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November 1, 2007
REPORT ON ‘ONE WHITE’ 2007 / 2008.
The all important X factor is that four teams face relegation.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
BASSENDEAN Vs DALKEITH-NEDLANDS
BASSENDEAN
Gordon Gray (Sk) Phil Hutchinson Colin Irvine Fred Early
John Lynch (Sk) Jamie Davies Nolan Hall Norn Kirkup
Marcel Heruer (Sk) Ian Robertson Colin Hotker Neil Strachan
Justin Opie (Sk) Craig Greenhalgh Wes Jones Steve Black
Bassendean: Congrats to Bassendean who are stepping up from One Blue. On their home ground they will be keen to have an immediate impact in One White. Last year the Basso boys had one goal in mind – ‘finish on top and get promoted’ – and that is exactly what they achieved. This year their goal in One White is to ‘finish in the top four and make the play-offs’. It would be a brave person to tell this determined group that they can’t achieve their new goal.
While they have lost Bruce Fullagar (Bedford) and young Daniel Patterson (Vict Park) they have promoted the likes of Fred Early, Colin Irvine and Neil Strachan from their own ranks and all have plenty of experience. The rest of the team have all played first or premier division so won’t be fazed in the least by the task at hand.
(As a side note, the club wishes their young assistant green-keeper, Daniel Patterson, all the best for his debut in the Premier Division for Victoria Park. Daniel is a quality young man and bowler who recently represented our State at various levels including the National Junior Championships).
DALKEITH-NEDLANDS
Marco Krajancic(Sk) John Morgan Norm Sutton Ross McKenzie
Tony Skoric (Sk) Ross Donald Steve Back Vaughan Colley
Peter Bacic (Sk) Mark Lindsay John O’Meahan John McCormack
Tom Williams (Sk) John McKintosh Gordon Wilson Alec Ritter
Dalkeith-Nedlands on the other hand are still smarting from last year’s late season implosion and will be just as keen to stamp their authority on this year’s competition. There is no doubt they are looking to go one step further this year.
While they lose the likes of Gary Ellis and Mark Ridge who are not playing, and Dinko Golem to Stirling, they have gained some valuable players to strengthen this year’s ranks.
Three notable newcomers being: Mark Lindsay the 2006 State indoors champion who has crossed over from Mosman Park who will play third for Peter Bacich and has been in great form in pre season practice matches; John Morgan comes to the club after a successful year with premiership winning Stirling and will play three for Marco Krajancic. Unless I’m mistaken I believe that John Morgan’s pockets are pretty full as a result of many successes in off season competitions. Coincidently he was also in the winning Box fours team with Vaughan Colley who arrives from Bedford.
Vaughan is a leader of the highest quality having lead for Andrew Jones’s premier division rink last year as well as leading in Tony Krajancic’s winning team in the 2007 Yokine Box Fours.
My Prediction: DALKEITH-NEDLANDS.
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KARDINYA V’s GOSNELLS
KARDINYA
R. Sweet (Sk) R. Foy M. Abonnel S. Vinci
I. Hastings (Sk) D. Wood S. McCormack D. Phillips
T. Ball (Sk) J. Smith K. Eames I. Phillips
G. Gould (Sk) A. Cocodis D. Radford O. Sweetman
Kardinya have an impressive record in One White. They have remained there since making the grade in 2000/2001 and in fact have only missed making the finals on two occasions. They were in the finals again last year and are keen to go that step further.
Their ranks were already pretty strong but have been strengthened with the arrival of Geoff Gould (Leeming), Shaun McCormack (Melville), Kerry Eames (Safety Bay) and Marc Abonnel (Bull Creek). Steve Vinci also returns to the side.
This situation makes for very healthy competition for positions in the side. I played a couple of tournaments down at Kardinya during the off season and there is a definitely a very positive feel around the club.
The locals play their surface very well and this will be a telling factor particularly against the clubs that don’t have a similar surface. As a side line, - they tell me that David Wood will play his 116th straight One White game when he plays third for Ian Hastings this Saturday.
In Dave’s debut game in 2001 he played in a rink with Graham Wake, Graham Moon and Geoff Gould. As time and destiny would have it all four players are back playing in this Kardinya One White side this Saturday. Well done David.
GOSNELLS
Brett Holland (Sk) Jason Bryan Maurice Crabb David Downey
Bert Cruickshank (Sk) Mike Jaworski Colin Watters Peter Gale
Alan Corby (Sk) Roy Sharp Dave Newton Doug Weir
Kevin Bairstow (Sk) Trevor Gibbs Peter Hodgson Andrew Hay-Hendry
Gosnells showed last year that they will fight very hard particularly when cornered and facing relegation. The question is - can they produce that same fighting spirit on a more regular basis? There is certainly a more positive feel around the club and only time will tell if it reflects on the scoreboard.
Alan Corby was the standout skipper last year and as I’m currently playing lead for him mid-week I can testify first hand that he is again in sparkling form coming into this pennant season. To counter the losses of Trevor Close (injury), Darryl Stewart (South Perth) and Alan Neesham (Manning) the club has been prepared to promote local talent in the form of Maurice Crabb (current club singles champion), Peter Gale, Rod Peake and the very young but very talented David Downey (that comment will cost you your pocket money son). Having said that, one of the last three mentioned players (leads) may have to make way for Trevor Simons on his return for week three.
A great pickup for the club is the very talented young player, Jason Bryan (Cannington). Jason is an outstanding young man and bowler who recently represented WA in the National Junior Championships. There is no doubt that some of the Premier Division Clubs would love to have his services.
(In the exact same vein as Bassendean, we wish our young assistant green-keeper, Darryl Stewart, all the best for his debut in the Premier Division for South Perth.
Darryl is another outstanding young man and bowler who also previously represented W.A. at the National Junior Championships. We’ll miss you in our playing ranks Darryl but wish you well in the Premier Division).
My Prediction: KARDINYA.
MOSMAN PARK V’s LEEMING
MOSMAN PARK
Steve Withers (Sk) Mark Simpson Steve Novak Tom Reid
Doug Rodgers (Sk) Lindsay Hicks David Teague Glenn Ellis
Lester Mortimer (Sk) Wyn Ferris Peter Cole John Deery
John Rainoldi (Sk) Jarrad Rainoldi Rad Anderson Tom O’Neil
Congrats to Mosman Park who have stepped up from One Blue. While the Mossies have lost the likes of Sam Felton (Rockingham), Mark Lindsay (Dalkeith) and Brad Cole (Work Commitments) they have recruited well in the form of Mark Simpson (Vic Park), Mark Withers (Vic Park), Tom Reid (Vic Park), Steve Novak (Cockburn), Lindsay Hicks (Queensland), and the return of Glen Ellis.
The recruitment of Withers, Simpson and Hicks will give added bite to the back half with Reid, Novak and Ellis adding some class to the front half, especially with the temporary loss of Don Evans due to illness. (Hopefully Don will be back in the New Year fighting fit and raring to go).
How many games the team can get out of John Rainoldi due to work commitments will be a telling factor, however, the rink of Lester Mortimer should be the foundation and it will be interesting to see the results of new look rink of Doug Rogers.
As with many clubs much will depend on how quickly the teams gel, but make no mistake that the Mosman Park have Premier Division in their sights.
LEEMING
D. Comrie (Sk) G. Ford P. Middleton S. Harris
D. Munro (Sk) B. West P. Dobie T. Glendinning
L. Strange (Sk) A. Pryce G. Pemberton D. Anderson
P. Morris (Sk) I. Ashworth R. Gray R. Morley
Leeming have arrived from the Premier Division. A notable loss to their ranks is the talented Wayne Heldt to Wanneroo. To their credit the club has embarked on a program of replacing losses by promoting their members who have performed well for the club on the greens. These players will compliment many of the very players who got the club promoted to the Premier Division in the first place.
The Danny Comrie rink is a very experience one and should provide plenty of stability throughout the season. Don Munro may be new to skippering a 1st Division side for the club but has plenty of experience and recently skippered the winning team in the Leeming $10,000.
Another chosen skip is Lindsay Strange who is the current club singles champion and who has an experienced group in his rink.
The Peter Morris rink in an interesting one in that it contains players who starred for the club in 2nd Division last year and will be out to more than justify their standing in One White.
My Prediction: MOSMAN PARK.
SAFETY BAY V’s THORNLIE
SAFETY BAY
Paul Beaumont (Sk) Alan Holmes Darky Powell George Hallums.
Matt Massari (Sk) Kevin Lane Simon Timms Russell Haydon
Ray Beard (Sk) John Biglin Noel Cunningham Lance Gandy
Graham Scott (Sk) Garry Wilkes Shane Kneale David Goddard
Safety Bay report few changes for the coming season. Gary Wilkes has returned, as has Shane Kneale who spent time working in the Eastern States. The Bay is looking for a strong showing from Paul Beaumont's rink in particular having been the stand out rink in the lead up to the competition beginning. The Bay goes into the 2007/08 season with a lot of confidence having performed very well in their practice games.
THORNLIE
Paul Pohe (Sk) Jim Stein John Walker Andy Lill
Jim McKenzie (Sk) Alan Petchell Rod Kimble Jake Halse
Glyn Vaughan (Sk) Ross McMillian Bruce Deters Ray Halse
Greg Reagan (Sk) Ian Rewell Terry McCormack Tony Church
Thornlie is a club on the move both on and off the green and they have an uncanny ability to attract new members. I say ‘uncanny’ but they will tell you it’s by hard work and by making their club a professional and enjoyable one at which to be a player and/or member.
The end result is that all important ‘depth in the ranks’ that has each player knowing that his position is based on performance week in and week out.
The loss of Nick Reagan to South Perth’s Premier Division saw Glyn Vaughan’s vast experience immediately utilised with good results. Glyn and Jim McKenzie recently played in the over 60's interstate round robin (came equal 1st but 3rd on count back) and both are in good form. Ian Rewell and Jim Stein have been pushed up to play third this season as a result of strong performances; and Jake Halse and Andy Lill have been promoted from 2nd Division.
A ‘big get’ not long before the season kicked off was that of Alan Petchell (Cockburn Premier Division). It’s an enviable position to have a player of Alan’s ability and experience to keep the pressure on the current skippers as Alan would be seen as a ready replacement for any skip who may be a touch out of form.
(Note: The Thornlie Bowling Club and members extend their condolences to Mick Hansen who is unavailable this week due to a death in the family).
My Prediction: THORNLIE.
YOKINE V’s MORLEY
YOKINE
Rod Heaton (Sk) Ian Cooper John Bills B. Morrison
Tony Kay (Sk) Jamie O`Keefe Terry Fulcher Chris Busing
Scott Edmonds (Sk) Rob Bowron Juris Lorencs Ian Goghill
Adrian Durrant (Sk) Darren Kellond John McGrath Wayne Coffee
Yokine are on tender hooks waiting an Association decision on whether their new gun, Jamie O’Keefe, can line up for them to kick the season off. Jamie is in his early thirties and has moved to Perth from New South Wales however there may be a restriction on him playing until he has resided here for four weeks which would mean he may miss the first three weeks of the season.
Adding further grunt to their ranks are the Eaton trio of Adrian Durrant, Rob Bowron and Darren Kellond; and of course Scott Edmunds from Cambridge is a huge get.
There is no doubt that Yokine were disappointed with last season but they also boast some real get up and go and harmony in their ranks. Alan Davis is snapping at the heels of the starting 16 and Kiwi Brougham will be back at some stage following injury. Rod Heaton will lead the way and is determined that the Doggies will be a force to be reckoned with this year. They are confident of a top four finish.
MORLEY
John Armstrong (Sk) John Sheridan Graham White Travis Ingram
Peter Aungier (Sk) Allan Baron Alan Haley Rod Reval
Bruce Walter (Sk) Gavin Grieve Andy Elmer Glenn Britten
Robbie Urquhart (Sk) Joe Heiden Brad Moyle Denis Mullenger
Morley will be looking for a strong start in this competition after arriving from the Premier Division.
The John Armstrong rink will probably be their strongest. Travis Ingram is only in his third year of bowling but is playing well and will develop into a top bowler. Graham White has rejoined the club after a few years with Wanneroo and performed very well recently in the State Triples.
The Peter Aungier rink contains a very experienced group of bowlers with Alan Baron moving up to third. He and Peter team well together as evidenced by their very strong showing in last year’s state pairs.
The Bruce Walter rink is a reasonably new combination for the club although Bruce and Gavin Grieve have played a lot of non pennant events together and know each others game quite well. Bruce recently played in the over 60's interstate round robin (came equal 1st but 3rd on count back) and is in good form.
The Robbie Urquhart rink is another new combination but again Robbie and Joe Heiden have played a bit together. Robbie was in brilliant form early last year until he sustained some injuries.
Brad Moyle is a quality young man and bowler with a lot of natural ability who is in very good form. Denis Mullenger has returned to the club after a period on the Gold Coast working on his suntan and fitness. He is also a quality bowler and should improve greatly as the season progresses.
My Prediction: MORLEY.
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