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RING ERRON MARTIN 9274 3333
January 15, 2009
ROUND TEN
Round ten sees the top four sides getting ready to do the business
Osborne Park Saints take on 4th placed Wanneroo Express
in a game that victory is important for both sides
Vic Park Reds
play the Sth Perth Millers and again victory is vital for both sides
Cockburn play last weeks surprise winners the Yokine Doggies and the Roosters must win this game or it could be curtains for season 2008/9
Kalamunda have a dreadful home game record while Dalkeith play better away from home. The Kalamunda Tigers need this win for more than just the sake of winning
Last years super sides after some important points. A loss for either Cambridge or Doubleview could end their bid for a finals spot.
Mike Trojak (Sth Perth) has had a terrific season playing as a two for Matt Elull, they have lost one game for the season so far. They are the third best performed rink in the Premier League
--
OSBORNE Pk SAINTS v WANNEROO EXPRESS
G. Caffell (sk),G. Evans, G. King, G. Nicol,
K.Pickering(sk)C. Fleay, DiGuiseppe,R.Couper
D. Rankin (sk),P. Caffell,R.Lawrence, P.Pendergast
J.Goddard(sk),I. Payne, B.Galloway,D.Appleton
-------------------------versus
C.Adams (sk), R.Axford, D. Moore, P.Pott's
T. Alden (sk), R.Bate's, N. Costello, M. Hulbert
R. Humphryson(sk), P.Knight, G.Adamini, H.Ward
S.Davies(sk), D.Triffit, S.Alden, D.Griffin
Osborne Park have finished the first round and would well satisfied with their effort. It was thought the Saints would struggle after player losses, but it is not the case.
The two country recruits Bob Couper and Kevin Pickering have done a mighty job and Colin Fleay is another bonus for the Saints.
David Rankin has shown he is a quality skip and remains unbeaten so far.
Of course another new player is Rob Lawrence is a home grown player who has taken the bit between his teeth
and stepped up to the plate with quality performances .
These are the main reasons why the Saints have not fallen by the wayside.
They begin the second round in good shape with just the one rink that is behind the 8 ball however many of their games have been hard fought affairs with the exception of last weeks game against DV.
The continued good form of John Goddard and his rink spell danger for the Express and to win on Saturday this rink has to be stopped.
David Rankin's rink is another that will have to be toppled and the form that rink is in it will a hard task for who ever draws that rink
Kevin Pickering is getting quality bowls form his rink especially when the chips are down and will be just another hurdle for Wanneroo.
Gary Caffell's rink are the one rink who might be a chance for Wanneroo to take a point off.
At the halfway mark --doing better than expected
The Wanneroo Express
are in a position that many would not have thought possible at the start of the season. The club bought in three new players, Hugh Ward, Dave Triffit and Brian Axford. Apart from Brian Axford the other two players were unknowns.
Wanneroo Express have won their way into fourth position by beating the top sides including Osborne Pk early in the season. No doubts they deserve their place but have been exposed somewhat because of the performances of one man early in the season, Geoff Ellis. Unfortunately Geoff is not available to play at the moment.
Stein Davies led rinks can be brilliant or poor. If they can sustain their recent form they will make it hard for OP.
Clive Adams led rink are similar in as much that their is no consistency in their weekly performances and will have to be at their best on saturday if they are to trouble OP.
Ted Alden will be playing his second game this season as a skip and while the rink has a lot of experience I can't see a victory for the rink in this game.
Reg Humphryson has done a splendid job since he was commissioned to take a rink and one thing about Reg is any team his rink plays they are certain to get a contest.
At the halfway mark --doing better than expected
8/0
D/VIEW POWERHOUSE v CAMBRIDGE KNIGHTS
D. Trewhella (sk) K. McIlroy,R. Dempsey, P. Ker
J. Slavich (sk), P. Buller , J. Bausor, A. Delaporte
R. Ball (sk), L. Thorn, K.Screech, C. Slavich
D.Katunarich(sk) B. Urquhart,M.Mitchell,G. Nelson
-----------------------versus
T. Smallacombe (sk)C. Lander, N. Lewis, R. Bolton.
The Jones Boy (sk) , A. Heal,B. Katunarich, B. Kiely
P. Harris (sk),R. Stockton, S. Rushforth, W. Maher
D. Opie (sk),M. McGann,T. Walsh , G. Kane
The Doubleview PowerHouse
started the season out with three new recruits, all very good players, but also were without Dennis Katunarich and Robbie Ball who it was thought to be taking a year off bowls and possibly playing for Happy Valley.
Doubleview PowerHouse finished the first round of pennants in unfamiliar territory, who would have thought the PowerHouse would have only 3 wins from 9 games (one game washed out) and be to placed in 8th position.
Daniel Trewhella has certainly produced the goods and without he and his rink's effort, Doubleview could have an even worse position
on the ladder.
John Slavich has a 50% record which isn't enough if Doubleview want to make the finals. Last season John had 5 losses for the season, he is one short of that at the halfway mark of this season
Kyle McIlroy has not had a successful stint in the skippers role with only one win from 7 games. History shows Kyle McIlroy has not had a lot of success as a skipper of a rink with just 9 wins from his last 26 home and away games.
While Patrick "Bullseye" Buller has only one win from 6 games (+1 draw)
The club obviously have missed Robbie Ball who has returned to play in round 9 and that will help somewhat if he skippers.
The future looks somewhat bleak for the rest of the season and the club will be hoping to get results with their two guns, Dennis Katunarich who returned to the skippers role and Robbie Ball we assume will take a rink.
At the halfway mark -- very poor and disappointing
The Cambridge Knights
recruited well with State Skip Pieter Harris and State second David Opie coming into the club along with Steve Rushforth and maybe that was what the doctor ordered to help propel the club into a grand final.
So far it is all bad news for Cambridge who have become every clubs punching bag. Their last win was against the Dalkeith Silvertails.
Last season the club was on fire This was because of the dominance of Trystan Smallacombe and the Jones Boys led rinks.
So where to for the Knights, Three weeks ago they get blasted by Sth Perth, then they play the top side O.P and get smashed, the following week they play the second bottom side and get smashed again.
They plan for the season by recruiting quality players and now we find them after the first round having been completed struggling to make the finals and on the brink of of finishing in 8th
position.
At the halfway mark--terrible
Who can win this game between two of the super powers of last season is a toss of the coin.
Neither has much to recommend in the way of form.
Up goes the penny and is comes down heads.
6/2
KALAMUNDA TIGERS v DALKEITH SILVERTAIL
N Payne, V Beckley, R Pringle, P Natalotto.
B Brandsma, F Anderson, E. Sydenham, P Coyle,
N Griffin, R Eddy, J Morss, T Della.
M Biglin, S O'Neil, T. Price, J Wardrop
-------------------------versus
M.Krajancic(sk)V.S/stefano,P.Maynard,R.M/Kenzie
J. McIntosh (sk), M. Lindsay, J. O`Meehan, V. Colley
L.Richardson(sk).T.Williams, J.McCormack
T. Skoric(sk),P.Baccich, A. Gryta, R.Donald
Kalamunda
started out the new season under pressure by losing two players and reports that the green were not up to standard, that has been borne out by the fact that Kalamunda won only one home game in the first round and that was with 3 rinks losing.
Major problems for the Kalamunda Tigers is they are too far away from the city and consequently are unable to attract some good quality recruits like other clubs can do.
Their record over the past two seasons has shown them to just barely avoid relegation. Demotion is an ever present threat to the club.
Kalamunda Tigers have surprised with a tenacious effort which has seen them win 4 games from 9. What has changed the fortunes for the club is the unexpected wins against the stronger clubs, Doubleview and Cockburn. They also pushed promoted sides Dalkeith and Yokine aside and that has help to put some space between those clubs and themselves for relegation.
The emergence of the Neil Payne led rink has been a positive. His stats are the best they have been in the past two previous seasons with 6 wins from 9 games.
Neale Griffin had 4 wins from 18 games last season and has that amount in
9 games this season.
Billy Brandsma led rinks are a bit of a quandary, when they play good they can be very good and when they play not so good they can be woeful, you just never know with this rink what might happen on any saturday
Mitch Biglin's rink are off the pace somewhat with only 3 wins to show for the first half and if they can lift a cog or four who knows where the Kalamunda Tiger could finish
These stats combined with the return of Rick Eddy as a three and the addition of Vince Beckley along with Eric Sydenham and Ross Pringle says that the Kalamunda Tigers are a better side than last season.
At the halfway mark-- doing ok and can do better
Dalkeith Silvertails
promoted into the Premier League this season have fallen well short of what is required to play at this level.
The club would have been full of hope and expectation that at least they would hold their position in the Premier League and build for the following season.
They could expect to do that on the basis that they only lost just one home and away game in One White to win the promotion which was an outstanding effort..
The club recruited just two players, Luke Richardson and Tom Mitchell which they hoped would give the club that extra bite.
The return for the skippers has been poor, the exception being Marko Krajancic who is nearly always the best player on his his rink.
Sadly there is not enough depth at the club and they appear certain to continue on the same way for the rest of the season.
The SilverTails have won just the one game when they caused the biggest upset for the season beating Cockburn at Cockburn
With no home wins to show so far it means they will have difficulty on all greens to win
At the halfway mark --- One word-- disappointing
6/2
COCKBURN ROOSTERS v YOKINE DOGGIES
G. Carberry(sk), S. Cerff, J. Trewhella, S. West
S. Srhoy(sk), G. Catterick , M. Sokol, M. Muslin
D. Brown(sk),K. Cousins,W. Tepania ,, M. Trewhella
M. Zusman (sk), S. Perica J. Galipo, Perry Sardelic
-------------------------versus
R. Heaton,(sk) , Farrell, Sloan, Coffey
J. Carter(sk) S. Edmonds, I.Coghill, P. Turpin
E. Dodd(sk) A. Davis, M. Lemos, J. Lorencs
A. Durrant(sk), J. O`Keefe, D. Kellond, Hickman
Cockburn
started the season minus two skippers, Lance Strahan and Matt Kurta. This was a huge loss for the Roosters who would have held some hope of a flag had they retained these two players.
All was not lost because the club had recruited well but as the season progressed it became clear that things were not going to plan. A string of losses placed the club in the hot seat and in dangerous territory
They steadied the ship with three wins and an unexpected loss to Kalamunda in round nine.
The emergence of Mike Zusman as a skipper has gone a long way toward getting the Roosters back on track.
Steve Srhoy has been the steadying influence since he had a restructure of his rink and continues to be the mainstay of the famous club.
Gary Carberry has emerged from the shadows after an unsuccessful season in 2007/8 where he never won as a skip in 6 games. This season he had 5 wins on the board and he himself has been at times brilliant.
Daniel Brown has had the added responsibility
of being a selector this season and one wonders if that is detracting from his own game.
However Cockburn find themselves with a lot of work to do in the remaking 9 games where they are outside the top four by 9 points.
At the halfway mark-- about where I thought they would be
-- room for a better second round
The Yokine Doggies
recruited about six new players to boost their strength for their arrival in the Premier League. Their best recruit, skipper Eddy Dodd hasn't let the club down and is one of the best recruits in the Premier League this season.
Yokine Doggies were always going to find this level of bowls a hard task and they were giving a good account of themselves. However they were being let down by one rink which proved costly to the overall effort.
A poor game against Victoria Park probably was the key to let the Doggies know how far away they were from the top sides.
The following week they played the top side and covered themselves in glory with an outstanding performance against Osborne Pk losing by one shot
.
In a game where they had a realistic chance to win against Kalamunda
all hope went out the door when one rink lost 24 shots in four ends which seemed to have wrecked the season for them
Then when things are at there worst they belt the living suitcase out of Cambridge to renew lost hope for the remainder of the season.
It is hoped the Doggies can mount a consistent performance and just maybe give themselves a chance to avoid relegation.
At the halfway mark-- where I tipped them to be they are lacking a good player or four
8/0
VICTORIA PARK REDS v Sth PERTH MILLERS
G. Wishart(sk), T. Mitchell, W. Butler, G. Hiskens
R. Hughes (sk),S. Bainbridge, C. Hayes, G. Quann
R. Butler (sk), J. Jaworski,S.Knott., G. Faulkner
A. Provost(sk), J. Mitchell, C. McNeil, D. Patterson
------------------------versus
R. Bresland(sk), B. Bandy, D. Bandy S.Kelly
M.Elull(sk), F. Carbone, M.Trojack, M. Hughes
S. Walker (sk), K. Pride,G. Reagan , Lyons
N. Reagan (sk) S. Lunn, S. Hamilton, G. Pauling
Victoria Park Reds have recruited a couple of quality players to help them go that one step further to win the flag and so far it has paid dividends.
The Reds also picked up James Jaworski after he asked for a transfer from DV and no doubt he will add to the strength of the club
Thru the first round there were a a narrow squeak or two that could have gone the other way however a win is a win is a win.
The Reds have lost one game and had 19 rink wins out of a possible 32.
The recruitment of Anthony Provost has made all the difference to give them that extra grunt. Stu Bainbridge is another quality player to come to Vic Park but the rink he is playing for has only ordinary stats to show for the first half of the season.
Going well and where we expected them to be
South Perth Millers
Started out the season as an unknown quantity, They picked up 3 new recruits and they are quality players.
They are a club on the march upward and play with plenty of passion and are no longer easy beats. They appear to be playing better away from home these day and of course it is critical if the club is to taken seriously as a finals contender.
The club has had the luxury of experimenting with strategies that haven't worked and with time up their sleeve it has been the right move in an attempt to find the right chemistry and compatibility for the rinks. It seems they have gone as far as they can go with
it and will have to hope that the rinks can improve further from here.
Matt Elull who has taken the bowling world by storm with he and his rinks outstanding performances to lead the way for the Millers. Mike Trojak is part of Matt Elull's rink has adopted easily to playing Premier League, Glen Pauling gave notice of his ability when he put Daniel Trewhella out of the My Lawley consistency and Greg Reagan resumed playing at Sth Perth after many years at Thornlie.
They have surprised slightly with their bold showing up to the halfway mark.
Matt Ellul and his rink are the difference and have taken the mantle from Nick Reagan who was the leading rink for the Millers last season
Ross Bresland's has done very well with 6 wins from 9 games and a major reason for where Sth Perth are at.
Scotty Walker has only just taken the skips position and the jury is still out on this move and only the results from here on can we judge if this is a good move for the Millers.
Nick Reagan led rinks are having the second year blues it seems and all they can do is to put their head down and apply themselves to the task
At the halfway mark doing better than expected
Who will win this game ? in the first round the Reds got over the line in the last two ends of the game.
6/2
