A reasonably predictable start to the season where I believe we tipped 4 from 5 with the dark horse of the Pioneers swopping on the flag holders to get their season off to a flyer. Some big margin wins might also continue that trend from last season where some teams were really contrasting home v away.
Safety Bay 97 (7) vs Joondalup 53 (1)
(Chris Carruthers 23 - James Groves 14) (Graeme Smith 16 - Matt Sharrett 22) (Grant Taylor 32 - Andrew Garlick 7) (Stephen Hide 26 - Michael Korycin 10)
GAME OF THE ROUND: Well this didn’t live up to expectations as game of the round with the home side putting this to bed by halftime.
Taylor was the standout for the home side while Sharretts rink made a good fist of their game winning well over Smith but the remaining Dolphins rinks barely got into double digits.
Some early concerns for Joondalup but solid start to the season for The Bay with 7pts & healthy Agg.
Result: Safety Bay 7 - 1
Prediction: Safety Bay 6 - 2
North Perth 77 (7) vs Manning 60 (1)
(Anthony Kay 22 - Paul Smith 15) (Len Caistor 13 - Adam Macpherson 21) (Mark Barrett 20 - William Fraser 13) (Todd Hampshire 22 - Alan Heal 11)
North Beach welcomed the defending champs to Farmer St to kick start life in 1 White. Tough start to 1 White life drawing the champs but after 5pm Saturday the Pioneers were wondering what all this nonsense hype was all about & are already planning a straight route to the big dance.
You could argue that the Eagles are even stronger this season & Macpherson did ok putting Caistor to the sword by 8 but that’s where the points stopped for Manning. Toddy rolled Heal by 11 & that was the majority of the damage done & with it a massive Agg to the ex.1 Blue side as they get some early confidence.
The Cougars looked in trouble in parts of this game as the Saints had a good crack at 2 rinks. Nev rolled Wooly by 8 & Bill and John were having a right ding dong with Bill just getting over the line before heading to the airport for BPL22.
Carbone rolled Rollings by 11 & with the final margin of only 12 between the sides this was probably the game that edged it for the home side.
North Beach 97 (7.5) vs Victoria Park Carlisle 65 (0.5)
(Gavin Crosthwaite 27 - Lee Such 17) (Joe McGinlay 21 - Geoffrey White 19) (Mark Douthie 31 - Michael Simms 11) (Michael Sweeney 18 - Ric Gilbert 18)
Beach boys were back into the home track bully form with an easy 32 shots over the Reds. It was always going to be a tough fixture but once Duthie had Simms by 20 it got a lot difficult fairly quickly.
A shining light was Gilbert getting 0.5pt off Sweeney in what was other than that a difficult drive up the Mitchell. Most sides will come away from North with little more this season so the Reds will likely just look forward from here.
Result: North Beach 7.5 - 0.5
Prediction: North Beach 8 - 0
Kardinya 93 (7) vs Mosman Park 49 (1)
(Beau McGrechan 24 - Terry Cranswick 13) (Craig Stokes 14 - Mitchell Cranswick 18) (Matthew Allen 31 - Lisa Featherby 7) (Steven Novak 24 - Cameron Hoffman 11)
There was minor confidence that Mossies could push the Kats in this fixture but oh how wrong was I?! Other than Cranswick taking Stokes by 4, the rest was a thorough trashing of sorts leading to easy double figures.
Not even breaking 50 shots can’t be a good early sign for Mossies but superb start for the Kats as they just dominated across the other 3 rinks with Allen providing the ladies with a 24shot best down which I can’t see happening for the rest of the season as Featherby’s rink was a top performer last season.
