This is a review after the halfway mark of the season. (Plus one game) This was meant to be done before the break, but Christmas got in the way.
1. North Perth - Had them ranked 2nd coming into the season and they're currently first. Thought the addition of Kay would give them that added backend strength required to make that next jump. Reagan is out for the foreseeable future, but the North Perth crew have lifted with his absence. (I am sure they would love him back in any capacity.)
2. Yokine - Had them 4th and they've been at the pointy end all season. Just these last couple of weeks they've missed some key back end bowlers and once they have their full list back, they're hard to beat. The carpet is rolling nicely at the moment.
3. Wanneroo - Had them 3rd and that is where they are, they're around the mark and I can see them anywhere from first to fourth at the end of the season.
4. Osborne Park - Had them 7th and that proved to be a terrible call at the moment, experience does count for a lot and they're more mature players still have a few more good years ahead of them. Desmond Tutu may have the last laugh with me.
5. Quinns Rock - Predicted 1st but they're way off that mark, a few guys that I trusted in previous years are off the it seems. They could turn it around, but I am starting to doubt my prediction.
6. Sorrento - Thought they would be 5th and they're a little worse off. I just think the constant rink changes are not good for stability. I know it is a huge club, but it must be hard at times. Interesting to see what happens when their synthetic gets up and running.
7. North Beach - Had them 8th and they're around that mark, the loss of a lot of premier league bowlers was always going to hurt their second side as well.
8. Morley - had them 9th and like a lot of clubs, they're one better than expected due to Joondalup being a lot worse than I gave them credit. Morley will struggle to maintain this division, if not this year, maybe next year they may drop in my opinion.
9. Swan - Thought they would be last and they're still close to the mark. Losing a few bowlers in the off season was going to be an issue and Urquhart having an operation also did not help.
10 Joondalup - Just predicted they would keep rising, but maybe their run of promotions has come to a halt until they get some more depth. A little disappointed in their performance this season, other than an away win to top of the table North Perth.
Sorrento 81 (1) vs North Perth 84 (7)
(David Dunstan 16 - Markus Merz 22) (Ian Linford 17 - Anthony Kay 18) (Peter Augustson 25 - Don Dixon 26) (Trevor Orton 23 - Benjamin Horwood 18)
Heard this came down to the wire with two rinks picking up a 5 and a 2 to not only get two points but also secure the aggregate. Augustson had a day out until the last end. Merz had control most of the day and Kay also came down to the wire. Great away win for North Perth to push them to first. North Perth have an amazing away record and that is why they're top of the table.
Morley 72 (1) vs Wanneroo 94 (7)
(Les Spinks 13 - Michael Golding 19) (Phillip Leyland 16 - David Anderson 27) (Victor Orchard 24 - Kingsley Toster 23) (Wayne Mitchell 19 - Martin Nievelstein 25)
Workman like effort from Wanneroo, did what they had to do against a weaker opposition and 7 away points is great. Anderson would be happier this week with a nice win.
Quinns Rocks 78 (3) vs North Beach 79 (5)
(Christopher Parr 15 - Garry Barr 20) (Hugh Ward 21 - Alan Howe 19) (Shane Smith 23 - Jeffery Post 22) (Steve Oneill 19 - Richard Hunter 18)
I predicted a 5 v 3 result, just not this one. Quinns, I am not sure what is happening there, but they cannot lose these games. With margins of 5, 2, 1, 1.... It is amazing that a 5 shot win carried the aggregate. Wins the pots and carries the aggregate, what a close day it would have been. Puts Quinns almost two aggregates away from top spot, which would be annoying.
Osborne Park 80 (5.5) vs Yokine 77 (2.5)
(Mark Pasalich 29 - Martin Sharp 14) (Mark Rollings 18 - Shane Shaw 24) (Neville Stevens 20 - Wayne Coffey 20) (Robert Lawrence 13 - Sid McCann 19)
I said this was game of the round and it was from all reports. On a side note, the banning of a Yokine player from playing is an interesting case. I thought he was suspended from pennants for those actions last year, so he has done his time. Maybe ban him from entering the club but not the greens? (Maybe someone with more knowledge than me can shed some light)
All level with one end to play and Desmond was down all day, fighting his way back and winning the last end to take the chocolates. Showing why my prediction was wrong and maybes his was closer to the mark? I heard great things about the greens from the state pairs, but Yokine updated me and said they were a treat to bowl on and complements to the greenkeepers.
Joondalup 63 (2) vs Swan 93 (6)
(David Webber 23 - Peter Hilsz 22) (Glen Oakley 10 - Lindsay Sanders 29) (Mark Ryan 8 - Brian Davis 24) (Martin Cheesman 22 - Robert Urquhart 18)
Swannies went BANG and smacked the Dolphins. Great to see Robbie back on the greens again and that is a timely boost to the Swan team. Davis like he does at times, smacked his opponent, not doubt with a combination of drives and draw bowling. Cheeseman skipping is nice to see, mostly seen him lead over the years and he's a gun at that role.
