FINALS Premier division Click here to return to Pennant Scene
April 1, 2007
Grand final 2006/7
Today was the best of the best days in Lawn Bowls. The colour, the atmosphere,
the standard of the game in trying conditions, the players and the crowd along
with the close finish all combined to make this a day that will be long remembered..it
won't ever be better than this.
Sherro has always
maintained that the Northern suburbs is the heartland of bowls in W.A. The
crowd was the biggest I have seen for quite sometime at any game and far surpassed
the grand final at Lathlain last year in every department. Perhaps another
message for BowlsWA to take heed of.
This was a game of ups and downs for both sides, firstly the PowerHouse shot
out to an early lead and looked to be gaining the upper hand and led by 10
shots at the 35th end, around end 60 the Saints got right back into the game
and shot to an 8 shot lead and they looked like they would take the game.
As the game drew to a conclusion the PowerHouse rested the lead back and it
was a nerve wracking last few ends and finally with the last end of the game
to be played there was only three shots the difference.
--------------------------
------------------------
Two of the best, Dennis Katunarich and Prickles Thorn after
the game and celebrating their great victory
April 1, 2007
Grand final
DOUBLEVIEW POWERHOUSE (7) v OSBORNE
PARK SAINTS (1)..........77/73
R
Ball,(skip) B Urquhart, W Langdon, C Slavich---------------
----.----18
Bill Galloway (skip), Ian Payne.G. Nicol, P Maynard ......--.----
---......19
These two rinks had an absorbing battle
yesterday at Doubleview with Robbie Ball winning by 1 shot. As luck
would have it, they drew each other again and what a superb game we
had. Robbie Ball's rink led the way and established a handy lead in
a high standard game where we saw the leaders Charlie Slavich and "Kooka'
Maynard have a huge battle, both were superb in a scintillating exhibition
of leading.
Interesting for Kooka who left Yokine 3 years ago because of a lack
of opportunity only
to return to the club today to play in the biggest game of the year
for Osborne Park.
Bill Galloway was fighting tooth and nail to hold on and not let the
score get away because Robbie Ball was so good that it was hard for
Bill's side to hang onto the shot.
The seconds were also just so good with Grant Nicol always ever so close
and not wasting any bowls in a classy game. Of course Winton Langdon
was not to be out done and he was going bowl for bowl with Grant.
The game tightened up scorewise as Bill and his rink were playing many
top bowls in tight heads. The temperature kept rising and we haven't
mentioned the thirds who just kept producing close bowls.
For a
period in the middle to later stages Ian Payne was sensational either
driving or drawing and was playing a major role to help claw back Robbie
Balls lead. Bruce Urquhart was also fantastic with great weight control
and was a vital cog in the game.
As the game drew to its conclusion with plenty hanging on the result
of the rink score, there were many brilliant bowls played with Bill
Galloway playing above and beyond as was Robbie ball
The last end saw the Bill Galloway confronted with having to play the
biggest and most important bowl of the whole pennant season with the
last bowl of the match and the huge crowd watching when one down and
three behind on the major scoreboard, if he could trail the jack to
waiting bowls that had only just missed the mission they were sent on,
he could possibly win the match for the Saints. His first bowl was a
fraction wide and his second bowl just missed the jack and the PowerHouse
won the Premiership. All
in all each player in this game would and should be proud of their efforts
and have taken the game of bowls to another level.
This was Robbie Ball's last game in the Premier League and he was superb,
He will be missed at Doubleview. A great player and champion of the
game goes out as a winner.
Daniel Trewhella
D Katunarich,
A Delaporte, R Dempsey,
J Wholohan --------------.----16
D. Trewhella (skip), Pat Caffell J. Tyrer, S. Wattleworth.....---.-.----...18
The Big Kat Dennis Katunarich, who is a legend of the game playing the excitement
machine Daniel Trewhella was another big time game. Sherro couldn't follow
the game as it was just out of site of the commentary position but what we
did manage to see was fantastic. Who would win this game? Dennis and his rink
got away to a handy start with Daniel Trewhella's boys playing catch up for
the first half. One of the features of the game was the brilliant driving of
young Daniel to help keep his rink in striking distance. While the Kat was
always busy with some great draw shots.
The leaders, Steve Wattleworth who is in his first season in the Premier League
seemed to be doing well as did James Wholohan. The game finally swung to Daniel
Trewhella who showed outstanding qualities whether driving or drawing and may
have played his way into a State skippers role.
At various times we saw Aaron Deleporte play great draw shots and Pat Caffell
always seemingly in the target area. There is not much more I can say except
the atmosphere was also very noticeable and very noisy with some of the best
high fives you would ever see anywhere anytime, along with so many quality
bowls being played.
K McIlroy, P Buller, J. Bausor, G Papadopolous-------------------------24
J. Goddard (skip), Wings Evans F. Di Giusseppe, D. Appleton ..---
....18
Well what can we say other than this game was an absolute scorcher with so
many twists and turns along the way. The standard was unbelievably high, John
Goddard's rink jumped out to lead 7/0 early in the game only to see Kyle McIlroy
side come back hard to hit the front and lead 10/7.
Gary Papadopalous who has played over 300 games leading for the PowerHouse was
doing a great job as was "The Big Apple" Dave Appleton who hails
from Kalgoorlie and playing in his first season in the Premier League, both
players were not far away on most occasions.
Fred De Gueseppe was playing above and beyond with many telling bowls while
Jim Bausor was also going extra well.
Wings Evans played some rippers while Pat Buller was impressive and could get
very close to the jack.
On several ends the furtherest bowl in the head was a metre away from the
Jack.
The Big battle at the very back was in the highest gear possible with John
Goddard rarely wasting a bowl
on any length or hand.
I have never seen Kyle McIlroy play to the standard he played in the skippers
role in this game and boy !! he was brilliant.
As you can see all hands were on deck for both rinks in this outstanding game.
John Goddard and rink got to the front once more only to see Kyle McIlroy
play the big bowls to convert or add to the head and it was because of his
play that enabled his rink to get away again to hit the front and hold onto
a match winning lead.
Top class and enthralling spectacle with a thrill and spill a minute
--------------------
-----L/R: Paul Pendergast,
Gary Caffell, Fred De Giusseppe, Kooka Maynard
While it is a sad time for the Saints they can be proud of the effort they
put in for today's Grand Final
L Thorn, J Slavich, D Slavich, M. Mitchell -------------------.---------.--19
Gary Caffell(skip), P. Pendergast, G.
King. J. Coleman, ................-.....18
This game was also just out of our range in the commentary box but what we
did see was Prickles Thorn's rink was leading 8/4 and a great comeback by
Gary Caffell's rink to lead 17/11. Well that was the end for Gary's boys
because Prickles came back hard to end up taking the game 19/18. I am sorry
that I can't add more to this game but for Prickles and his boys to beat
the top rink in W.A is an acheivement in itself .
Prickles Thorn did say to me very early before the season started that the
PowerHouse would be more committed and would take the flag. He himself has
had a great season and his team mates have backed him up all the way.
---------------------------------------DEADLY
TRIO
-------------------------
The famous Slavich boys set a record. A father and two sons play
in the Premiership side. L/R: John, Danny and Charlie