By Jack Rollings
In the Saturday pennant on 27 January, the weather was pretty close to perfect for round 11. Warm, but not too hot, hardly any breeze, a great day for bowling. The season is down to the pointy end, with only three rounds left to play, and sides jostling for finals in the top four spots and also trying to avoid relegation in the bottom two spots.
Monbulk 1 played away against Boronia who were sitting a couple of spots below Monbulk on the ladder, but very keen to avoid going down a division next season. Monbulk was sitting fifth and trying very hard to nudge their way up into the top four. Both sides had a lot to play for.
Brian Smith’s team won the first two ends and then dropped six ends in a row to trail by 6 shots. They fought back over four ends to equalize on the twelfth end but then dropped a 4-shot clanger straight afterwards. In the race home, the scores were kept tight but Boronia managed to maintain their small lead. Monbulk lost the rink 14 shots to 19.
Jim Bras’ team led all day and even picked up a massive 5 shotter just before the tea break to make a 9 shot margin. After that Boronia played more competitively and won more of the ends but only for minor scores. Monbulk was able to hold onto a decent lead and win the rink 22 shots to 15.
Eric Markham’s team dropped a 4-shot clanger on the second end and that forced the team to focus even harder. They won back a 4 shotter and equalized on the sixth end. Scores were again equal on the eighth end. After the tea break Monbulk won more ends and also won a few multiples so they were able to draw away and win the rink 25 shots to 17.
Tony French’s team struggled all day against some tough opposition. They won seven ends and lost fourteen ends, but also their losses included a 3, two 4s and a 5, and that’s pretty close to what the final margin was. Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 32.
The overall scoreboard was close towards the end of the day but there were no miracle shots that could make up the difference. Monbulk lost the round 76 shots to 83 with two rinks up. Monbulk is still fifth on the ladder, but the run home will all be against sides in the top four. Breaking into the top four will be a challenge.
Monbulk 2 played at home. It was a clash between the top of the ladder Monbulk and bottom of the ladder Heatherdale. And that’s the way the scores travelled for the day.
Don Barnetson’s team picked up an amazing 7 shotter on the first end and that gave them a lead that lasted for two thirds of the match. Then Heatherdale strung a few ends together and grabbed a 5 shotter to take the lead on the fourteenth end. Monbulk was able to snatch a 6 shotter two ends later and finished strongly to narrowly take the rink 24 shots to 22.
Andy Smith’s team was out to 8 shots before Heatherdale got onto the scoreboard. But Heatherdale managed to edge back into the competition and trailed by just one shot at the halfway mark. After the tea break Monbulk came home strongly, dropping only eight ends for the day, mainly for minor scores, while their wins included several strong multiples. Monbulk won the rink 32 shots to 15.
Case Broekhof’s team dropped only seven ends and their wins included two 3s, two 4s, a 5 and a 7. Monbulk led by 12 shots at the halfway mark and the tea break appeared to only make them stronger. They won the rink 36 shots to 11.
Graeme Goller’s team traded blows with Heatherdale for two thirds of the match, with level scores and lead changes and no margin greater than 2 shots. Then, on the sixteenth end, Monbulk picked up a big 6 shotter, to take the lead by 4 shots. Heatherdale tried to edge back but Monbulk responded with another good multiple and eventually took the rink 23 shots to 16.
Overall Monbulk won the round 115 shots to 66 with all four rinks up. Monbulk is currently on top of the ladder with a good thirteen ladder points beyond second placed Mulgrave. Next week they will play away against Ringwood who are sitting third so it should be a good tough match.
Monbulk 3 played at home against Mitcham and had good wins on all three rinks.
Graeme Godkin’s team won a similar number of ends to their opponents, but they also managed to snatch a couple more multiples that made all the difference. Scores were level several times and even going into the eighteenth end they were 15 shots all. But Monbulk stormed home to win the rink 21 shots to 16.
Allan Brooke’s team got out to a 13-shot lead in the front half. Mitcham won more ends in the back half but Monbulk matched them for multiples and were able to hang onto the lead and win the rink 27 shots to 19.
Mike Harris’ team won fourteen ends, but the scores were level halfway through. It was only after the tea break that Monbulk dominated, dropping only three ends and picking up some big multiples including two 4s to end the day. Monbulk won the rink 26 shots to 11.
Overall Monbulk won the round 74 shots to 46. That keeps them in fourth place on the ladder but also places them within one game of all the sides above. The aim will now be to make a top two position to gain the home ground final.
