By Jack Rollings
Saturday pennant for Metro Bowls. Bucketing rain and glimpses of sun and everything in between. Yes, everyone without a roof got wet, but really, what else would you rather be doing?
Monbulk 1, in lowly seventh spot, hosted the top side, Ferntree Gully. They had previously lost only one round.
Tony French’s team dropped a couple of 3s early on to cause some worry. But after that they dropped only four more ends for the day. They controlled the mat and built their margin with some good multiples, finishing with a strong 5 shotter. They won the rink 30 shots to 12. Brian Smith’s team led in the front half. They were up by 9 shots going into the sixth end. Then FTG started working their way into the game and levelled the scores on the thirteenth
end.
The game seesawed for a few ends, but in the run home, it was FTG who managed to put the shots on the board. Monbulk dropped 12 shots on the final four ends and lost the rink 13 to 25.
Jim Bras’ team was slow to get going and trailed in the first third. Then they won a string of ends in a row and took the lead. Coming into the final third, they gave up five ends and trailed by 3 shots with only three ends to go. They managed to save those final three ends with 8 shots and they won the rink 25 shots to 20.
Eric Markham’s team had a day to remember when most of the bowls ended up exactly where they could have wished. They dropped only four ends for the whole day and also picked up five 3s and two 4s. The margin just kept growing. Monbulk won the rink 37 shots to 5.
Overall Monbulk won the seventh round 105 shots to 62 with three rinks up. That was a massive win and a massive 16 ladder points boost to add to the Monbulk total. They have climbed one spot to sixth position but now only a good game’s win from a top four spot. Next week Monbulk travels to Warburton who are just above on the ladder. It is the first of the return games.
Monbulk beat Warburton in the first round, but can they back it up on the away pitch?
Monbulk 2 played away at the Dandenong Club. Unfortunately, they didn’t get to play under their roof – now that would have been comfortable. Instead, they played out the back on a wet green and all got soaked through.
Andy Smith’s team won ten ends including some multiples, but they also gave away some clangers. With only three ends to go they trailed by just 2 shots and were a real threat. But Dandenong grabbed the last ends and Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 21.
Graeme Goller’s team dropped a 6 shot clanger on the first end and struggled to find the line and length all day. Dandenong bowlers knew their green and punished the visitors. Limiting the damage to minor scores was the best the Monbulk players could do. They lost the rink 7 shots to 30.
Mike Harris’ team had a close opening third. Then they dropped every end in the middle third and trailed by 17 shots. In the run home Monbulk again hit the scoreboard but Dandenong held them off. Monbulk lost the rink 10 shots to 30.
Peter Koomen’s team won nine ends for the day, but they gave away a string of ends in the front half to trail by 18 shots going into the final third. Monbulk won more ends and shots in the run home and reduced the margin, but by then it was too big a task. Monbulk lost the rink 15 shots to 27.
Overall Monbulk lost the round 47 shots to 108, with no rinks up. Yes, it was an old-fashioned thumping. But Monbulk is still fifth on the ladder and they have a home match next week.
This week’s result can be turned around and they can realistically get back into the top four with the start of the return rounds.
