By Jack Rollings
Weekend Pennant. Saturday was an exciting day at Monbulk.
The top green was chockers, all rinks full, with Monbulk 2 and Monbulk 3 both fighting out their semifinals against
Cockatoo and Healesville.
There was a crowd of spectators with plenty of support for all sides – on the green, the competition was ferocious.
Monbulk 3 played against Healesville and on all three rinks Monbulk dominated for the whole day. It was a convincing win 84 shots to 35. Chris Sullivan’s team was the standout performer with an amazing winning margin of 25 shots.
Across all the rinks there was good team support for our Monbulk bowlers and an appreciation of what was at stake.
Monbulk 3 will now head straight into next Saturday’s grand final against the winner of Sunday’s preliminary final between Healesville 2 and Mitcham 5.
The last time Monbulk 2 played Cockatoo this season they had success. Saturday was a final and it was tougher. Monbulk took the first few ends, but it didn’t take long for the experienced Cockatoo skips to find their mark, and they didn’t let Monbulk get away with much after that. The composite scoreboard was in Cockatoo’s favour for most of the
afternoon and Cockatoo went on to win the semifinal 86 shots to 68 with three rinks up. Don Barnetson’s team had a win. Two of the Monbulk teams were close losses, but one of the
Monbulk teams suffered a blowout loss.
But that’s not where it ended – Monbulk 2 had a second chance, because they finished on top of the ladder. So, on Sunday they played at Monbulk, against Ringwood 3 in the
preliminary final and they absolutely romped it in. Case Broekhof’s team had the standout results, dropping only six ends for the day, all for minor scores. While their wins included three 3s, two 4s, a 5 and a 6. At the break they were already 18 shots up. In the back half they kept up the pressure and won their rink 39 shots to 9.
Don Barnetson’s team had a tough front half and found themselves trailing for most of the game, but not by much, always within reach. Then, with just five ends to go, and down by 6
shots, Don’s team were able to grab the points and get their noses in front and take the rink 20 shots to 17.
Graeme Goller’s team had it rough the previous day’s semi. But they bounced back in the prelim and showed what they are capable of. They dropped only five ends for the day, for
minor scores. They led by 13 shots at the halfway mark. Then they sizzled to the finish, winning the final six ends with 13 shots. They won their rink 32 shots to 6.
Andy Smith’s team had the close one. Scores were level five times and it wasn’t until the race home, when Monbulk picked up a couple of good multiples, that our team could feel
secure. They won the rink 16 shots to 12.
Overall Monbulk defeated Ringwood, in the preliminary final, 107 shots to 44, with all four rinks up. So, they will also be playing in a granny next Saturday where they will again be
facing up to Cockatoo.
The venues for the grand finals haven’t been decided yet. This is a great achievement for Monbulk’s small club, having two sides in the weekend grand finals. This Friday, starting at 4pm at Monbulk, will be the finals of the Monbulk Ladies’ and Men’s Singles Club Championships.
In the Ladies’ final it will be Anne Ward vs Jenny Holmes and in the Men’s final, it will be Brian Smith vs Tony French.
Spectators are welcome. You might like to book into the bistro for a meal as well.
