One third of the season now gone with Safety Bay and Gosnells at the top of the table, and equal on points. The next four teams are opening up a bit of a gap on the bottom four, which comprises Leeming, Fremantle, Vic Park and Armadale.
You would have to think that the top five sides would be reasonably happy with the season so far, with Spearwood, Leeming, Fremantle, Vic Park and Armadale not so cheerful.
There are five skips with only one loss, Vandersluys, S Hughes, Hall, Beckwith and Holland, with Safety Bay occupying three spots in the top nine, a great effort.
On to this weeks intriguing round of fixtures though, four very interesting games present.
SAFETY BAY v HILTON PARK
SAFETY BAY
C Owen, R Kennedy, S Gallon, Z Boddy
R Hall, A Holmes, H Wilson, S McBriar
C Carruthers, B McVicar, J Radford, S Foran
P Beaumont, A Daddow, G Ogg, A Ashworth INS: No change OUTS:
HILTON PARK
T Simpson, Daniel Newton, Dave Newton, R Fortini
C Standley, L Garbutt, B Smith, R Butler
R Hunter, C McMahon, G Saint, S Farrell
G Dodd, J Bajic, K Willis, F Kuhnl INS: No change OUTS:
1st versus 3rd here, in what will be a real test for the Hawks from Hilton, travelling down south to challenge the competition favourites.
The Bay have played three times at home, and they have an average winning margin of some thirty one shots on their tricky synthetic surface.
There is no doubt that the Hawks have done very well this year, losing only twice, and having a healthy shots up margin of ninety eight shots.
They will certainly give themselves some chance on Saturday, but I don’t think so. Some very good skips on both sides, but the home side will definitely have the edge up front.
Safety Bay 7-1
ARMADALE v VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE
ARMADALE
C Hunt, K Mackay, S Wasley, D Hunt
B Davis, J Mackay, M Byrne, R Baker
B Griffiths, A Hewitson, G Teasdale, E Holt
C Davis, B Heta, R Duncan, G McKenna INS: K Mackay OUTS: A Brown
VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE
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The battle of the cellar dwellers to be held at the home of the Armadale Storm on Saturday afternoon.
The Storm have only had four rink wins all year, and have a massive score difference of two hundred and seventy four, with a percentage of just fifty seven. Whilst the reds have not done much better in regard to rink wins, but they have mostly been pretty competitive in their games so far.
Back at home I am positive the Storm can put up a better fight, but I still think the Reds will carry too much experience into this game, and win.
Vic Park. 7-1
MANNING v THORNLIE
MANNING
A Pryce, D Mcllheney, N Rees, M Hughes
S Adams, B Adams, K Jolly, A Lill
G O'Brien, B Jeppesen, M Ellis, J Evans
S Hughes, G Hogg, B Connell, S Lambert INS: No change OUTS:
THORNLIE
G Beckwith, M White, I Rewell, P Riggio
N Holden, P Pohe, D Dobb, J Thorn
G Vaughan, T Churcher, J Stean, M Separovich
G Sewell, G Collier, J Walker Jnr, J Mitchell INS: D Dobb OUTS: A Williams
Fourth versus fifth here, when the Ravens travel to the home of the Eagles. Not a big difference on the ladder, but I predict the winning score to be a bit of a blowout to the home side. The Eagles have a habit of winning by healthy margins at home, and I think that Saturday’s game will be no different, unfortunately for the visitors. Both teams had comfortable wins last week, so they will be hoping to carry that form on here.
I really do think though, that the Eagles at full strength will win easily.
Hughes versus Vaughan would be a good clash.
FREMANTLE v SPEARWOOD
FREMANTLE
B Coote, J Stewart, A Hocken, R Ireland
W Heldt, G Hill, B McCarthy, J Chessell
M Gill, D Bacich, M Gittins, K Bowden
P Wachmer, D Holt, D Gibson, P Kelly INS: K Bowden, D Holt, D Bacich OUTS: S McCormack, N Gasper, K Gavranich
SPEARWOOD
I Unkovich, N Silich, I D'Ascenzo, B Bavcevic
K Nadilo, I Dragicevich, M Krajancic jnr, F Petkovich
V Pesich, D Tomasich, B Vidovich, I Petkovich
I Perica, N Sokol, B Yakas, T Fiamengo INS: B Yakas OUTS: A Stojan
Unfortunately the boys from just up the hill a little from the home side, look like they have finally hit form, which doesn’t spell good news for the Mariners at all.
A now settled sixteen at Spearwood spells danger for the Freo boys I reckon, and I just can’t see the home side getting over the line.
If you remember last year, Spearwood were continually changing their sides, but this year it is the Mariners, who have three or four missing every single week.
This week I notice that both Ngui and the young promising skip in McCormack missing, cant be form.
Wachmer versus Unkovich would be a good battle, as both players could pull on a Premier League shirt any day.
Spearwood to carry on their winning ways.
Spearwood 6-2
LEEMING v GOSNELLS
LEEMING
K Vandersluys, P Boys, D Johnson, W Birrell
A Anderson, N Shannon, J Bowden, D Cleal
G Ford, G Burgess, G Freeman, R Lipple
J Newton, S Dobie, P Hickey, A Andersson INS: P Hickey, N Shannon OUTS: R Bellis, N Bennetts
GOSNELLS
F Carbone, G Lynch, G Strachan, R McKay
M Crabb, D Innes, C Watters, P McElvie
B Holland, C Hickinbotham, N Tulett, M Rickard
G Nicol, T Auckland, D Bradbury, J Hoskin INS: P McElvie, J Hoskin OUTS: I Farley, M Beauchamp
Even though the Lions are well below the Kookas on the ladder, I am predicting an upset to happen in this game.
The home side are due to hit form at some stage, and I reckon it just might happen on Saturday at Leeming.
Whilst both sides have synthetic surfaces, they play and perform quite differently, so the visitors will need to adjust significantly to have a chance.
On paper the Lions look a bit stronger to me, especially up front, where most games are won.
Both sides have made minor positional changes I see.
