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Here we go again… time to tip with confidence and prepare to be publicly humiliated by 6pm Saturday.
Wanneroo v Morley
Wanneroo
Gregory Sarich, Martin Nievelstein, Harold Whitman, Pieter Geus
Gary McKenner, Noel Davey, Leslie Bryson, Derek Griffin
Neil Williams, Steve Denny, Gareth Hughes, David Anderson
Eckhard Widermanski, Robert Burns, Glen Jack, Kingsley Toster INS: McKenner, Denny OUTS: Rayner, Clegg
Morley
Ross Dunstan, Jason Deans, Ian Eichfuss, Les Spinks
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: No changes OUTS:
The table-topping Roo Boys roll out the welcome mat for the Mavericks in what looks like a routine home job. But let’s not pretend Morley are just making up numbers – the Mavs have quietly built some serious credibility over the past six weeks and have proven they belong in this division.
That said… Wanneroo are flying. Beating the Mounters at the Mounting Yard last week was a statement. They’re sitting two aggregates clear of third palce and have one hand firmly wrapped around that top-two finish. They’re in rhythm, they’re confident, and at home they’re a beast.
Morley will scrap, but if Wanneroo win this one, good luck knocking them off their perch.
Wanneroo 7–1
Yanchep v Mount Lawley
Yanchep
Wayne Evans, David Hitchman, Angela Temple, Brody Dix
Neil Cank, John O'Brien, Chris Street, Daniel Hartzer
Anthony Passeretto, Stephen Hyde, Tamara Arnold, Callum Arnold
Leon Smith, Mark Jones, Patrick Daley, Teora Turua INS: Smith OUTS: Ellyard
Mount Lawley
Denham Delmore, Mark Glasson, Shane Knott, Guy Herriot
Keith Scott, Stephen Connell, Carmelo Lenzo, John Cottier
Nathan Walker, Ian Watt, Laurence Kelly, Andrew Jones
Mick Palumbo, David Smith, Michael Erceg, Travis Ingram INS: Knott, Herriott OUTS: Chappell, Munnelly
Yanchep are still perched in second despite getting a brutal reality check from Quinns last week. Mount Lawley also copped one at home, so both sides limp in slightly bruised.
The difference? Yanchep’s body of work this season has been far more convincing — and their home record is enough to make most teams break into a nervous sweat.
Arnold and Hartzer are both sitting in the top five skips, and between them they’ve dropped just one rink at home all season. That’s scary stuff.
Mount Lawley lose Munnelley and Chappel, but they do welcome Herriot after impressing in PL last weekend. And the word around the traps is young Shane Knott is a serious prospect — tidy player, big future.
Still… the Rose Brigade at home are my tip for this one.
Yanchep 7–1
Warwick v Ellenbrook
Warwick
Heath Berryman, Stephen Hurley, Ivan Sparrowhawk, Glenn Yabuka
Wayne Wyatt, Bernie McNamara, Dean Herbert, Raymond Loran
Colin Shier, Declan Wilson, Clive Boyle, Geoffrey Hinge
Gary Chappell, Andrew Dixon, Allan Hornby, Sean Wright INS: Sparrowhawk OUTS: Smith
The Brook Boys head to the Nest knowing they can’t afford to let the pack get away from them. Survival is in sight, but slip-ups now could mean the dreaded playoff scenario.
Warwick started the season looking like world beaters, but lately their wings have looked slightly clipped. Not terrible… just not quite humming like they were.
Ellenbrook have pulled off a few upsets this year, but Warwick at home should steady the ship. If they’re serious about finals, this is non-negotiable.
Bassendean
Jovan Krstic, Brooke Chaney, Phillip Hutchinson, Grant Stokes
Gregory Sadler, Alan Britton, Brett Tie, Neil Strachan
Saffronne Alden, Nick Pleasance, Ted Alden, Arthur Bartlett
Norman Kirkup, Shane Colegate, Nolan Hall, Butch Dinnison INS: Tie, Stokes OUTS: Hitchcock, Robinson
This one is juicy.
Sorrento sit 8th. Bassendean 6th. Seven points between them. That’s one solid Saturday swing.
Not sure what the Swannies are rolling out, but the Lions get two big inclusions — Stoker returns and “Big Stick” Tie lumbers back in. That’s some serious firepower.
Sorrento are level with Ellenbrook and half a point behind Morley, so this is survival mode. They must make this count.
Basso have only managed one away win from the Den all season — and normally I’d back the Lions… which is exactly why I’m not. My gut’s been running at about 1/5 this year, so we’re going full George Costanza mode and doing the opposite.
Swannies to swoop.
Sorrento 6–2
Cambridge v Quinns Rocks
Cambridge
Andrew Ness, Phillip McShane, David Phillips, Peter Easom
Mark James, Lindsay Brown, Geoffrey Jones, Garry Hawkes
Bruce Strang, Shonah Buckley, Clifford Wooldridge, Stephen Buckley
Alistair Duncanson, Edward Leahy, Nicholas Parker, David Foulsham INS: Duncanson OUTS: Manning
We finish at the Stable where the fallen Knights host the Crays.
Cambridge are already packing their Division 2 bags, which can sometimes make a side dangerous… or completely flat. Hard to know which version shows up.
Quinns, meanwhile, sit third and know this is absolutely vital. Warwick are breathing down their necks and won’t likely slip this week. The Crays have experience, composure, and far more riding on this result.
Up the freeway they go with a boot full of points.
