Sport
20 December, 2024
Highland Tartan and Newstead Blue top at Christmas
If the final round of 2024 was anything to go by, 2025 looks set to be a fascinating year in the Saturday pennant.
DIVISION ONE
In the match of the round, it’s Talbot Gold who go into the break sitting second after taking out a thrilling match against Dunolly Blue by just one shot.
It was a very, very close game, which bodes well for the finals series, with Talbot Gold only winning one rink — Chris Crossley’s 21-18 win over Peter Waters — but doing enough on the other two rinks to hold out Dunolly Blue, who took rink wins with Alan Weir’s 17-16 win over Peter Fletcher and Tony Galofaro’s 24-23 win over Matt Vernon.
Highland Tartan did enough to maintain top spot on the ladder going into the Christmas break, scoring a 58-49 win over Maryborough Golf Blue despite losing two rinks.
Golf Blue did more than enough to suggest they are also in the frame at the right time of the year, with Anthony Chambers taking an 18-15 win over Garry Coburn and Gerry Carmody scoring a 20-15 win over Greg Shay to maintain third on the ladder. But Michael Fryar’s 28-11 win over Kevin Prime was the key difference for Tartan, who sit 21 points clear on top of the ladder.
With four rounds to go, Highland White face an uphill battle to make the finals, with Avoca Red scoring a 57-53 win to keep alive their chances of avoiding the wooden spoon.
Avoca Red took two of the rinks on offer, with Ian Proctor scoring a 17-16 win over Robert Bursill and Daniel Giddings taking a 26-18 victory over Bert Spencer, which allowed them to counter Roy Crawley’s 19-14 win over Allyson Hearnden.
The result means Avoca Red are now just eight points in arrears of Highland White.
DIVISION TWO
Newstead Blue go into the final four rounds of the season maintaining their unbeaten run, proving too good for stablemates Newstead White and maintaining a 32-point lead on top of the ladder.
The 79-44 win was also a clean sweep, with David Cobden scoring a 23-19 win over Graeme Lipback, while Andrew Theckston took a 27-19 win over Noel Bott. The most one-sided rink of the afternoon was Brian Daly’s 29-6 win over Rod Jackson.
Carisbrook are firming as the biggest challenges to Newstead Blue’s throne, scoring a 92-44 win over Avoca to maintain second on the ladder.
Ross Gregory took a 39-12 win over Ann Loosmore and Malcolm Milne was even more dominant in his 40-9 win over Geoff Loosmore, which allowed them to dictate play and weather Loralee Field’s 23-13 win over Ron Baker.
In a clash which decided who sat in the top four at the end of 2024, it was Maldon who took a 64-54 win over Talbot to sit just percentage inside the top four at the end of the year.
Laurie Vernon gave Talbot two premiership points with his 20-18 win over Jim Brookshaw, but it was all the Dons on the other two rinks, with Wesley Honeyman scoring a 24-15 win over Robert Jackson and Annette Gillham scoring a 22-19 win over Barb Crossley.
Dunolly Gold now sit just over one game behind the top four thanks to a 62-49 win over Dunolly Green.
Dunolly Green made their stablemates work for their win, with Wayne Stephens taking a 16-14 win over Aaron Britten and Jim Haigh scoring a 19-16 win over Fabio Delconte. But Paul Chase’s 32-14 win over Sandra Chaplin was the big difference for Dunolly Gold.
Highland kept their finals chances alive thanks to a clean sweep against Bridgewater in a 101-35 win.
Tilleke Wadeson scored a 26-11 win over Ron Brown, while Frank Mifsud took a 34-11 win over Robert Smith. Tony Lacey finished the job with a 41-13 win over Christopher Brooshooft.
Maryborough Golf had the bye to maintain third on the ladder at the break.
ROUND 12
There’s excitement in the air as the second installment of Charity Round kicks off a big 2025 on January 18.
In division one, it’s a big win for the Goldfields Playing Area as a top-of-the-table clash between Highland Tartan and Talbot Gold headlines the round.
Maryborough Golf Blue could book their spot in the finals against Highland White, who will be hoping to keep the slimmest of finals hopes alive.
Dunolly Blue will be looking to get back on the winners’ list when they take on Avoca Red.
The match of the round in division two sees third-placed Maryborough Golf taking on fifth-placed Talbot.
With Carisbrook taking 16 premiership points with a bye, it’s a crucial game for Golf, who will look to keep their chances of the double-chance alive, but Talbot too will be hoping to move back in the top four.
Such is the tightness of the competition, a loss for Golf could see them drop outside the top four.
Maldon will be hoping to keep their freshly-minted spot in the top four when they take on Highland, who will be hoping to keep their finals chances alive.
Newstead Blue will be out to maintain their unbeaten run when they take on Avoca, while at the other end of the ladder, strugglers Dunolly Green and Bridgewater will have an opportunity to record a win.