By Jack Rollings
The Saturday pennant featured rain all day, not just drizzle, but solid soaking rain.
Monbulk 2 and Monbulk 3 were set to play at Monbulk but, along with the opposition sides, agreed to call it a washout, split the points, and go home. Monbulk 2 remains in second place on the ladder, just 4 points below top spot. Monbulk 3 is in fifth place, only 6 ladder points behind fourth place. Monbulk 1 played at Ferntree Gully. In spite of the relentless heavy rain, the Monbulk side was anxious to play. After last week’s split points and the two previous weeks where the Monbulk side was thrashed, they needed some big points on the board and that wasn’t going to happen by having the bowlers sit in the clubhouse.
The opposition was equally as keen to get the points for their home game. So, no one was backing away from the game. And the rain turned out to be a great leveller – both sides had to cope. Even the best rain gear had trouble managing the seeping wetness – everyone ended up drenched through. “Drowned rats” was the description heard around the rinks. Chalk on touchers was washed off before a count could be done. But play continued.
Brian Smith’s team started by picking up a 3 shotter. And then, as so often happens, they dropped a 3 shot clanger on the very next end. Monbulk collected the next five ends, with singles – a steady progression. On the eighth end FTG managed to grab a 4 shotter to put them within one shot. But, once again, the bowling gods gave Monbulk 5 shots on the next end to restore their margin.
After that, Brian’s team settled into eight consecutive wins, so, going into the seventeenth end, they were up by 17 shots and, by that stage, had dropped only two ends.
In the race home, FTG restored some pride with four winning ends for a total of 8 more shots.
But, at the end of the day, it was an assured win for the Monbulk team 26 shots to 15.
Eric Markham’s team had the close one for most of the day. On the eleventh end the scores were 11 shots all. And, on the sixteenth end, scores were 16 shots all. Even though FTG won five more ends than Monbulk, the Monbulk scoreline was helped by a big 5 shotter. With just four ends to go, Monbulk led by 2 shots, but that’s when FTG hit back.
They won the final four ends to take back the lead at the crucial moment. Monbulk lost the rink 18 shots to 23.
Tony French’s team struggled in the front half, winning only three ends and trailing by a huge 13 shots. But, after a cuppa and piece of cake, boy, did they come good! In the back half Monbulk picked up three big multiples. But still, when “Up and Back” was called, Monbulk trailed by 6 shots. Then they picked up a 5 shotter, to bring the margin back to a single shot. And then they strongly completed the comeback to take a double on the last end to win the rink 23 shots to 22.
Jim Bras’ team led all day, but there was never a huge margin and there were never more than two winning ends in a row by either side. The jack was moved on most ends and there were many conversions from both teams, some deliberate and some unfortunate. In the back half, the close pattern of play continued. Going into the last end, Monbulk was up by 4 shots. It became a sport of defence – covering the positions to not allow FTG to find 4 or more shots. Monbulk dropped a double on the last end but was happy to win the rink 18 shots to 16.
Overall Monbulk won 85 shots to 76 with three rinks up. Monbulk 1 is now fifth on the ladder, just four ladder points from fourth position.
Next week Monbulk will play at home against Croydon in the final round before the Xmas break. Please Santa, bring Monbulk a big win!
