A lot of season defining games coming up in round 17 this Saturday.
None more so that the clashes at Kalamunda and South Perth, where the home teams plays Thornlie and Leeming respectively. An unbelievably tight division still, with only 9 points separating 2nd from 8th. In my years of bowls, I have never seen such an intense competition, with only the 1st & 10th places certain. All other spots up for grabs, certainly keeps all bowlers on their toes.
For the coveted Skippers title, we see Simunovic and Krajancic with 13 wins each, followed closely by Brandsma on 12. Another very close tussle indeed.
MANNING v SPEARWOOD
MANNING
M Piggott, L Herbert, N Rees, P Barrow
A Pryce, D Mcllheney, P Bowden, B Connell
M Carey, G Hogg, A Lill, S Lambert
G O'Brien, W Heldt, B Griffiths, M Hoskin INS: L Herbert, P Bowden OUTS: A Taylor, S Salamon
SPEARWOOD
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The Eagles need to get their season back on track, so this should happen on Saturday at Manning where they play the bottom side. However, just last week the visitors put up a great fight away from home against the Hawks.
But the Eagles aren’t placed 2nd for nothing, so they should get up. But, no doubt the very competitive Spearwood boys will think otherwise. Unkovich and Nadilo are very proud loyal skips, who will do their very best to stop the Eagles from winning. But the Eagles do possess a lot of good experienced players, so they should win quite easily.
Manning 7-1
KALAMUNDA v THORNLIE
KALAMUNDA
I Quayle, P Townsend, T Price, M Thomas
A Bartlett, W Olive, V Hughes, B Farrant
D Wooltorton, R Pringle, G McDonald, M Clancy
B Brandsma, R Cooper, G Trevaskis, T Mountford INS: T Mountford OUTS: C West
THORNLIE
P Pohe, G Collier, C Penaluna, A Williams
M Yates, G Beckwith, H Collins, J Walker Jnr
J Stean, D Innes, M White, J Mitchell
M Separovich, G Vaughan, J Thorn, P Riggio INS: C Penaluna, M White OUTS: A Smythe, C Edgley
4th versus 5th in this monumental clash up at the home of the Cougars in Kalamunda. Only 1 point separates these two teams on the ladder, with both teams having a fine run in the second half of the season. Brandsma and Yates will set the tone for this game, as they are the barometer for their teams. Yates has been a revelation since joining the Ravens, only losing one game out of eleven, a great record. Both teams have other fine players of course, with a lot of good veterans sprinkled amongst the various rinks. But at the home of the Cougars, I would have to pick them.
Kalamunda 6-2
COCKBURN v HILTON PARK
COCKBURN
M Musulin, D Gurr, J McElroy, D Dobb
J Marevic, I Mateljak, D Rayner, A Edwards
W Tepania, D Ravlich, B Blagaich, D Topine
J Ricci, K Wylie, M Sokol, M Zusman INS: J McElroy OUTS: M Simunovic
HILTON PARK
K McKay, H McKay, C McMahon, S Farrell
T Simpson, Daniel Newton, Dave Newton, R Fortini
R Foy, G Dodd, L Onley Jnr, R Butler
C Standley, K Willis, B Smith, T Maxwell INS: K McKay, Daniel Newton OUTS: R Hunter, P Stone
If the Rooster boys are still hoping to crow on Saturday, they should account for the unsettled Hawk guys especially at home.
Many more changes at Hilton, Kev McKay and Daniel Newton in, Hunter out, the merry go round continues. Some fine back end players in both teams, but the Roosters should have the edge up front I believe. Ricci swaps places with Wylie to skip for the Roosters.
Cockburn 7-1
ROCKINGHAM v FREMANTLE
ROCKINGHAM
J Lethlean, P Villa, L Atkins, I Wright
B Edwards, S Wales, G Roberts, T Threlfall
M Devenny, K Tremlett, V Arriagada, D Poole
R Costello, S Hutchinson, M Wilson, T Rubery INS: I Wright OUTS: J Laukkanen
FREMANTLE
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An intriguing clash between another two teams who have an enormous amount st stake on Saturday. The Mariners need to win to keep their finals aspirations alive, whilst the Rams just need to win, full stop.
Both sides look fairly much unchanged from their last games.
If the Rams can hold the Krajancic rink they could win, but the Mariners may just scrape over the line.
Fremantle 6-2
SOUTH PERTH v LEEMING
SOUTH PERTH
S Kelly, G Reagan, T Percival, M Hughes
M McRae, D Calvo, F Anderson, B Owen
D Bandy, I Rennie Jnr, B Roelefs, L Moretti
V Santostefano, M Petrich, J Cook, J Percival INS: No changes OUTS:
LEEMING
N Bennetts, G Freeman, N Shannon, D Anderson
K Vandersluys, P Boys, D Johnson, W Birrell
I Ashworth, J Bowden, B Eather, R Bellis
J Newton, G Burgess, A Andersson, P Hickey INS: No changes OUTS:
What a game we have on offer here, with both sides very keen to get their seasons back on track, after losses last week. Gary Ford still out for the Lions, a big loss for them. But Ashworth can hold his own with most skips, a fine replacement indeed. Big Karl will be keen to get back into the winners circle, probably needs more support up front. The South Perth front end players look a bit superior to me, with pretty good skips on both sides.