By Jack Rollings
Midweek pennant round 14 marked the final home and away round for the season, with Monbulk 1 played away against Warburton.
Warburton held top spot on the ladder going into this round, but there were only a few points separating all top four sides.
Eric Markham’s team won most of the ends in the front half and led by five shots at the halfway mark. They picked up a good four shotter after lunch to lead by 10 shots. Monbulk managed to keep the mat with single wins over the last four ends to win the rink 19 shots to 11.
Brian Smith’s team had a close contest for most of the day, even though they won twice as many ends as Warburton. In the front half, Monbulk dropped four threes but picked up a three and a four. Their back half was much stronger, with only two minor losses and some good wins, including a massive six shotter on the second-last end. Monbulk won the rink 28 shots to 16.
Jim Bras’ team won twelve ends to nine but dropped a four shot clanger on the first end and then a five shot clanger straight after lunch. Both times Monbulk managed to slowly claw back the lead and the game was anyone’s over the last few ends. Monbulk lost the rink 20 shots to 22.
Overall Monbulk 1 won the round 67 shots to 49 with two rinks up. Monbulk finished fourth on the ladder. Next Tuesday Monbulk will again travel to Warburton for the elimination semi-final.
Monbulk 2 played at home against Hampton Park 1.
Klaus Eisele’s team came up against a strong team. They trailed by 10 shots at the halfway mark and struggled to win the mat. But at least their six wins for the day included a three, a four and a five, and their losses included just one clanger. Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 21.
Peter Lee’s team had a very strong front half and led by 10 shots. That lead increased to 19 shots going into the 13th end. Hampton Park dominated the race to the finish, winning five ends to two, but they couldn’t catch up in time. Monbulk’s wins for the day included a three, two fours and two fives, while they dropped just two threes. Monbulk won the rink 29 shots to 20.
Alan Hamilton’s team had a close one. The teams won a similar number of ends and both teams dropped some clangers. When Monbulk grabbed a three shotter on the second last end, the game was still in the balance. But again, Hampton Park wriggled out of the disadvantage and forced the draw 20 shots all.
Overall Monbulk 2 won the round narrowly 64 shots to 61 with one rink up, one down, and a draw. Monbulk has finished the season third on the ladder and so they will host the elimination semi-final against Cranbourne 3.
Monbulk 3 played away against Eastwood Golf.
Bruce Cockerill’s team had a close contest, with a similar number of ends won, and the scores level a few times. Eastwood picked up two threes, while Monbulk picked up a four. With three ends to go, the scores were again level, but Monbulk dominated in the race to the finish and won the rink 17 shots to 15.
Mike Harris’ team dropped some big scores in the front half, to trail by 11 shots at the halfway mark. Then they turned things around after lunch, even getting a massive five shotter on the 18th end, to get within a single shot of the lead. Unfortunately, they dropped a three shot clanger on the second-last end. Monbulk lost the rink 18 shots to 21.
Ray Pike’s team had another strong showing this round. The team was out to a 13 shot lead after the sixth end. They dropped a few ends in a row, just before lunch, but took over again in the back half. They won the rink 27 shots to 12.
Overall Monbulk 3 won the round 62 shots to 48 with two rinks up. They finished the season fifth on the ladder, just one single point outside the top four.
