By Jack Rollings
The temperature was in the high twenties for Monbulk bowlers over the weekend, with not much wind about.
Although players needed to be sun smart it was a pretty good day for bowls.
Monbulk 1 played away against Bayswater 1. The green was a sand-filled synthetic, very wide and quite fast but not as fast as Monbulk’s. Even though they are sitting sixth on the ladder, on their home ground, Bayswater is always hard to beat. Yesterday was no exception.
Jim Bras’ team had a close tussle for the first few ends. Then, just before the tea break, they picked up a 4 and a 3, to take a 6-shot lead. In the back half Bayswater collected a few wins but Monbulk was always able to win the mat before Bayswater could draw level. Monbulk maintained the 6-shot margin and won the rink 22 shots to 16.
Brian Smith’s team won more ends than Bayswater and stayed in front for most of the match, including good pickups of a 3 and a 4 in the front half. But along the way, they also dropped a 5, and then in sight of the finish line, they dropped two 4s to give up the lead. With one end to go, Monbulk needed a 3 to win but unfortunately dropped a 2 to lose the rink 20 shots to 24.
Eric Markham’s team struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard, with their first win coming on the sixth end. After the tea break, the Monbulk team was able to win as many ends as Bayswater and reduce the margin slightly, until the last end when they gave up a 3-shot clanger to lose the rink 13 shots to 24.
Karen Rice’s team also started slowly and also, not by choice, put off making a score until the sixth end, when Bayswater already had 9 shots. The Monbulk players then started working out the green and, by the halfway mark, had reduced the margin to 5 shots. After the break, the game changed completely. Monbulk took the lead on the thirteenth end, and from there to the finish, they led by 1 shot, then Bayswater drew level. Repeated four times. On the last end, Bayswater just managed to convert the head to again claim a single shot and force the rink draw at 16 shots all.
Overall Monbulk lost 71 shots to 80, with one and a half rinks up. Monbulk has now lost the top position on the ladder to Lilydale but still remains in a strong second place. Next Saturday Monbulk will host Healesville who are in seventh place. Monbulk needs the win and they need every percentage point they can collect.
Monbulk 2 played at home against Ferntree Gully.
Klaus Eisele’s team had a close front half until, just before the break, when they picked up a big beautiful 6 shotter. Monbulk came out even stronger in the back half and dropped only three more ends for the day. Their wins towards the finish were not flashy, just singles and doubles, but they kept winning the mat and keeping Ferntree Gully away from the scoreboard. Monbulk won the rink 24 shots to 13.
Peter Lee’s team had a close game all day with the lead changing several times. With three ends to go, the scores were locked at 15 shots all. And that’s when Ferntree Gully pulled out all the stops and claimed all three ends to take the win. Monbulk lost 15 shots to 19.
Alan Hamilton’s team won a similar number of ends as their opponents, but the losses included three 3s. With four ends to go, and trailing by eleven shots, Monbulk staged a comeback, winning all four ends for 9 shots and coming very close to a win. Monbulk just lost the rink 16 shots to 18.
Mike Harris’ team won nine ends including five doubles, but they did drop a 5 shot clanger in the front half, to give up the lead, and they could never quite recover from there. Ferntree Gully won seven ends in the back half and Monbulk did well to contain those losses to minor scores. Monbulk lost the rink 14 shots to 18.
And how good did that composite board look! Overall Monbulk won 69 shots to 68 with just one rink up against a good, middle of the ladder side. Monbulk is still third on the ladder, a fair distance from first or second, and less than a game’s win above fourth and fifth, and those lower sides are ready to pounce. Next week Monbulk plays away to Upwey-Tecoma 3 who are yet to register a win this season. No excuses, Monbulk must win this one.
Cockatoo-Monbulk played at Cockatoo against Mooroolbark 7.
Mark Coulter’s team trailed throughout the front half but levelled on the thirteenth end and then took the lead for the rest of the day. They finished with some good 3 shotter wins to build a decent margin and win the rink 22 shots to 13.
Alan Brooke’s team led for most of the day, only dropping eight ends. Two of the losses were clangers – a 4 and a 6, and that stopped any thought of a blowout win. They still managed a strong win on the rink 24 shots to 19.
Mark Blythman’s team won the first five ends for 10 shots before Mooroolbark scored. Then just before the break, the team dropped a 6-shot clanger, to let Mooroolbark back into the game. The teams then traded wins until the nineteenth end when Mooroolbark claimed a 4-shotter to get within 2 shots of the lead. Mark’s team then won the last two ends to take the rink 23 shots to 17.
Anthony Young’s team only dropped seven ends, with nothing worse than a double. The wins included a 3 and two 4s. Three times they won four ends in a row. They grew their margin steadily and took the rink 26 shots to 8.
Overall Cockatoo-Monbulk won 95 shots to 57 with all four rinks up. It was a very strong win. They are now second on the ladder in a crowded top four. Next week they play away at Eastwood Golf Bowls Club, who are sitting on the bottom of the ladder with no wins. It has been a steady climb up the ladder for the combined side. It is a reasonable ambition for them to target the top spot by the end of the season.
