After a couple of surprise results the Blue north ladder has tightened significantly with just 5 1/2 points separating the danger of 7th and a challenge playoff and third position, finals, on the ladder. It seems that, subject to no surprise losses, Quinns and Swan will fight out the top position and automatic promotion to 1 White being 11 and 11 1/2 points clear of third, both in good form.
SWAN 90 (7) v DOUBLEVIEW 84 (1)
David Park 24 v Lindsay Thorn 23
Ian Cornthwaite 16 v Gary Nelson 28
Phillip Park 24 v Winton Langdon 23
Alan Southern 26 v Guy Herriot 10
Swan won as expected though there were a couple of blow out rinks, one for either side which I am sure would have made for an exciting game. Doubleview is one of the 5 teams in contention for 3rd to 8th position, their destiny is in their own hands, they play two of the fellow contenders in the following rounds and also play two of the bottom 3 on the run home.
QUINNS ROCKS 117 (7) v STIRLING 59 (1)
John Berecz 43 v Michael Vitale 7
Christopher Parr 32 v Ante Vlahov 12
Martin Hinchcliffe 26 v Nick Yaksich 14
Barry Crawford 16 v Mane (Mick) Marovic 26
Quinns seem to have rediscovered their early season form since the break with 4 good wins including Swan and Yokine and smashing the bottom two in Stirling and Wanneroo. Stirling did win a rink and did not lose ground to the 7th placed North Beach thought they still trail by 6 1/2 points and need an aggregate and hope the beach boys fail to win for the rest of the season to avoid automatic demotion, a tall order with North Beach playing Wanneroo at home next week.
WANNEROO 92 (6) v MT LAWLEY 76 (2)
Pieter Geus 14 v Paul Sinden 16
John Miller 21 v Anthony Einfeld 17
Colin Johnson 27 v Laurence Kelly 30
Martin Nievelstein 30 v Mark Masel 13
A second loss against sides they would thought they could beat has left Mt Lawley's finals aspiration in doubt, indeed they are just 6 1/2 points from the dangerous 7th position. Yokine continuing to lose has helped them and it will a massive game next week when Mt Lawley meet them at home. Well done Wanneroo, just 7 1/2 points from avoiding automatic relegation, if they beat North Beach nest week, an away game, safety will be a little bit closer,. Lose and it could be a bridge too far.
KALAMUNDA 77 (7) v NORTH BEACH 67 (1)
Arthur Bartlett 23 v Alan Howe 18
Rodney Cooper 18 v Peter Augustson 16
Wayne Olive 24 v Richard Hunter 10
Dwayne Wooltorton 12 v Geoffrey Devenish 23
An important win for Kalamunda and they close to within 4 points of third and finals. Equally, with the way other results panned out, they are not safe from 7th and challenge playoff after Mundaring's surprise win against Yokine away. North Beach will almost certainly finish in the dreaded 8th position, way short of my expectations for a side that came down from 1 White
YOKINE 76 (1.5) v MUNDARING 89 (6.5)
Wayne Coffey 22 v Kevin Warne 22
Anthony Kay 14 v Rex Cox 21
Bradley Morrison 18 v Lindsay Pickles 16
Trevor McGillivray 22 v Geoffrey Bear 30
Four losses in a row for Yokine, the top of the ladder team at the break. With Mt Lawley away next week they need to regroup and find that early form. The draw on the run home has them playing the three bottom sides and if the can beat Mt Lawley next finals hopes are well and truly alive. Mundaring, a terrific win but do have a tough draw over the next three weeks, home to Swan and Doubleview, away to Quinns. Win two out of three and finals become a distinct possibility.
