Sport
12 January, 2023
Finals run begins for Saturday pennant
After a month’s break, lawn bowls will return tomorrow, starting a run of the final five home-and-away rounds of the season. The outlook of division one is relatively clear at the moment, with Highland Tartan, Dunolly Blue and Talbot Gold all-but...
After a month’s break, lawn bowls will return tomorrow, starting a run of the final five home-and-away rounds of the season.
The outlook of division one is relatively clear at the moment, with Highland Tartan, Dunolly Blue and Talbot Gold all-but booking their spots in the finals, given their form and gap to fourth-placed Golf Blue.
However, it’s the fight for fourth, which looks set to be a battle between Golf Blue, Dunolly Gold, and perhaps Avoca Red and Newstead Blue if they can get results to go their way, which is set to be an intriguing storyline for the remainder of the season.
There are three big games this week which look set to shape the division one ladder.
Top of the agenda is a big game between ladder-leading Tartan and Talbot Gold.
For Talbot Gold, this game will likely determine their prospects of getting the double chance, with a loss here potentially leaving them with it all to do to chase down Tartan and Dunolly Blue.
They will need to turn around their loss in round three, which saw Tartan prove too good in a 55-47 victory.
However, should they be successful in their endeavours, the race for a coveted top-two spot could be seperated by a miniscule amount, depending on results elsewhere.
It will be an intriguing intraclub meeting when Dunolly Blue and Dunolly Gold face off, with the result of great importance to both teams.
With a win, Dunolly Blue could pinch top spot off Highland Tartan’s grasp, should they lose to Talbot Gold. However, a loss could leave Dunolly Blue out of the top two.
Likewise, the result will be of great significance to Dunolly Gold, given their chase of a top four spot. A win over their stablemates could see them leapfrog Golf Blue, should they lose to Avoca Red.
Last time out, Dunolly Blue proved much too strong, taking a 65-42 victory.
Avoca Red’s season is on the line when they travel to Golf Blue.
Sitting 21 points behind Dunolly Gold, and a further two behind Golf Blue, a repeat of their 72-48 victory in round three could see Avoca Red close the gap to as little as single digits in the chase for a top four spot.
But if Golf Blue prove too strong, it would be curtains for Avoca Red’s season, which would likely see them sit two full games behind at the conclusion of the round. It will be imperative for Golf Blue to win to potentially put some breathing space between themselves and Dunolly Gold, especially with the latter playing Dunolly Blue.
Finally, Newstead Blue will be looking to make the most of their improved form to snare their third win of the season against Highland Red, which currently occupies bottom spot.
A win will keep Newstead Blue’s faint finals chances alive, yet a loss could see them interchange with Highland Red at the foot of the table.
For Highland Red, their season is all-but over, but will be looking to take their second victory of the season, following an impressive 79-38 win over Newstead Blue in their previous meeting.
In division two, the top four could be much closer to being set in stone this weekend, with pivotal games for the double chance and top four spots.
League leaders Carisbrook will have the chance to all-but secure a top-two finish when they host Talbot Brown. who likewise require a victory to remain in the hunt for the double chance.
However, to win, Talbot Brown will have to turn around their form from their previous encounter, which saw Carisbrook dominant from go to whoa for a 90-33 victory.
Highland White will be looking to keep in touch with Brook, while also simultaneously denting the finals chance of Maldon tomorrow.
Highland White currently sit 12 points off Carisbrook in the race for the minor premiership, while Maldon are currently 15 points off fourth-placed Golf Gold.
It was Highland White who proved too good in their previous meeting in round three, taking a 74-42 victory.
The key clash to potentially almost lock in the top four for division two will be Golf Gold’s clash with Avoca Gold.
With 13 competition points seperating the two teams, all results will be of immense importance.
Should Golf Gold win, much like they did when they defeated Avoca Gold 56-51 in a thriller in round three, then it would leave the former almost two full games ahead in fourth spot, provided Highland White also take care of Maldon.
However, an Avoca Gold victory will blow open the top four race, keeping themselves and Maldon in the hunt for a spot in the finals.
Finally, the bottom two teams face off, with Newstead White looking to move off the bottom when they host Dunolly Green.
Last time out, it was a reasonably competitive outing, with Dunolly Green taking a 58-45 victory, but Newstead White have been in better form of late, and were rewarded with their first victory of the season in round eight against Maldon.