By Jack Rollings
On Tuesday it was the coldest, windiest, drenchiest rain that you could ever expect in the middle of winter, and yet there the bowlers were, close to the middle of December. Welcome to climate change.
Monbulk 1 played away against Lilydale 1. They played on the Lilydale top green just outside the clubroom. It is a needle-punched carpet that has black furballs on the green surface and it changes pace with direct sunlight (not much of that on Tuesday) and it is also very fast and a bit wide. A lot of bowls ended up in the ditch, with the fast pace intensified by the swirling wind. The home side struggled in the conditions too, but managed better than the visitors.
Eric Markham’s team won ten ends and had level scores a few times. Then, with the end in sight, and the rain starting to pelt down, they dropped three ends in a row and trailed by 7 shots. The final two ends, with all the players soaking, went to Monbulk, but they couldn’t quite make up the margin. Monbulk lost the rink 17 shots to 19.
Brian Smith’s team led for most of the day and adjusted better than the other rinks to the abnormal conditions. They were 6 shots up going into the sixteenth end, but that’s when they dropped three ends in a row to trail by one shot. Then there was a short break while the rain bucketed down. After that, Monbulk resumed with some focus and took the last three ends to win the rink 23 shots to 19.
Jim Bras’ team won seven ends, including a 3 and a 4, but the losses included four 3s. At the lunch break Monbulk trailed by 6 shots. Then in the back half, Lilydale kept winning the mat and setting long ends which suited the Lilydale skip – he was able to make several conversions to take the shots from Monbulk. Monbulk lost the rink 14 shots to 26.
Overall, Monbulk lost 54 shots to 64, with one rink up. Monbulk is third on the ladder. They might have lost touch with top spot but they are less than a game from second spot, so that will be the aim for after Christmas.
Monbulk 2 played at home against Berwick 4. The rain stopped play late in the day, but the sides had already played more than the minimum 45 ends so the scores stayed in place.
Peter Lee’s team dropped only six ends for the day, with only one clanger. The wins included three 3s and a mighty 7 shotter. They were 10 shots up at the break, then they doubled that in the back half to win the rink 27 shots to 10.
Graeme Goller’s team had a quickfire start, picking up 14 shots on the first three ends. Berwick picked up a few ends after the break, but Monbulk was able to maintain that 14 shot lead right to the finish. They won the rink 27 shots to 13.
Alan Hamilton’s team took the lead on the fifth end with a big 4 shotter and then increased the margin after the lunch break with some good multiples. They won the rink 23 shots to 12.
Overall Monbulk won 77 shots to 35, with three rinks up. Tuesday’s win puts Monbulk into second spot on the ladder, less than a game below top spot.
Monbulk 3 played against the top side Lilydale 3, but it was at home, on Monbulk turf. Someone forgot to tell Lilydale. They played as though they owned the green. They showed why they are on top of the ladder, with no losses for the season.
Mike Harris’ team won nine ends – the same as Lilydale, but dropped some clangers and they made all the difference. Monbulk was finishing with some momentum until rain stopped play and they were left stranded on 16 shots to 19.
Graeme Seymour’s team had a close battle in the front half. Then Lilydale came out after the break and fired up. Monbulk then lost five ends in a row, including a bad 5 shot clanger. When rain stopped the game Monbulk had lost 11 shots to 18.
Bruce Cockerill’s team also had a close game. Scores were 4 all, then 7 all, then 14 all. Then Monbulk managed to grab a couple of singles before the rain stopped play, leaving Monbulk with the win 16 shots to 14.
Overall Monbuk lost 43 shots to 51, with one rink up. They are out of the top four on the ladder but still within one game’s win of third and second. They can still score a home final if they can grab the points after Christmas.
