CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Midweek Report
Cardinia Waters side one played its last away game for the season at Keysborough last Tuesday and went down fighting against a handy Kookaburra outfit.
Cardinia Waters took a five-shot lead into the lunch break, but surrendered that lead and eventually lost by the same margin at the games end.
These two teams put on a great display of bowls, and the result was in doubt until the last few ends. Bill Hite’s rink held their own, and won by a slim margin of two shots, after leading most of the day. Bill played with Stephen Hale, Dennis Patmore and Robert Mitchell.
Unlucky again, was John Van Vugt’s rink.
They led convincingly, but faced a massive comeback from the home side.
All square with one end to play, unfortunately John’s team lost the last end by one shot.
Cardinia Waters needed a win at Keysborough to prop up their challenge to play in the finals.
They now find themselves stumped in sixth position, and play at home next Tuesday against Noble Park who, coincidentally, leapfrogged them into fourth position after they beat Willow Lodge at home.
Earlier in round seven Noble Park just snuck in by two shots.
Now in round fourteen Cardinia Waters face this scenario to play finals.
They need to win the whole sixteen points available against Noble Park, and they need Keysborough to take the whole sixteen points in their game against Willow Lodge.
This would thrust them into fourth spot and a finals berth.
Side two finished their season at home this week, playing against Cranbourne.
They concluded with a successful win, gaining fifteen points for two rinks up and one rink drawn.
They have a bye next week, and don’t look like rising off sixth position, although there is a faint chance.
Best winning rink was skipped by Mick Knight, with Marie Stephenson, John Carr and Jennifer Cole who won 33-18.
Also on a winning note were Len Judge, Jenny Edmonds, Jim Barrie and Lorraine Devine who finished the game 20-14.
Stuart Tokely’s rink just missed out, and had to settle with a draw.
He played with Peter and Therese Mitchell and Terry Nye.
Saturday Report
Cardinia Waters travelled to Upwey Tecoma last Saturday with much anticipation of grabbing a finals berth in the last home and away game for the season.
Onlookers were treated to a great afternoon of bowls, with both sides putting down a variety of good shots.
At the afternoon tea break scores were level, and the village team were playing well except for one rink which was well down.
Exploiting their home ground advantage, Upwey Tecoma grabbed the lead, and hung on to record a four-shot victory, and shut down Cardinia Waters finals hopes.
The last end played turned out to be the most interesting of the match.
With all the other players watching, Bryan Steven’s rink managed to record seven shots up, and just failed winning the rink by three shots.
Best rink for Cardinia Waters was skipped by Stephen Hale, who played with Mick Knight, Dennis Patmore and Jim Barrie.
They won by seventeen shots up.
As the season draws to a conclusion for Cardinia Waters Saturday side, they can reflect on a season that got away from them a bit.
One draw, and four very close losses, cost them a finals berth.
However, their one-shot victory over the Pakenham Lions at home, buoyed their spirits considerably.
Last week I correctly tipped Mulgrave Country Club to beat Pakenham Lions on the Mulgrave grass this week.
This sets up for an exciting finals series.
Berwick and Upwey Tecoma along with Mulgrave and Pakenham all get their chances next week. Both Mulgrave and Berwick have form on the board.
Like those two teams Pakenham have also won eleven games and lost three.
If form against Cardinia Waters is a guide the final may come down to Berwick v Mulgrave Country Club, and that is my tip.
-John Moore-
