Round Fourteen brings up some fantastic clashes, none more so that that game between Gosnells and Safety Bay, first versus second, should be a thriller. If the Kookaburras can account for the visitors, then they can just about sew up top spot. Manning host Leeming, third play fifth in another ripper. Now getting to the pointy end of the season, where every shot can make a difference.
The Mariners and the Reds now need every rink win that they can squeeze out.
MANNING v LEEMING
MANNING
S Hughes, J Andrew, A Lill, J Evans
J Angel, G Hogg, N Rees, S Lambert
S Adams, B Adams, B Connell, P Barrow
G O'Brien, D Mcllheney, M Ellis, M Hughes INS: No change OUTS:
LEEMING
K Vandersluys, P Boys, D Johnson, W Birrell
A Anderson, N Shannon, R Bellis, D Cleal
G Ford, G Burgess, G Sims, R Lipple
J Newton, S Dobie, P Hickey, A Andersson INS: R Bellis OUTS: M Hosking
We kick off with what could be a good clash at the home of the 🦅 who, as we know play extremely well on their well manicured green. The Lions 🦁 have been anything but convincing in their last two games, just scraping over the line against two of the bottom teams. So they will need to really lift to challenge the high flying Eagles away from home.
I think the up front players for the home side will be too strong for the opposition, and win reasonably easily.
Vandersluys versus the Adams boys would be an enthralling contest.
The Manning guys need to win to their finals chances alive, I believe they will.
Manning. 7-1
VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE v HILTON PARK
VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE
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HILTON PARK
C Standley, L Garbutt, B Smith, R Butler
R Hunter, C McMahon, G Saint, S Farrell
T Simpson, Daniel Newton, J Bajic, R Fortini
G Dodd, Dave Newton, K Willis, F Kuhnl INS: No changes OUTS:
Can the Reds produce an upset? I think they are more than capable, but like the Mariners, they seem to lose the close ones.
The Hawks are at full strength and they will be playing on their favoured surface in grass. They could win the game due to the strength of their back end I believe. But, even though the Reds are second last on the ladder, they fight very hard, and push teams all the way. If the Hawks can contain the Simms rink, they will win.
Hilton. 6-2
THORNLIE v FREMANTLE
THORNLIE
G Beckwith, M White, I Rewell, P Riggio
P Pohe, J Stean, J Thorn, T Williams
G Vaughan, D Slade, M Separovich, L Curtis
G Sewell, G Collier, J Walker Jnr, J Mitchell INS: G Collier OUTS: N Holden
FREMANTLE
S McCormack, M Gill, P Claussen, P Kelly
B Coote, M Starcevich, K Gavranich, J Chessell
K Manton, J Stewart, A Hocken, K Bowden
P Wachmer, M Ngui, M Craig, M Holt INS: P Claussen, M Starcevich OUTS: W Heldt, R Ireland
This game could end up being horribly one sided I fear, with the visiting Mariners missing two valuable players in Ireland and skip Wayne Heldt.
The Ravens side is virtually unchanged from week to week, and will be too consistent for the visiting Mariners sixteen.
As I have mentioned before, if I was a skip, I reckon I could win a few games with a front end containing Riggio and “ Bhudda “ Rewell
Beckwith and Vaughan to carry the day for the home side. The Mariners may have had the spirit knocked out of them in the last three narrow losses I believe.
Thornlie. 7-1
SPEARWOOD v ARMADALE
SPEARWOOD
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ARMADALE
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Spearwood can gain valuable ground on the teams above them here, with an eight point aggregate more than possible. The Storm just not up to the task this year, and I guess they wish the season was finished already. No doubt they are trying their best, but to no avail so far.
Spearwood by the length of the straight.
Spearwood 8-0
GOSNELLS v SAFETY BAY
GOSNELLS
F Carbone, I Farley, E McCurdy, R McKay
M Crabb, G Lynch, C Watters, P McElvie
B Holland, C Hickinbotham, N Tulett, M Rickard
G Nicol, D Bradbury, T Auckland, J Hoskin INS: No change OUTS:
SAFETY BAY
C Owen, R Kennedy, S Gallon, Z Boddy
R Hall, A Holmes, S McBriar, H Wilson
C Carruthers, J Radford, S Hide, S Foran
P Beaumont, A Daddow, S Adams, G Ogg INS: S Adams OUTS: A Ashworth
What a fantastic clash to complete the preview of this round, first versus second.
If the Kookaburras can win this one, and I expect them to, they will go a long way to securing top spot and promotion to First White for next year.
The Bay have been on top of the ladder all year, well until last week anyway, when they were deposed by the high flying noisy Kookas.
Holland, Nicol, Carruthers, Hall, Owen, all very good skips of some great rinks. Safety Bay have a long way to travel, and they so t give up without a fight. But I predict the home side to consolidate top spot with a narrow win.
