November 1, 2007
The pennant season gets underway on Saturday November 3.
Is the competition as strong as last season? at first glance I would say no, there was a greater spread of talent across the clubs last season. This season the strong appear to be stronger and the weak look to be weaker.
There are 14 State squad members spread across three clubs with the remaining 8 spread across the other 7 clubs.
Kalamunda, Bedford and Melville have no representation while Sth Perth have one representative.
Pieter Harris will play in the country and David Opie will play in the One Blue South Division.
Hopefully this imbalance doesn't affect the competition and turn it into a predictable and boring season.
The more variety of clubs that can win or play in the Premiership the more interest will be maintained in the competition
The AFL Is an example of what can happen where there is a spread of talent and we see different clubs winning their Grand final each season, interest is at an all time high and continually growing in the game of Australian football, I would love to see that happen in lawn bowls
---------Wanneroo's Ted Alden in action
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Round One
------------ROUND ONE 3rd NOVEMBER
---------------GAME OF THE ROUND
-WANNEROO EXPRESS v CAMBRIDGE KNIGHTS
C. Adams (sk) W. Heldt, M.Hulbert, P.Potts
G. Ellis (sk), R. Humphreyson, P. Knight,S.Wright
N.Stevens (sk), Ron Bates, J.Carter, Russ Bates.
S.Davies(sk), T.Alden,D.Griffin,L.Johnson
-------------------------versus
The Jones Boy (sk) T. Walsh, A. Heal, R. Bolton.
B. Katunarich (sk) M. McGann,C. McKenna,D.Irvin
T.Smallacombe (sk) N. Lewis,W. Maher, B. Kiely
R.Stockton(sk) C. Lander, H. Christensen,G. Kane
----------------------------------------------------------
There are a two players missing from this lineup, Ken Boswell and Gary Cox who were regulars last season. The side for 2007/8 was selected on form displayed in the trials, the players who trailed best were the ones selected. Paul Knight who hails from Beaumaris is making his debut.
Their are several players in their next grade who are more than capable of getting a game in the top side which is good and they will keep the pressure on for players to perform in the premier side.
The Wanneroo Express had a disappointing season after their sensational performance winning the flag in 2005/6. Wanneroo have retained the same skips from last season and have juggled the teams around along with the addition of new recruits.
The Express appear to be a stronger side than last season. Will the new players selected and the return of Phil Potts be enough to improve the Express's standing in the competition? We would have to say yes!
The rink of Neville Stevens got away to a great start last season winning 5 games from their first 7 and then fell away badly to finish 7/10 - 28 shots.
It is now a changed rink to kick off the new season with the Bates brothers in the side along with John Carter who played as a three last season. It will be interesting to how the Neville and his rink goes but it is clear that the Neville Stevens led rinks have to lift their rating
Cambridge have only one recruit The Jones Boy and he is sure to give the Knights much needed firepower off the back. The Knights have only two changes in player personal, Ross Bolton comes into the side replacing brother Neil, Scott Edmonds has left.
The knights need an improved performance from Brian Katunarich's rink to get them up the ladder, Last seasons 9/9 -0 shots up will not get them into the four. A major concern for this rink was losing by costly huge margins at various times.
Ron Stockton's rink has to lift on last season, 7/10/1 -22 is way below the capabilities of any Stockton led rink, a repeat will be curtains for the Knights
The home ground advantage will favour a rejuvenated Wanneroo Express but the Knights seem to be a touch stronger off the back. Much will depend on the front half for Wanneroo if they are to win this game.
6/2
--Sth PERTH MILLERS v OSBORNE PARK SAINTS
G. Caffell, J. Jaworski, P. Ker, J. Coleman.
B. Galloway. G. Evans, G. Nicol, F. DiGuiseppe
D. Trewhella, P. Caffell, D. Rankin, P. Fair.
J. Goddard, I, Payne, G. King, D. Appleton.
-----------------------Versus
Ken Pride (sk) R. Bresland Nigel Rees,T. Kinnane
K.Howieson (sk)G. White,F. Carbone J Cunningham
Nic Reagan (sk) S. Lunn, T. Percival M.Hughes
Scott Walker(sk) B. Bandy,D. Bandy, Darryl Stewart
This game will be interesting and a good test for the Millers after their successful season winning promotion in 2006/7.
Things couldn't be better than having to meet Osborne Park first up, it is probably the best thing to happen for the club because it will tell them where they are at almost straight away.
The Millers have recruited well and they are confident they have a good 16 that will be competitive.
Skippers, Ken Pride 11/6 + 33, Nick Reagan 12/6 + 68 and Kevin Howieson 11/6 + 49 all had a good stat sheet last season, so they are well prepared for what is required, however they will soon learn the Premier League is a different level compared to One White.
It will probably take a while for the club to settle down to find rink compatibility and balance.
Osborne Park Saints were terrific last season and played a great brand of bowls through most of last season and those who saw the Grand final would agree that it was played at Interstate standard and one of the best if not the best game ever played in a final.
The Saints are committed and passionate about their bowls, whether they can kick the season off where they left off in the Grand final is hard to say.
They have new players who might take a while to settle in. Gary Caffell was the leading skip last season has two of the new players in his rink,James Jaworski and Peter Ker, both are confident players but will soon learn playing One Blue is vastly different to playing Premier League.
The carpet at Sth Perth will have some advantages for the Millers but quite a few Saints players have played many games there so it wont hold any terrors for them.
7/1
-----COCKBURN ROOSTERS v KALAMUNDA
S. Srhoy(sk), N. Fitzgerald,I. Jakovich, S. Vassalio
L. Richardson(sk) M. Sokol, J. Ravilich,
L. Strahan(sk) G.Carberry, S.Cerff, P. Sardelic
M. Kurta(sk), M. Zusman, J. Galipo, S. West.
---------------------versus
N. Payne (sk) S. O`Neil, __________
B. Brandsma (sk)_________________
N. Griffin (sk)____________________
M. Biglan (sk) F. Anderson, __________
Daniel Brown will miss the first game of the season
New players
Marin Sokol, Matt Kurta, Luke Richardson, Lance Strahan and Neil Fitzgerald
Cockburn have lost four players from last years lineup R. Hughes, A. Petchell, N. Pascoe and D.Penman. If that was a rink available for Cockburn it would win 13/14 games in the season. This is a huge loss for the club and they are very much the poorer for it. Had they retained these players a Premiership was not out of the question.
Still the Roosters have moved on and have 5 new players which includes 3 new skippers who are all in their 20's . And it is great to see Mr Magic Peter Sardelic making a welcome return to the Premier League.
Luke Richardson comes with a very high rating but hasn't skippered in the Premier League and will probably return to play three for the missing Daniel Brown the week after.
Mat Kurta skippered in the Victorian Premier league last season, he might find the windy conditions in Perth will take some getting used to, however that said he is a player of potential that could go higher in the game.
Lance Strahan overall had a disappointing year last season playing for Bedford, He started the season brilliantly with a 4 outstanding games and had an eye on a State berth. That never eventuated for him, he missed three vital games and was also transferred to work in the country to miss many more.
If Lance can produce his best for Cockburn, his best is as good as anyone in the Premier league can produce. It will make Cockburn a certainty for a spot in the four.
An interesting selection is that of Neil Fitzgerald to play three for Steve Shroy, Cockburn's top skip last season.. I guess for many players it is a matter of being given a chance and I sure Neil will grab this opportunity with both hands.
While Cockburn have players such as Steve Srhoy, Peter "Mr Magic" Sardelic and Mike Zusman the side will retain the great Cockburn fighting spirit and living up to their reputation of being the mean machine, and never give an inch. The club has never missed out on a place in the four in its history and will just get there to make up the final four
Kalamunda have one recruit to their 16, Steve O`Neil otherwise nothing has altered.
Neil Payne led rinks had a dismal season with 5/12/1 - 73 shots. He has Steve O`Neil as his third and this might be just what the doctor ordered for him, We can expect an improved performance from them
Mitch Biglan has now had a season of skippering and Kalamunda will be hoping it will stand him in good stead to get the club higher up the ladder.
With so many changes to the rink last season of Kalamunda's best skip, Neale Griffin they were not able get the results they would have liked. It is a must that Neale has a settled side that can build momentum as the season progresses.
Billy Brandsma stood up well to the pressure of Premier League in his first year last season 8/7/3 + 2 shots. He will have continue on in that vein and improve on the stat sheet. He showed a touch of class at the Bedford Bowl when his rink qualified to play in the final.
Last season Kalamunda shocked the bowling world with an upset win over the highly fancied Cockburn Roosters. Can they do it again? why not you might ask!
Because the game will be played at windy city,
7/1
--MELVILLE MAGIC v VICTORIA PARK REDS
C. Girven(sk)K. Cousins GMcCormack, P. Simonetti
C. Fleay (sk),R. Kennedy, A. Keating, J. Birch
B. Alexander(sk), S. Hughes, J. Spadaro, H. Mosford
N. Brieley (sk) A. Tough, R. Ireland _______.
G. Wishart(sk), E. Martin, S. Knott, D. Jardine
R. Hughes (sk), T. Mitchell, J. Finlay, G. Quann.
R. Butler (sk, D. Florence, K. Beaglehole, G. Hiskens
J. Mitchell (sk), ---, S. Holt, D. Patterson
Victoria Park have overcome player losses from last season and have a 16 with a mixture of experience and youth. State Skipper Russell Hughes is the biggest signing of the year, he is the best performed skip over the past three seasons in the Premier League. Others to sign up are Rhett Butler, Daniel Patterson, Erron Martin and Shane Knott.
Rooster Wishart has rink that will be keen to do well however it is an inexperienced rink at this level and might be changed to find the right combinations and balance as the season progresses
Rhett Butler who is a champion player, demonstrating that often in quality events, however his stats as skip for the past two seasons have been, firstly when he played for Leeming 9/9 + 12 and then Melville were 8/10 -15 shots. Many lesser ranked skips have a better stat sheet
Russell Hughes and his rink will be the flagship for the Reds. He has the promising Thomas Mitchell as his three, the very experienced Jim Finlay and Greg Quann in the front end.
Don't Know much about Jeff Mitchell except he has Daniel Patterson leading for him. Don't be surprised to see Daniel move to a higher position in the 16, Skipper is very possible
We have no information about Melville at this time.
Melville have been hard hit with player losses and
face the prospect of demotion, they will be in a dog fight with Bedford, Sth Perth and Kalamunda as to who will be demoted
7/1
BEDFORD BULLS v DOUBLEVIEW POWERHOUSE
C. Graybrook(sk) B. Radford, P. Healy, A. Mayer
S. Bainbridge(sk) S. Rushforth, J. Gupanis, K. Burke
N. Minchin (sk), B. Fullagar, N. Adams, J. Carlsen
F. Andrich (sk) Pa. Hunter, B. Donovan, N. Watson
------------------------versus
J. Slavich(sk) K. McIroy,D. Slavich,G.Papadopalous
D.Katunarich(sk),R.Dempsey,B.Gearing, C.Dunstall
J. Sharp (sk),P. Buller, R. Barns, M. Mitchell
L. Thorn (sk), B. Urquhart, J. Bausor, C. Slavich.
Player losses for Bedford are Pieter Harris, Lance Strahan, The Jones Boy, Greg Hill, Daniel Wood and Vaughan Colley .
Mel Lemos is unavailable for a month or so, Barry Gartrell might be available next week and David Scott is playing in One Blue. All in all that is nine changes to the side from the last game in season 2006/7
The Bulls have 4 new players in the starting 16, Braden Radford from Kardinya One White, Bruce Fullagar from Bassendean One White, Norm Adams from Hilton Park One Blue and Jim Gupanis from Cambridge One Blue. The rest of the side is made up of past and present players.
The Bulls are keeping a positive outlook and are determined to make a go of it and won't hear of any talk about demotion. However the reality is, it is more likely than not. There is no doubt that Bedford will be in the firing line to avoid demotion with the loss of so many players.
The Bulls have put the PowerHouse away at Bedford in the opening game of the past two seasons, with a far stronger 16 than they will present for this clash on Saturday..
The Marquee player at Bedford is Stu Bainbridge who has continually had a good stat sheet over the past five years. his average is 11/6/1 per season which is very consistent. After that things are not so good,
Cliff Graybrook's last stat sheet as a skip in 2004/5 was 5/10/1 -62.
Neil Minchin makes a return to skipper, his one and only stint back in 2004/5 produced 4/3/1 + 8 he then handed over his skippers role preferring to play three. He was only one of three skips to defeat Russell Hughes in that season.
The PowerHouse have a very solid 16 and the scary thing is, it is not their best side that will be on the green this Saturday.
State Skipper Jon Sharp will play his first game for the PowerHouse as will Boomer Gearing and Roger Barns. Jon's Last game at Bedford in round 18 produced a loss against Stu Bainbridge
If the PowerHouse bring their "A" game to Bedford on Saturday it will be a stroll in the park for the premiership favourites. The PowerHouse have a side that contains many State squad members along with former State players and they are keen to get away to good start.
It will be interesting to see how the new look Bedford Bulls go in this game and I sure wish the boys the all the best and hope they can put up a good show.
7/1
