian Cooper John Bills Bill Morrison
Alan Davis (Sk) Juris Lorencs John Gallop Chris Busing
Scott Edmonds (Sk) Darren Kellond Tony Kay Ian Goghill
Jamie O’Keefe (Sk) Adrian Durrant John McGrath Wayne Coffey
(Congratulations to the two teams playing in the final whoever you are).
If they are not as I have predicted then please disregard the following.
As can be seen above these two good sides only played once during the home and away season and that was in Round 9 at Thornlie. In that match the ravens won well but mainly on the back of one dominant rink on the day.
The rink results were as follow:
McKenzie 31 defeated Kay 10;
Pohe 22 defeated Heaton 19:
Reagan 21 defeated O’Keefe 20;
Vaughan 16 drew with Edmunds 16.
That match was the last of the round one home and away games and in the remaining eight matches played, Thornlie won 5½ of 8 games while Yokine only won 3 of 8. Having said all that, obviously what can’t be built into the afternoon equation is how the two teams and their individual players are playing and handling the conditions on the day.
So without that I will go with the team that ran out the home and away season the stronger and that is Thornlie.