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Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend, and congrats to DT and Feathers on taking out the State Singles on Sunday in some seriously trying conditions.
We’ve officially hit the final third of the season and I’ll be honest — I still have no idea who’s finishing where. I should’ve retired from tipping weeks ago; team form this year has been about as reliable as my walk to an Uber on a Saturday night.
Anyway, let’s lean into the madness and have a look at this weekend’s match-ups.
Wanneroo v Quinns Rocks
Wanneroo
Neil Williams, Gareth Hughes, Wayne Clegg, David Anderson
Gregory Sarich, Martin Nievelstein, Harold Whitman, Pieter Geus
Gary McKenner, Robert Burns, Glen Jack, Kingsley Toster
Leslie Bryson, Noel Davey, Kyle Rayner, Derek Griffin INS: Nievelstein, McKenner, Rayner OUTS: Widermanski, Bucowski, Denny
The Roo Boys sit proudly on top of the table and welcome a Quinns outfit that has hit form at exactly the right time, currently sitting 3rd. There’s plenty on the line here.
A Quinns win stretches their gap on 5th and almost locks in a top-three finish. A loss? Suddenly the door swings wide open and they could tumble as far as 6th depending on other results.
Wanneroo, meanwhile, are sitting pretty — and a win here all but guarantees a finals double chance. Both sides are in good touch, but my gut (which has been wildly unreliable this year) says an upset.
Quinns 7–1
Yanchep v Sorrento
Yanchep
Daniel Ellyard, Mark Jones, Chris Street, Patrick Daley
Leon Smith, Stephen Hyde, Tamara Arnold, Callum Arnold
Neil Cank, David Hitchman, Teora Turua, Brody Dix
Wayne Evans, John O'Brien, Anthony Passeretto, Daniel Hartzer INS: No change OUTS:
Yanchep sit second on the ladder and have been ruthless at home, finally ticking off that long-awaited away win last outing as well. Things are trending nicely for the Rose Brigade.
Sorrento, on the other hand, are battling. No wins from their last five, and they’ve been smacked by 60 and 55 shots in recent away trips. The departure of PL players has clearly hurt, and now it’s about damage control and staying within touching distance of Morley and Ellenbrook.
I hate saying it… but this one could get ugly.
Yanchep 8–0
Warwick v Mount Lawley
Warwick
Wayne Wyatt, Bernie McNamara, Dean Herbert, Raymond Loran
Colin Shier, Declan Wilson, Clive Boyle, Geoffrey Hinge
Heath Berryman, Stephen Hurley, Ivan Sparrowhawk, Glenn Yabuka
Gary Chappell, Andrew Dixon, Allan Hornby, Sean Wright INS: No change OUTS:
Mount Lawley
Denham Delmore, Mark Glasson, David Morris, Michael Erceg
Mick Palumbo, David Smith, Guy Herriot, Enda Munnelly
Lisa Bowden, Ian Watt, Laurence Kelly, Andrew Jones
Michael Chappell, Stephen Connell, Carmelo Lenzo, John Cottier INS: Glasson, Morris, Herriott, Cottier, Chappell OUTS: Robertson, Miles, Povey, Walker, Wilson
Both teams come in licking their wounds. Warwick copped a 51-shot hiding last round and left Quinns with a soggy donut, while the Mounting Yard was well and truly conquered by the Brook Boys.
Despite that, Warwick remain undefeated at home and have shown real quality across the season. Mount Lawley’s away form is ugly reading — just one road win, and losses to the bottom three (including twice to Ellenbrook).
If results elsewhere go against them, the Mounters could be staring down 7th spot and scrambling for a resurrection.
Morley
Ross Dunstan, Jason Deans, Les Spinks, Ian Eichfuss
Warren Hinchliffe, Nigel Liddington, Phillip Leyland, Andrew Elmer
Neil Minchin, Ian Goldsmith, Glenn Pinto, Christopher Bell
Robert Geikie, Shane Thomas, Gavin Grieve, Victor Orchard INS: Liddington OUTS: Mitchell
What a month it’s been for the Brook Boys. Four wins and a draw from their last five has completely revived their season.
Morley aren’t far behind — four wins from five as well — and both sides now sit 7th and 8th, breathing down the necks of Bassendean and Mount Lawley.
Ellenbrook’s wins have arguably come against stronger opposition, and with home-green advantage, I’m backing the Brook Boys to keep the run alive.
Ellenbrook 7–1
Cambridge v Bassendean
Cambridge
Andrew Ness, Phillip McShane, David Phillips, Peter Easom
Mark James, Lindsay Brown, Geoffrey Jones, Garry Hawkes
Shonah Buckley, Wallace Manning, Clifford Wooldridge, Stephen Buckley
Alistair Duncanson, Edward Leahy, Nicholas Parker, David Foulsham INS: Jones, Buckley, Manning, Duncanson OUTS: Ride, Strang, Sladen, Gauntlett
Bassendean
Saffronne Alden, Nick Pleasance, Arthur Bartlett, Wayne Davidson
Norman Kirkup, Shane Colegate, Nolan Hall, Butch Dinnison
Gregory Sadler, Joel Hitchcock, Geoffrey Malaspina, Neil Strachan
Alan Britton, Brooke Chaney, Phillip Hutchinson, Jovan Krstic INS: Bartlett, Britton OUTS: Stokes, Holman
The Lions head to a Stable that has been conquered, bashed and torn apart all season. Basso have made a few tweaks — Bartlett comes in, and it’s great to see Kristina’s dad back holding a rink again.
For the Knights, the writing’s been on the wall for a few weeks now, but pride is still on the line and they’ll want to grab as many points as possible.
Bassendean, though, are still clinging to finals hopes. Lose this and I reckon the dream’s done. Led by Big Butch, the Pride should have too much firepower.
