Well season 2024/25 is finally completed and for some it will probably be a relief that it is actually all over. Apart from one match most results went as predicted and let’s have a quick look at how it all unfolded:
Kalamunda - are our champions for season 2024/25. An outcome that was richly deserved and they were the standout side for most of the season. They did suffer a surprise loss at home against Cockburn on Saturday however they will look to bounce back in the Blue GF next Sunday vs North Perth. We wish them all the best in that one and should also make mention of the Brandsma rink that performed superbly all season with essentially just one defeat. It will be nice for all players not having to worry about them next season.
Cockburn - Unbeatable at home throughout the season and now starting to win away games as evinced by a great victory away at Kalamunda on Saturday. Steve Srhoy back to his very best with an incredible 13 wins over the course of the season has lead the way. The win on Saturday enabled them to jump Kardinya and finish in 2nd spot. They will play Kardinya in the morning next Saturday with the winner to challenge either Osborne Park or Vic Park for promotion to One White next season. We wish them all the best next Saturday.
Kardinya - A serious threat for top spot on the ladder a few weeks back however some late season losses has seen them fall back to 3rd place on the ladder. They will look to bounce back next Saturday against Cockburn and when you look at the results on Saturday they are not to far away with a draw on one rink and two rinks losing by just one shot away at Rossmoyne. Again we wish them all the best in trying to secure promotion next week.
Rockingham - Jumped into 4th place and without Cockburn’s surprise win at Kalamunda they would have jumped into 3rd place and secured some finals action. A mid season slump cost them but they are a talented side and I think they can push for one white over the next few seasons particularly if they can hang onto Simpson and Currie. An excellent finish to the season with an 8 nil win over Thornlie on Saturday but for now they are done!
Willetton - A great first season from the Willetton side but unfortunately a win at Warnbro proved to be a bridge too far on Saturday. They were clearly in that game for a long way and it was a very narrow defeat in the end. That said they would be very pleased with their initial season in Blue and like Rockingham they can be expected to push for higher honours in coming seasons. However also like Rockingham they are done for now.
Dalkeith - Are now the one blue Houdini’s and some how survived with wins in their final three matches. Two one shot wins at home over the last 3 matches will see them play again in one blue next season. On Saturday it looks like the Yates/Brown combination picked them up and allowed them to secure the aggregate and the points that they needed to survive. Forrestfield looked to have done all they could but Dalkeith held on to survive and for now they can sit back and wait for next season.
Rossmoyne - Did pretty much all that they could with a good win at home against Kardinya on Saturday however they are now forced into play off action in order to retain one blue next season. We will have to see what this throws up for Mayor Lang and his squad but the main thing is that they now have the chance and I am pretty sure that they get the home ground advantage (I think) but we wish them all the best in their fight to survive.
Warnbro - They also did what they needed to do with a win at home against Willetton that saw them jump from automatic relegation territory to a chance in the play offs next weekend. If I am right about the home ground advantage then they will play at home and that will give them their best opportunity to pull through. Again we wish all the players the very best in what will be a big challenge next weekend.
Forrestfield - heartbreaking outcome for them on Saturday with a one shot defeat at Dalkeith. With other results going against them they are very unfortunate to be relegated back to 2nd division. A one shot win would have seen them jump to 6th place on the ladder and the bowls would be packed away in the shed by now. Unfortunately the bowls are still getting packed away but without some level of satisfaction. I expect that they will bounce back pretty quickly as they do have some very capable players within that team.
Thornlie - A disappointing end to the season for them with an 8 nil defeat at Rockingham. They were in contention around the half way mark of the season but their form fell away and they will line up in Division 2 next season. They also have some very good players and I expect that they will bounce back pretty quickly.
Kalamunda 74 (1) vs Cockburn 82 (7)
(Dwayne Wooltorton 19 - Paul Brotherston 22) (Frank Carbone 19 - Derek Gibson 23) (Wayne Olive 10 - Steve Srhoy 25) (William Brandsma 26 - James Wylie 12)
