By Jack Rollings
Monbulk 1 travelled to Warburton for the elimination semifinal. Monbulk was in front on the big board many times but could never put in a safe buffer – Warburton always managed to grab some big scores to come back.
Brian Smith’s team dropped a 5 shot-clanger early on and couldn’t recover from that in the front half. In the back half Monbulk rallied: they won more ends than Warburton and they didn’t let any big scores go against them. Monbulk won the rink 19 shots to 17.
Eric Markham’s team was in front for most of the day, but Warburton always stayed in touch. Then, in the race home, Warburton grabbed five ends in a row, including a 3 and a 6, putting Monbulk behind by 10 shots. Monbulk won the last two ends but could only claim singles and they lost the rink 15 shots to 23.
Jim Bras’ team had a close contest all day. They dropped a 5 shot clanger early on, but picked up a 5 and a 4 before lunch to take a 6 shot lead. After the break, Warburton won five ends in a row to again get their noses in front. The game then seesawed and, with two ends to play, the scores were level, and that’s when Monbulk dropped a 4, and couldn’t recover in the last end. Monbulk lost the rink 22 shots to 25.
Overall Monbulk lost 56 shots to 65. Not a huge margin on away ground, but enough to boot Monbulk out of the competition. They had clung on to the fourth spot to make it to the semi, and the side will maintain a division 2 spot next season, so Monbulk has to settle for that compensation.
Monbulk 2 played the elimination semifinal at home against Cranbourne on Tuesday. They had strong wins on all rinks and an overall win of 73 shots to 41.
The Monbulk 2 side then progressed to the preliminary final on Thursday. They travelled to Noble Park to play against Narre Warren 3. Both sides play on synthetic home grounds but played Thursday on Noble Park’s grass. It was hot and blowy and hard going.
Klaus Eisele’s team had a blinder. Going into the tenth end they were already up by 15 shots. Unfortunately, they dropped a 6-shot clanger on that end, but they were able to regroup and win the next seven ends and then win the rink 30 shots to 13. The dominance on this rink meant that the big board was always in Monbulk’s favour, giving a lot of faith to the other Monbulk teams.
Alan Hamilton’s team struggled in the front half, only winning three ends and trailing by 5 shots at the halfway mark. They came back after the break and were a stronger side in a close back half, but not quite bridging the gap. Monbulk eventually lost the rink 17 shots to 21.
Peter Lee’s team had a close game apart from their slow start when Narre Warren got out to a 4-shot lead. After that scores were 5 all, 6 all, 12 all, 13 all, then with two ends to go, 14 all. Monbulk was able to take the last two ends to win the rink 16 shots to 14.
Overall Monbulk won 63 shots to 48 with two rinks up. This was a mighty effort against a side that finished above Monbulk on the home and away ladder. Next week Monbulk 2 will play in the section grand final against Pakenham 2 at Berwick.
