Well, once again I’ve been made to look stupid…
Usually that only happens after dark on a Saturday night, but no — this week it was in broad daylight. A whopping 1/5 tips correct. Let’s get into it.
Cambridge 79 (6.5) vs Bassendean 69 (1.5)
(David Foulsham 16 - Butch Dinnison 18) (Garry Hawkes 22 - Neil Strachan 18) (Peter Easom 23 - Jovan Krstic 15) (Stephen Buckley 18 - Arthur Bartlett 18)
The Lions rolled into the Stable licking their lips, ready to feast on a Knights side that had supposedly waved the white flag weeks ago… or so we all thought. Easom got the pots, beating Krstic by 8, while Hawkes handled Strachan by 4. Buckley and new skip Bartlett shook hands and settled for a draw, but the ever-reliable Butch pinched an away point for the visitors.
Bassendean now have a few teams below breathing down their necks and will be desperate for a strong finish. As for Cambridge — we all love a comeback story, but they may have left their run just a little too late.
Ellenbrook 67 (2) vs Morley 68 (6)
(Aaron Cole 19 - Victor Orchard 22) (Josef Rollnik 18 - Christopher Bell 9) (Michael L Ryan 20 - Andrew Elmer 12) (Robert Ball 10 - Ian Eichfuss 25)
Wow — what an important game this turned out to be. Both sides came in riding hot streaks of five or so games, hunting down the mid-table pack and desperate to keep momentum rolling. Ryan held firm with an 8-shot win over Elmer, while Rollnik dinged Bell by 9.
Big Stick Eichfuss had a ball, belting Robbie by 15 shots, and Orchard juiced Cole for all he was worth. Morley walk away victorious, but with both teams taking two rinks apiece, they both stay firmly in the survival hunt. Big points shared, big season implications.
Wanneroo 85 (7) vs Quinns Rocks 68 (1)
(David Anderson 13 - Steve ONeill 21) (Derek Griffin 21 - Shane Smith 18) (Kingsley Toster 19 - Warrick Ferris 16) (Pieter Geus 32 - Hugh Ward 13)
The top dogs have barked loud and clear. Wanneroo made a statement here, knocking off a strong, in-form Quinns side to consolidate their spot in the top two and scream genuine premiership contenders.
Steve O’Neil made sure Quinns didn’t leave empty-handed with a win over Anderson, but it was all downhill from there. Griffin had the unenviable task of keeping the Smith rink quiet — and somehow managed it, winning by 3. Beat the Smith rink and you’re usually right in the agg hunt.
Toster took care of Ferris, while Geus absolutely took the Ward rink for a ride, romping home with a dominant 19-shot win. Wanneroo have just about locked in a top-two finish now with some breathing room to third. Quinns sit fourth and will need to finish strong to make finals.
Warwick 73 (1) vs Mount Lawley 89 (7)
(Geoffrey Hinge 14 - John Cottier 22) (Ivan Sparrowhawk 22 - Andrew Jones 20) (Raymond Loran 20 - Michael Erceg 28) (Sean Wright 17 - Enda Munnelly 19)
The Mounters headed up to The Nest low on confidence and right on cue for swooping season. The Maggies had been unbeatable at home — 6 from 6 — and with Mount Lawley owning just one away win (back in Round 1), this looked grim for the travellers.
But beware the wounded Mounter. Cottier returned to the skipper’s chair — a role he’s relished for years — and promptly unhinged Big Geoffrey to win by 8. The Erceg rink turned water into wine, also winning by 8 over Loran’s boys, while the Irish Stallion knocked off Warwick’s previously unbeaten home rink by 2.
AJ narrowly went down to the Sparrowhawk, but it was Mount Lawley who grabbed the bulk of the points, gallivanting back up into third spot and eyeing off a late dash to finals.
Yanchep 88 (7) vs Sorrento 71 (1)
(Brody Dix 24 - Lance Martin 14) (Callum Arnold 20 - Brad Wicks 18) (Daniel Hartzer 21 - Ronald Rogers 27) (Patrick Daley 23 - Ian Linford 12)
Finally — one that actually went to script. Yanchep remain undefeated, dominant and downright magnificent at home, further cementing their top-two credentials. The Arnold rink climbed to top rink in the division with a gritty 2-shot win over Wicks.
Dix beat Martin by 10, standing tall when it mattered most, and Daley collected the pots with an 11-shot win over Linford. Rogers grabbed an away point for Sorrento with a win over the strong Hartzer rink, but that was about as good as it got.
Sorrento are right in the beef now, and with Morley and Ellenbrook finding form, the warning lights are well and truly flashing.