I think we tipped 4 from 5 this week in a real mixed bag with Cockburn preventing us going 5 from 5 with a rare away win against the inform Saints. Some huge finishing by 4 of the 5 teams where those 4 games only had a dozen shots or less margin across all games with epic last end bowls. 2 of those decided by 1pt & 2pts.
Leeming 79 (7) vs Victoria Park Carlisle 67 (1)
(Gary Ford 16 - David Florance 20) (James Bowden 21 - Graeme Wishart 17) (James Newton 19 - Gary Beckwith 18) (Karl Vandersluys 23 - Jonathan Jermalinski 12)
The Lions back it up in style against the Reds who’ll fancy themselves for Finals. Leeming remain the only unbeaten side this season & start to put some air between them at the top & the chasing pack. Very impressive start.
The Reds are back to 50/50 after 4 games & weren’t without a chance here with a few blokes missing. Close enough to think they’ll have a good chance flipping the score in Feb’25.
Result: Leeming 7 - 1
Prediction: Leeming 7 - 1
Joondalup 78 (7) vs North Beach 69 (1)
(Barry Crawford 11 - Mark Douthie 22) (James Groves 15 - Gavin Crosthwaite 14) (Jon Hunter 25 - Steve Wood 20) (Thomas Vlahos 27 - Michael Sweeney 13)
The Dolphins got 7pts here as we predicted 8pts but it was wayyy to close for comfort as North Beach had them on the ropes a few times.
With Douthie cancelling out Vlahos it was game on across the other 2 rinks. Solid effort by the ex.PL side away on a tricky surface for some.
Dolphins sit 2nd on the ladder with themselves & Leeming putting a little gap on the rest but both are away next away with tricky games so the pack can close.
(Aaron Kriletich 17 - Tony Krajancic 20) (Jeremy Thomas 18 - Marc Abonnel 22) (Neville Stevens 21 - William Tepania 24) (Pamela Chalmers 24 - Josip (joe) Marevic 16)
Probably the upset of the Round considering how the Saints were travelling but this was another cracking game that went down to the wire.
The golden girls did everything they could to hold to carry the Agg but couldn’t drag their side over the line with 3 other narrow loses making the final 2 shots a bridge too far.
Massive result for the Titans. They went back down the Kwinana dreaming of winning 2 away games in a season, who knows where to from here but they badly needed that one to get out of trouble.
(Allan Taylor 12 - Ian Quayle 24) (Michael Carey 42 - Brett Holland 10) (Paul Smith 20 - Rue Bishop 15) (William Fraser 39 - Glenn Lynch 8)
Maybe that Leeming game was their bellwether or maybe Eagles had a good chat with themselves on locking away those critical home games. Nearly double scores in the end with Holland & Lynch getting a proper touch up with over 80 shots conceded between them.
The Eagles jump a few spots into 3rd & the Kookaburras remain rooted near the bottom, probably a fair reflection too for both sides at the moment.
We did fancy an upset of sorts here in a super close contest with Featherby & Hoffman shining for Mossies. Mossies jump into 4th spot & wont want to drop much lower for the run to Xmas. These are the games they need to put away & they did, close margin or not.
Basso will be gutted to drop this one, as those close ones got them over the line last season. Mentioned last week & happy to call it earlier but if they drop next week the run to Xmas is not impossible but it’s bloody a lot harder than R1-4. The red flag is progressing to halfmast.
Result: Mosman Park 7 - 1
Prediction: Mosman Park 6 - 2
