Sport
2 February, 2023
Finals almost locked in with two rounds left
Just two rounds remain in the Saturday pennant, with plenty on the line for both minor premierships and finals races. DIVISION ONE In division one, Highland Tartan extended their lead atop the ladder thanks to a dominant 90-35 victory over Newstead...
Just two rounds remain in the Saturday pennant, with plenty on the line for both minor premierships and finals races.
DIVISION ONE
In division one, Highland Tartan extended their lead atop the ladder thanks to a dominant 90-35 victory over Newstead Blue.
Gregory Shay took a strong 29-16 victory over Bill Burnett, while Michael Fryar was even more dominant, taking a 32-8 win over David Cobden. Garry Coburn ensured Highland Tartan would take all 16 points when he beat Brian Daly 29-11.
Dunolly Blue kept pace with the league-leaders by taking a 59-46 victory over a gallant Avoca Red, which has ended their faint finals chances.
A 19-16 win to Peter Waters over Graeme Orr gave Dunolly Blue a good start, but Ian Proctor hit back for Avoca Red, taking an 18-14 victory over Tony Galofaro. But Gregory Dobbin’s 26-12 with over Daniel Giddings ensured Dunolly Blue would still take 14 competition points.
Talbot Gold also kept pace with the top two thanks to a 71-51 win over Golf Blue.
Peter Fletcher took a 26-18 win over Kort Gay, while Paul Radstock had a dominant 29-9 success over Graham Smith. Harold Patullo took what could be two vitally important competition points for Golf Blue with a 24-16 win over Peter McLoughlin.
Golf Blue’s loss opened up a golden opportunity for Dunolly Gold to move into the top four, but it was a chance that wasn’t taken, as instead they were shocked by bottom-placed Highland Red, who won 69-54 to move off the bottom at Newstead Blue’s expense.
Lance Wadeson took a 27-23 win over Aaron Britten, while Albert Spencer won 21-18 over Peter Freemantle. Paul Gothard completed the sweep for Highland Red, winning 21-13 over Barry Mortlock.
Heading into round 13 of the division one competition, important matches could decide both the double chance and top four.
Dunolly Blue and Talbot Gold meet in a crucial encounter, with the two teams seperated by just four points on the ladder.
A win for Dunolly Blue will secure the double chance, while a win for Talbot Gold will put them in the box seat to secure that all-important top-two spot.
The fate of Golf Blue and Dunolly Gold will most likely be decided on Saturday as the two teams meet.
Dunolly Gold will be devastated not to take their big chance to move into the top four last week, and will look to make up the six-point difference between themselves and Golf Blue.
However, a Golf Blue win will set up a finals spot for themselves, instead. The importance of the game is heightened as both teams will play the top two in the final round, with Golf Blue playing Dunolly Blue, while Dunolly Gold play Highland Tartan.
Highland Tartan will look to put one hand on the minor premiership when they play Highland Red, who are looking to avoid the wooden spoon, while Newstead Blue and Avoca Red will play to likewise avoid bottom spot.
DIVISION TWO
In division two, Carisbrook locked in the double chance thanks to a tense 59-54 victory over Golf Gold.
Brook took two of the rinks, with Phillip Burt defeating Philip Mortlock 20-18, while Ron Baker defeated Ern Ollington 20-12. Gary Chaplin tried to will Golf Gold back into the contest with a 24-19 victory, but it was to no avail.
Instead, Avoca Gold moved into the top four at Golf Gold’s expense thanks to a 70-38 victory over Newstead White.
Rebecca Zeuschner took a 25-10 win over Rod Jackson, while Geoff Loosmore won 24-8 over Robert Sewell. Ann Loosmore completed the sweep with a 21-20 win over Stuart Cochrane.
Highland White’s 77-50 victory was punctuated by the achievement of all nine skips from the Highland cohort winning their rinks on Saturday, while more importantly, it kept them in the race for top spot.
Leanne Wallis defeated Sandra Chaplin in a tense affair, 21-20, before Alan Muggridge’s 26-12 win over Wayne Stephens and Tony Lacey’s 30-18 win over Jill Morse were more straightforward results.
Maldon shocked Talbot Brown 56-46, simultaneously keeping alive their finals chances, while all but consigning Talbot Brown to a sudden-death semi-final.
While Barb Crossley got Talbot on the board with an 18-16 victory, the day belonged to Maldon, with Annette Gillham defeating William Donlon 19-13, and Jim Brookshaw defeating Ray Prentice 21-15.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Avoca Gold’s clash with Maldon looms as the most important game of the round, with the winner continuing to stake their finals claim, while it will be all-but season over for the loser.
Their task will be more important considering Golf Gold will be favoured to beat second-from-bottom Dunolly Green.
Talbot Brown can keep the faintest chance of a top-two spot alive when they play Highland White, who will be looking to take advantage of any Carisbrook slip-up.
Brook will play bottom team Newstead White in a game of contrasting fortunes, with Brook looking to give themselves the best possible chance of sewing up the minor premiership.
