January 18, 2008
Round ten starts the second round of pennants with something hanging on every game in what should be another exciting round. It is hard to say what would be the game of the day such is the importance of all games
Doubleview take on the Bedford Bulls and would be expected to win the game even allowing for a dramatic improvement in form by the Bulls
Kalamunda do have some chance to upset the Cockburn Roosters who have two of their star players missing.
Cambridge have proved to be almost invincible at home on their carpet take on a battling Wanneroo Express
Victoria Park Reds are looking the part will play a rejuvenated Melville magic at Vic Park
Osborne Park Saints need to get going if they are to make the finals while the Miller would want to shake their Lambs away tag
-----Adi Mayer played well as a lead last week
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Adi "don't worry I get it this time" Mayer has played many games over the years for Bedford and filled every position is enjoying his current role as a leader
-----------ROUND TEN 19th JANUARY 2008
------KALAMUNDA v COCKBURN ROOSTERS
N. Payne (sk) S. O`Neil, R. Hutchison, R Pringle
B.Brandsma(sk)J. Rollnik, P.Natalotto T.Natalotto
N. Griffin (sk)J. Wardrop , R. Payne , J. Morss
M. Biglin (sk) F. Anderson, M. Clancy, M. Douthie
-------------------------versus
S. Srhoy (sk),S.West, I. Jakovich,S. Vassallo
D. Brown (sk) L. Richardson,, M. Sokol, P. Novak,
D. Penman (sk) S.Cerff, M. Illich, J. Galipo
G. Carberry(sk), M.Zusman , J. Ravlich, P. Kastropil
Kalamunda are in the hot seat as far as demotion goes, they might have expected to be in a better position on the ladder after a promising start. Last week they put in a good effort to get two points off the heavyweights from Cambridge.
John Wardrop Kalamunda( pictured) playing three for Neale Griffin is all smiles after last week rink win
It was encouraging to see Neale Griffin win a game and even better for John Morss to play in his first ever game and come out of it with a win. This is a golden opportunity for them roll a less than full strength Cockburn Roosters, they did beat them last season
Neil Payne's rink has faded away after a terrific start to the season, losing their last three home games. They say the grass is not the best at Kalamunda so that could be one reason for the slump in results for his rink.
Mitch Biglin's rink are the rink to watch out for, They have been good for Kalamunda
The Cockburn Roosters copped a good going over from the Osborne Park Saints last week will be without their two leading skippers, Lance Strahan and Matty Kurta and this will leave them exposed a little. Of course the Roosters will come up with some good replacements in this area Gary Carberry at his best is very good and Dan Penman who as far as I know has never skippered in the Premier League is an obvious replacement.
Tho Dan is a very competent player, skipper is a different role to what he has been used to.
Steve Srhoy who was Cockburn's top skip last year, and his rink have been chugging along quietly and effectively this season had a huge win against John Goddard and it is more meritorious considering it was on O.P's green, there has been a change, Steve West who generally leads will play three for Steve
Mr fixit Mike Zusman has moved to another rink to help make a new rink and we see Peter Kastropil make an appearance as lead in the same rink.
The result of this game could have a far reaching effect on placing's at seasons end.
6/2
VIC PARK REDS v MELVILLE MAGIC
G. Wishart(sk), T. Mitchell, D. Florence , G. Hiskens
R. Hughes (sk), R. Gilbert, J. Finlay, G. Quann
R. Butler (sk), K. Beaglehole, S.Knott.G. Faulkner
J. Mitchell (sk), C. McNeil, E. Martin, D. Patterson
-----------------------Versus
C. Girvan (sk), K.Cousens, T. O`Meehan, J. Andrew
C. Fleay (sk), Keating, G. McCormack, J. Birch.
S. Hughes (sk), M. Randell, J. Spadaro. H. Mosford
N. Briely (sk), Kennedy, R. Ireland, Murray.
Victoria Park Reds are well positioned after the conclusion of the first round with 6 wins 3 losses and a healthy percentage. They have lost to the Doubleview PowerHouse, Cockburn and Wanneroo.
There is no reason why the club can't go on with it in this second round and make the finals.
The main reason for the Reds success so far are the two driving forces at V.P are Russell Hughes's rink, which as usual any rink that Russell skippers always has a great stat sheet. While the King of swing, Rhett Butler and his rink also have a great stat sheet 6/3 + 26.
This is a vast improvement for rinks skippered by Rhett Butler who has had a less than impressive stat sheet over the past 2 seasons.
Jeff Mitchell's rink won 4 straight then lost 4 games straight might be back to the form of that earlier in the year.
Melville Magic have been the surprise packet over the last five weeks and their effort against the Doubleview PowerHouse was full of merit with Cameron Girvan and Colin Fleay drawing their games and Neville Briely running Jon Sharp's rink close going down by 5 shots.
The second round should see Melville Magic improve even further and don't be surprised to see them stave off relegation
The rink of Cameron Girvan have gained a lot of respect with their performance and is the major reason behind their resurrgence, as is Steve Hughes's rink and we can expect more from his rink in the coming games.
The Magic will find it hard to roll the Reds who are on top of their game at the moment.
7/1
-CAMBRIDGE KNIGHTS v WANNEROO EXPRESS
T.Smallacombe (sk) N. Lewis,W. Maher, B. Kiely The Jones Boy (sk) T. Walsh, N. Bolton, R. Bolton.
R. Stockton (sk) A. Heal, G. Kane, H. Christensen
B. Katunarich (sk) M. McGann,C. McKenna,D.Irvin
----------------------Versus
C. Adams (sk) N.Stevens, G.Cox, P.Potts
G. Ellis (sk), R. Humphreyson, P. Knight,S.Wright
Ron Bates(sk), J.Carter, S. Alden, Russ Bates.
S.Davies(sk), T.Alden,M.Hulbert,D Griffin
Cambridge are very good at home on their carpet and have not lost a game at home this season.
They have 5 games at home in this second round. They might rename the club "Fort Cambridge"
The Knights have got away to a good start and to be in 2cnd position at the end of the first round was something that most would not have thought at the start of pennants.
They have the top rink in the League, that of Trystan Smallacombe who has been the flagship of the club for a number of seasons
Cambridge has a different feel about it with the inclusion of the Jones Boy this season. He and his rink have delivered the goods so far.
Ron Stockton's rink has gone from strength to strength as the season has progressed.
Some big wins for the Knights were Doubleview PowerHouse, Cockburn Roosters and the Osborne Park Saints. Their most disappointing loss was against V.P when they squandered a 40 shot lead after the rain came
Wanneroo are so unpredictable and even tho they have won 6 of the 9 games played so far they just don't give me any confidence they can finish in the top four. They fell across the line against the two bottom sides courtesy of a one rink win in both games. These are not good signs
However they have beaten V.P, Cambridge and Cockburn, however a lot of water has gone under the bridge since those wins.
A look at the stat sheet tells the tale so far for the Express.
Wanneroo will have to dig deep to make the finals however bowls being the game it is anything is possible and the Express will be looking to turn things around in this second round.
They have a daunting task ahead of them to beat the Cambridge Knights at Cambridge.
The Knights have the horse power to overcome an erratic and unreliable Wanneroo Express who instead of running on 4 cylinders, are doing the job running on one cylinder these days.
7/1
--- D/VIEW POWERHOUSE v BEDFORD BULLS
J.Slavich(sk)K.McIroy,D. Slavich,B.Gearing
D.Katunarich(sk),P. Buller,R. Dempsey, C.Tunstall
J. Sharp (sk),L. Thorn, R. Barns, M. Mitchell
R. Ball(sk), B. Urquhart, J. Bausor, C. Slavich
----------------------versus
C. Graybrook(sk) A. Mayer, P. Healy, A. Mayer
S. Bainbridge(sk),B. Fullagar,K.Burke, P. Turpin
N.Minchin(sk),Paul.Hunter,R.Hamilton,J. Winship
J. Gupanis (sk) N. Watson ,M. Lemos, P. Hunter
The PowerHouse would be well pleased with their first round performance losing only two games, one of those by one shot against Cockburn. The other was at Cambridge and that was on one of the windiest days this season and on the carpet.
All four rinks are getting the job done as you would expect from a side that contains so many State players and ex State players, nine all up.
The second round should see a repeat of the first for the PowerHouse
Doubleview PowerHouse should be a tad too strong for the Bedford Bulls who have made more changes in an endeavour to find the right mix. After last weeks great effort in a game the Bulls should have won against Wanneroo but didn't. They have been forced into making more changes with Jim Gupanis taking a skippers role and bringing in Neil Watson.
Neil Minchin did a very good job last week against Wanneroo with a handy win will find it a bit harder this week but if he gets the bowls in the head he will do well.
Bedford still remain in the zone to stay in the Premeir League and can take some heart that Melville went well on three rinks against the PowerHouse.
7/1
OSBORNE PARK SAINTS V Sth PERTH MILLERS
G. Caffell (sk), D. Rankin, G. Nicol, J. Coleman.
J. Jaworski(sk) G. Evans, , F. DiGuiseppe, P. Ker
D. Trewhella (sk), P. Caffell, G. King, D. Adams.
J. Goddard (sk) I., Payne, B. Galloway, D. Appleton
------------------------versus
Pride (sk), Antonio, Carbone, Stewart
R. Bresland(sk),Walker, Rees, Lyons
Nic Reagan (sk) S. Lunn, T. Percival M.Hughes
White (sk), Bandy, Kelly, Cunningham
The Sth Perth Miller have changed thier rinks since this was first published
The Saints have not got the result they would have hoped for in the first round with 5 wins and 4 losses and will have to win at least 6 games in the second round if they are to make the four.
The games they have lost have been close however that doesn't help their cause. A win is a win is a win is a win, and that is what counts. The loss to the lowly Bedord Bulls is the one that might bite them on the bum at the end of the season.
In the first round they have broken Bill Galloway's rink up which is something that hasn't happened for a long time at The Saints. His replacement James Jaworski as yet has not won a game but his rink have been competitive and is certain to do well in the second round, in fact they will have to well if the Saints are to make the four.
The Saints haven't got a lot to skite about at the end of the first round, showing they beat only one side in the top four and that was against Cockburn in the last game of the round . Take out the performance of Daniel Trewhella's rink and things would be looking worse for them.
Darryl Stewart Sth Perth (pictured) playing in his first season of Premier League for the Millers
Sth Perth Millers have shown in the first round that they are Lions at home and Lambs away. For all that they have shown their carpet is their best friend, they have lost two games on it and one of them against the reigning Premiers The PowerHouse by a mere 8 shots.
The Millers won't make the four but are sure to be a team that will decide the make up of the final four if they keep winning at home.
The rinks still need tinkering with and also a couple of stronger players would help make a difference. The Stat sheet tells us plenty about the performances and if they are to improve then they must win away from home. One win away win is simply not enough and when you consider it was against Bedford it is not a lot for the Millers to hang their hat on.
The game at Osborne Park would be a good starting point for the Millers to make a point because there are no better greens than what there is at O.P.
8/0
