We are almost at the half way point of the season and there are some teams that are thanking their lucky stars they got out of jail this week. There is only 6.5 points between 1st and 5th, with 7.5 points between 10th and 7th. You have to win at home as Quinns is the only team with a better away record this year. The bottom 5 teams collectively have 1 away win between them (That was the bottom team beating the second ranked team), just shows you how important it is to secure your home games and sneak a win or two on the road.
Swan 72 (2) vs Wanneroo 73 (6)
(Brian Davis 17 - David Anderson 15) (Kotuku Engelen 19 - Kingsley Toster 21) (Peter Hilsz 17 - Martin Nievelstein 19) (Tony Natalotto 19 - Michael Golding 18)
Well what a game this would have been, I thought this would be a miss match. I've not had any reports from the game, but I would hazard a guess they would have come down to the last end on a number of rinks, with margins of 2, 2, 2 and 1. Very low scoring game with only one rink scoring over 20 shots. After writing reports for a number of years, 20 shots is normally a winning score. Considering how close both ends of the ladder are, a shot or two either way and it would have massively hurt or helped the other side. Wanneroo maintain 3rd on the ladder and Swan are second last.
Yokine 69 (5) vs Morley 68 (3)
(Erron Martin 25 - Victor Orchard 11) (Martin Sharp 16 - Phillip Leyland 18) (Paul Kelly 13 - Les Spinks 21) (Shane Shaw 15 - Wayne Mitchell 18)
If the previous game was not a shock, this game certainly would have been a shock, just shows that you have to turn up every week. Martin should have been getting drinks purchased at the Yokine club, his 14 shot win was enough to carry the aggregate solo. Keith back for Morley helped to strengthen the squad and West being out really hurt Yokine it seems. I've heard that Beans is missing next week, so the backend of Yokine is getting tested. Shaw lost his first game for the season. When the difference between first and third is 0.5 points, it was a massive result for Yokine to secure the points. Likewise a win for Morley would have created some extra space from automatic relegation.
North Perth 91 (7) vs Quinns Rocks 69 (1)
(Anthony Kay 28 - John Berecz 12) (Benjamin Horwood 21 - Christopher Parr 16) (Don Dixon 22 - Hugh Ward 26) (Markus Merz 20 - Shane Smith 15)
Thought this would have been match of the round, but it ended up being a little bit of a fizzer. Berecz does not seem to be the same bowler of number of years ago, with Kay controlling the game from start to finish. This rink was carrying the aggregate all day. Ward was down early but fought back to win his game and he is the second ranked skipper this season. Smith may have regretted one end when he was down a shot but attempted to gain shot but dropped a handful and that was almost the margin on their rink.
Sorrento 64 (1) vs Osborne Park 90 (7)
(Chris Lander 20 - Mark Pasalich 16) (David Dunstan 13 - Neville Stevens 26) (Ian Linford 11 - Mark Rollings 26) (Lance Martin 20 - Robert Lawrence 22)
Lander secured the win, but his addition to the squad was not enough to carry the aggregate. Rollings and Stevens winding back the clock and putting Dunstan and Linford to the sword. With both sides close on the ladder, this was a big result away from home for Osborne Park. It keeps Osborne Park within one aggregate of first position and they would have loved for Morley and Swan to get those upset wins. Martin did his job maintaining a close game against the top ranked Lawrence rink, pity the other rinks could not cover for his close loss.
North Beach 83 (7) vs Joondalup 68 (1)
(Alan Howe 18 - Glen Oakley 12) (Garry Barr 19 - Martin Hinchcliffe 17) (Lee Mitten 19 - Mark Ryan 21) (Richard Hunter 27 - Brian McMurdo 18)
The Beach had to win this game and create space between them and the bottom ranked Joondalup. The Beach have not won away from home this season. Ryan is the best performing skipper for Joondalup and he secured their only point.
