Division1White@hotmail.com
An intriguing double header weekend, jam packed full of big bowls. Within the next 48hrs & 8 days after the start of the season the following game is Round 4, pretty crazy to get your head around but at least we head into Xmas with the front 9 settled. Personally I like the change & welcome the fixture as a long term option.
The down side is that after this weekend we'll be half way to R6 which some might ask what does that mean.....well the auld predictor machine comes to life for its Annual predictions after R6, calling R18 final standings & from our viewpoint we feel the season can be 70-80% predicted from there as the last few season have proven. Therefore, for those that think this weekend won't matter much if you finish Sunday with 2 losses, then you might be in for a shock & if not, you are definitely playing in that remaining 20% zone where you start to require a serious purple run to get back to the pack. Literally every bowl counts in 1 White, the margins are minimal. Have a great weekend & play well.

Bassendean: R2 v Mosman Park, R3 v Manning
 Basso have R2 away to Mossies & they'll need the full 16 here to get a big W off the home side who'll be disappointed about last week & eager to put some Home W's on the board. Basso had a very strong hard fought win last week & that'll build confidence for this week as the new 16 start to gel. It's hard to see them get over Mossies when playing away, however, it wouldn't be a surprise considering what a humdinger of a game these 2 played last season with Basso taking the spoils on the last end but Mossies will also be looking for revenge.
What Basso miss out on Sat they have a huge chance to make up for Sunday, hosting Manning at home. If last season both sides meet it would be very even, then both sides picked up so really good recruits so it's probably back to even again. This one will be tight but I think they'll be 1 Lions rink that might get a run on the Eagles & blow it out. I don't think it'll be Jocelyn again but depending on the matchups I fancy O'Sullivan to dominate.
Prediction: Mosman Park 6 - 2v Prediction: Bassendean 7 - 1
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Cockburn: R2 v Kardinya, R3 v Safety Bay
 GAME OF THE ROUND: The Mounters were the only side to beat Titans at home over the last few years so suffice to say it's a fortress of sorts & after last weeks disappointment at Basso the home side will be biting at the bit to get through this weekend with at least 12pts. There's a few changes with Bandy dropping back but this is unlikely to play out with any meaningful impact until the Sunday game.
The Bay on Sunday will be equally tough with themselves having a real home track bully about The Bay when they play at home. Only 7 shots in this one last season so expect a nail biter. This is a genuine early test for Cockburn, playing possibly 3 Finals team in the first 3 games.
Prediction: Cockburn 7 - 1
Prediction: Safety Bay 6 - 2
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Doubleview: R2 v Manning, R3 v Gosnells
 Both The View & Manning dominated their respective divisions last season in 1 Blue so this will be an evenly fought contest. The View probably won 1 more game than the Eagles last season but both finished top & had very successful seasons. The View had a great start to R1 but R2 away to Manning will be more difficult. They have not had the exposure to Manning surface over the last few years which will make this encounter that bit more difficult especially if they let the Eagles get off to a flyer.
Sat might be tough for The View to get the W but Sunday will be a far better opportunity hosting the Kookaburrah's at home. The View should be able to get over Gosnells at home but if Gosnells do what they did at Rossmoyne this could be a real tricky game for The View. It's a game they just need to win with a tougher game Sat.
Prediction: Manning 7 - 1
Prediction: Gosnells 6 - 2
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Gosnells: R2 v Leeming, R3 v Doubleview
 The Kookaburrah's have a huge chance in R2 to get some big points on the board & build on a great R1 result. Last time Gosnells were in 1 White 2 seasons previously, if memory serves, they didn't lose a single home game all season so if they can maintain that dominance at home they'll be within the Finals chat. With Final aspirations, Gosnells need to put these games away early.
The Sunday game is an extremely tough one to call as they attend Doubleview who have had a good start to the season & have dominated at home recently. The View at home wouldn't necessarily deter the Kookaburrah's & they were relatively competitive last season against The View's top side in R5. Even though The View might be favs I think there is a chance of an upset so I'm backing Gosnells to be top of the ladder Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: Gosnells 8 - 0
Prediction: Gosnells 6 - 2
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Kardinya: R2 v Cockburn, R3 v Mosman Park
 GAME OF THE ROUND: After last week's benchmark for the Kats & I think extending their 2nd game away against a Titans side that are ultimate home track bullies, this one will carry weight. I don't expect Kats to win but if they did I think this would speak volumes from where they'll be, come the pointy end of the season.
Where any points get dropped Sat, they'll surely get picked up Sunday as they host Mossies at home. Mossies will be coming to play but with the few omissions on the backend but their away form 4 from 9 last season was above average. Kats should have enough at home to put this one away with an eye on which rink might be the usual blow out rink when the Kats play at home.
Prediction: Cockburn 7 - 1
Prediction: Kardinya 7 - 1
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Leeming: R2 v Gosnells, R3 v Rossmoyne
 Leeming have a tough assignment in R2 away to Gosnells where not many teams have come back out those gates with an Agg. Even 2pts might be worthwhile considering how precious points will be this season. The Kookaburrah's are certainly not unbeatable at home so Leeming has nothing to lose by going there & having a real crack.
Leeming are also away Sunday, making this double header very difficult 48hrs for the ex.1 Blue side. Heading into R4 without a win will make the chase to Xmas a little more stressful for Leeming so they'll need to pull out some magic over the weekend to ensure they're genuinely viewed as competitors.
Prediction: Gosnells 8 - 0
Prediction: Rossmoyne 6 - 2
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Manning: R2 v Doubleview, R3 v Bassendean
 The Eagles have a great chance to get back to back wins on Sat against The View. Tough game against these 1 Blue sides but Manning seem to have done the better recruiting over the break & getting an away win with a newish side in R1 will help. I do think Manning needs a Saturday win as Sunday looks far tougher.
A real grind for Manning Sunday where they travel to Basso. Tough trip & they'll need to be 100% to get the W here. My concern here is a possible blowout rink creating a gap the other 3 just can't close away from home. Basso know the value of getting home wins on the board early so they wouldn't give this one up easily. Not knowing much about the Eagles 2nd side I think we'll know a lot more after Sunday.
Prediction: Manning 7 - 1
Prediction: Bassendean 7 - 1
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Mosman Park: R2 v Bassendean, R3 v Kardinya
 R2 is just a must win for Mossies after dropping R1 & hard task ahead for R3. Mossies lost a nail biter last season against the Lions top side & that seem to knock them a little for a few games so they'll be out for revenge. Mossies missed out on Finals last season & that hurt them with some subsequent player departures. Last year they were 1 from 3 heading into R4 so they know a slow start can be hard to make up. It feels like after losing R1 I think they might be lucky to even have 1 from 3 heading into R4 so this weekend will test some mettle.
The R3 fixture is away to the Kats which will be a great benchmark for the team with Finals aspirations but a tough assignment nonetheless. Their away form has been pretty solid lately so Mossies wouldn't mind travelling but Kardinya can be a tough trip no matter who you are & especially against the Kats top team.
Prediction: Mosman Park 6 - 2
Prediction: Kardinya 7 - 1
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Rossmoyne: R2 v Safety Bay, R3 v Leeming
 The River Rats travel to The Bay for R2, where they had a good tussle last season only losing by 16 shots so they'll be in with a chance. The Bay did beat them at home in Rossmoyne also last year so The Bay have the wood over the River Rats on the last few encounters. No one travels to Safety Bay thinking it will be easy & especially not for Rossmoyne with their away record.
A R3 loss for the River Rats could see them 0-3 & buried to the bottom of the table so they'll need to utilise the Leeming fixture to get some big scores on the board or they'll be in a world of trouble & don't have an easier R4 game either. Expecting them to put Leeming away early & carry a 1 from 3 into R4.
Prediction: Safety Bay 7 - 1
Prediction: Rossmoyne 7 - 1
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Safety Bay: R2 v Rossmoyne, R3 v Cockburn
 The Bay have Rossmoyne at home in R2 & with their home record they should have this one put away without too much stress. Yes they got a reasonable touch up in R1 so if they start slowly I'm sure Rossmoyne will pounce on their tardiness. They probably only dropped 2 at home all last season & 1 the previous other season they were in 1 White so they'll be confident of a strong showing.
The Bay get very lucky for the double header as they are the only side to have 2 home games for R2 & R3, so they'll be looking for minimum 13-14pts from the next 48hrs. Dropping to the Titans in R3 is a real possibility but I'm at a loss tipping Cockburn away from home anymore so maybe that might help the Titans. I think this R3 game will be another solid benchmark for the season & can't see more than 8 shots in the result.
Prediction: Safety Bay 7 - 1
Prediction: Safety Bay 6 - 2
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COCKBURN v KARDINYA

COCKBURN
D Bandy, M Simunovic, A Threlfo, D Gurr
M Abonnel, J Ricci, B Blagaich, B Dropulic
J Marevic, I Mateljak, M Musulin, V Dropulic
W Tepania, P Brotherston, D Ravlich, J Kop
IN: No changes
OUT:

KARDINYA
S Novak, B McGrechan, D Comrie, C Booth
B Henley, D Flintoff, P Larard, T Leahy
M Allen, M Ngui, H Vriezen, M Holt
D Radford, C Stokes, A Cocodis, M Monteiro
IN: D Comrie
OUT: L Phillips


GOSNELLS v LEEMING

GOSNELLS
, , ,
, , ,
, , ,
, , ,
IN:
OUT:

LEEMING
G Fewings, P Hickey, B Eather, R Bellis
K Vandersluys, P Boys, T Higham, W Birrell
G Ford, J Bowden, D Johnson, N Bennetts
J Newton, G Burgess, A Andersson, L Mundri
IN:
OUT: No changes


MOSMAN PARK v BASSENDEAN

MOSMAN PARK
C Hoffman, D Adams, J Pallett, M Van Bemmel
M Cranswick, T Cranswick, J Townsend, D Burges
M Robertson, K Stower, S Carmody, N Parker
S Swanson, R Kershaw, M Weis, A O'Sullivan
IN: S Swanson, M Weis
OUT: J Adams, M Bright

BASSENDEAN
A Southern, R D'Souza, S Colegate, N Kirkup
B Dinnison, D Killisch Von Horn, D Blight, J Holman
E O'Sullivan, N Strachan, A Britton, S Bermingham
S Jocelyn, T Lynch, G Malaspina, A Parravicini
IN: No changes
OUT:


MANNING v DOUBLEVIEW

MANNING
A Taylor, L Herbert, B Adams, J Moulton
P Smith, Graham O'Brien, P Herbert, N Rees
W Heldt, M Ellis, R Ker, S Lambert
S Perica, G Hogg, B Hogg, A Macpherson
IN: A Macpherson, R Ker
OUT: M Walker, P Bowden

DOUBLEVIEW
B Heta, M Leed, D Hayden, N Feletti
D Cosgrove, M Marinko, G Papadopoulos, J Gilchrist
E Johnson, M Fredericks, L Martin, F Williamson
C McKenna, M Young, R Leed, A Bloxham
IN: D Hayden
OUT: B Hodgson


SAFETY BAY v ROSSMOYNE

SAFETY BAY
G Smith, S Foran, G Hodges, A Ballard
Z Boddy, S Hide, T Southern, G Ogg
C Carruthers, M Mortensen, J Thorington, J Hanafee
G Taylor, T Parker, R Hall, T Bochat
IN: M Mortensen, T Southern
OUT: J Brannan, C Owen

ROSSMOYNE
W Harvey, R Vind, G Maesepp, J Fitzgerald
C Edson, R Halse, N Edson, S Bartlett
R Lang, D Haddow, G Collier, A Regan
M Barrett, A Petchell, T Churcher, D Horniman
IN: T Churcher, A Regan, S Bartlett
OUT: J Carter, G Eades, S Maddy