Well three games down and there are only three unbeaten sides at the top of the table, while at the other end, only Armadale and Victoria Park are yet to win a game.
It’s safe to say that there were no surprises this week, with The Southern Star correctly picking all five winners. Three close games though, that could have gone either way, and both Vic Park and Armadale putting up improved performances.
FREMANTLE 70 (2) v LEEMING 76 (6)
Wayne Heldt 15 v Karl Vandersluys 21
Barry Coote 18 v Gary Ford 13
Peter Wachmer 26 v Alexander Anderson 15
Dinko Bacich 11 v James Newton 27
My friend at the home of the Lions tells me today that this contest had everything, with the aggregate only decided over the last couple of ends on the Ford versus Coote rink.
The win was set up by the four skipped by Jim Newton, also comprising Bellis, Andersson, and the ever reliable Steve Noble. They were always in control of the Bacich rink who all struggled apparently.
Wachmer and Coote picking up two valuable points for the Mariners, who showed they will win some games for sure.
SAFETY BAY 94 (8) v MANNING 63 (0)
Ron Hall 25 v Shane Adams 20
Christopher Owen 19 v Alan Pryce 15
Chris Carruthers 29 v Stephen Hughes 14
Alan Daddow 21 v Brian Jeppesen 14
The Bay once again putting a visiting team to the sword with a convincing thirty one shot victory over the Eagles.
A big fifteen shot win to Chris Carruthers, Bruno McVicar, John Radford, and lead Scott Foran, over the Steve Hughes foursome, set up the aggregate win for the home side.
Victories to the Hall, Daddow, and the Owen rinks saw them pick up the full complement of eight shots.
Manning report
Manning were eager and full of hope ready for the big road trip down to The Bay on Saturday. The trip down didn’t go exactly to plan, with the bus playing up and little and the air con not wanting to work. By the time the Eagle boys had reached Safety Bay they were all a little hot and uncomfortable. Little did they know that things were about to get a lot more hotter and a lot more uncomfortable.
On a slower than usual green for Safety Bay, and a very different North Easterly blowing, both teams had to get used to the unusual conditions. And it was The Bay Boys that settled in much quicker. With one of the Manning Teams down 1 – 25 after End 9, The Eagles knew that they were going to have to do something extraordinary to have a chance of winning from here.
That something extraordinary didn’t happen and Safety Bay went on win all 4 rinks to bank a very well deserved 8 points. Manning were left to pack up, jump in the bus, and take the long ride home (the air con worked perfectly all the way home!)
Jeppersen, Ellis, Wright, Evans 14
Daddow, Beaumont, Degi, Creyk 21
A close first half in this game before Safety Bay got away to a 16-7 lead by End 14. The Jeppersen rink won the last four ends, collecting 6 points, but it was a case of too little too late by this time.
Pryce, McLLHeney, Andrew, Hughes 15
Owen, Kennedy, Parr, Boddy 19
15-15 going into the last end and this was looking to be the only chance of a point for The Eagles. Having to play shots for the win ended in them going down a four on the last end, and with that the game. The Pryce rink can take away the fact that they did win 12 ends on the day.
Adams, Adams, Rees, Lill 20
Hall, Holmes, Wilson, McBriar 25
A great show of lead bowling from both teams here, with Lill and McBriar having a great battle all day. The Adams rink was behind all day, until finally reaching the lead on End 15. Dropping 9 shots on the next 3 ends made it a very hard ask from then on.
Hughes, Hogg, Connell, Lambert 14
Carruthers, McVicar, Radford, Foran 29
Hughes was down 1-25 by End 9. And while some people may have dropped their heads, but hands on hips and started looking for others to blame, this rink put their heads down and kept playing for their Club. They won 9 of the last 12 ends, limiting the rampaging Safety Bay team to only another 4 points for the rest of the game – bringing the score back to respectable loss given from where they had started.
ARMADALE 63 (1) v THORNLIE 102 (7)
Chadd Hunt 16 v Gary Beckwith 24
Brian Davis 18 v Glyn Vaughan 36
Blair Griffiths 10 v Norman Holden 25
Brandon Heta 19 v Tony Churcher 17
The Storm put up a much better fight on Saturday, to lose by only twenty four shots, whilst picking up their first point also.
Brendon Heta and his rink of young Justin Mackay, Ross Duncan, and Graham McKenna vic tors over the Churcher foursome.
The aggregate win for the Ravens was once again set up by the old master in Glyn Vaughan and his team of Separovich, Steen, and the Kiwi in Paul Pohe.
VICTORIA PARK CARLISLE 84 (1) v SPEARWOOD 89 (7)
James Holland 21 v Nikola Silich 23
Michael Simms 19 v Ivan Unkovich 22
Peter Freund 24 v Ken Nadilo 18
Robert Johnson 20 v Vled Pesich 26
So near and yet so far for the Reds who nearly snatched the aggregate away from the visiting Spearwood side.
The only point gained for the home side was the foursome skipped by Peter Freund.
Pesich, Silich, and Unkovich all gaining narrow wins on their rinks, to win a nail biter by only five shots.
HILTON PARK 77 (1) v GOSNELLS 84 (7)
Robert Hunter 29 v Maurice Crabb 13
Travis Simpson 16 v Brett Holland 19
Gary Dodd 17 v Grant Nicol 23
Craig Standley 15 v Frank Carbone 29
Another visiting side having a narrow seven shot win at the home of the Hawks. The Kookaburras having the last laugh, and grabbing seven points into the bargain. Robbie Hunter and his team of Farrell, “ The Saint “, and McMahon doing their best to win the bikkies for the home side, beating Crabb by sixteen shots.
The General says that this skipping caper is easy, now three out of three for the visitors.
Wins to the Carbone and Holland fours also.
A great start to the season by the Hawks, sees them unbeaten at this early stage.
