Round 5 has been completed and we have our 4th ladder leader, Bassendean with their 8-0 win over North Beach jump to the top of table after Sorrento, Mt Lawley and Doubleview before them. An enticing top of the table clash next week looms as South Perth play Bassendean. Joondalup earn their first win ever in Premier League and Cambridge upset Manning at Manning as their title defence isn’t going to plan. Another fascinating round is completed.
Sorrento 82 (6) vs Mt Lawley 80 (2)
(Bruce Eagles 25 - Mark Masel 15) (Chris Lander 16 - Daniel Trewhella 24) (Paul Knight 16 - Corey Bessant 26) (Rhett Butler 25 - Darren Rowland 15)
Sorrento have got some well needed points after their 2 shot win and 6 points over Mt Lawley. An interesting scoreline as 3 games all decided by 10 shots, the only one to buck the trend was the 8 shot win by Daniel Trewhella which sees him as the only undefeated skipper, but it was the deciding rink as it turns out as Chris Lander came from double digit margin back to single digit and ultimately win the day for his team. They were vital points for Sorrento who remain in touch and you certainly do not want to let the difference between losses and wins get too great. Mt Lawley will be disappointed as they would feel it was a winnable game but they remain in the 4.
Cambridge have travelled to Manning with great success with 7 points and a 14 shot aggregate win which leave the reigning premiers in 6th place, still with 3 wins but it’s them losing at home which would be of some concern to them. Cambridge though would be over the moon, I flagged in the preview that Blake Nairn and Clive Adams have had slow starts to the season and they both had emphatic wins which went a long way to winning this match. Cameron Harris continuing his fine start to the year with his 4 rink wins.
Bassendean have proved me wrong in style with their 8-0 win and shoots them to the top of the table. What’s also good for them is that they have had 3 away games so far this season which augers well for the return 9 games. Wayne Neilson and Ruairi Kenyon were always in control of their rinks where David Rhodes and Troy Kinnane fought hard all day, Kinnane coming back from 6 shots down to peel off 13 shots in 6 ends to get the job done. It’s a worry for North Beach when they aren’t winning home games and they need to dig deep and find something if their tenure in the Premier League continues to next year.
South Perth 75 (7) vs Doubleview 61 (1)
(Justin Opie 17 - Anthony Williams 15) (Paul Davies 15 - Ryan Moyle 17) (Ross Bresland 23 - Charlie Slavich 12) (Scott Walker 20 - Kyle McIlroy 17)
In a venue which Doubleview have a poor record it continues again as South Perth record a fine 14 shot win and 7 points as they sit nicely in 2nd spot and a big game next week to try and claim top spot. All rinks were fairly close but it was the 11 shot win to Ross Bresland which proved the difference over the day. I’m not that concerned by the loss to Doubleview as it is a venue that torments them and they sit 3rd on the ladder so they have set up their season well and South Perth have certainly surprised me after their player drain and playing super well so far this year.
Osborne Park 84 (2.5) vs Joondalup 87 (5.5)
(Jack East 27 - Wes Neilson 23) (John Goddard 17 - Chris Leggett 17) (Ryan Brown 14 - Ben Leggett 23) (Sean Mawdsley 26 - Shane Rixom 24)
Joondalup has earned their first ever win in the Premier League based on 1 rink win when they defeated Osborne Park by 3 shots. It’s even more meritorious as it was played away from home for them. The hero for Joondalup was the 9 shot win by Ben Leggett and Dad Chris in his first game as PL skip drew to get them the 5.5 points. Osborne Park after 3 away games in a row have probably forgotten how to play at home but away points are important in PL, but really when have a good home record, the Saints with only 3.5 points from their 2 games at home is some concern. Both teams with 1 but plenty of time left in the season to improve on that.