Sport
2 March, 2023
Division two title on the line as Carisbrook and Highland White look for glory
Highland White has progressed through to a rematch with Carisbrook after a preliminary final for the ages on Saturday. Just one shot separated both White and Talbot Brown, while all three rinks were separated by no more than three shots. No matter...
Highland White has progressed through to a rematch with Carisbrook after a preliminary final for the ages on Saturday.
Just one shot separated both White and Talbot Brown, while all three rinks were separated by no more than three shots. No matter which way you look at this encounter, it was certainly an even match up.
Barb Crossley took the first rink 15-14 over Tony Lacey, while Ian Pryor gave Talbot Brown the second rink thanks to a 17-16 win over Leanne Wallis. But it was Nathan Reeves’ 20-17 victory over Ray Prentice which ultimately separated the two teams, as White took victory by the barest of margins, 50-49.
Had Talbot Brown found one more shot, they would have progressed to the decider on account of winning two rinks.
However, it now means Carisbrook and Highland White will do battle for the third time this season, and the second time in three weeks after their semi-final meeting.
In round eight, Carisbrook took a dominant 64-44 victory.
Phillip Burt gave Brook the perfect start on the first rink, taking a 22-10 win over Donal Lemin, but Highland was able to take two premiership points with Lacey’s 18-16 win over Ron Baker. But Eric Symons’ 26-16 win over Wallis ensured that it would be Brook’s day as the result would be key to them finishing on top of the ladder.
Two weeks ago, Carisbrook also won their semi-final and progressed straight through to the decider with a 64-53 win.
The game was remarkably similar to the round eight meeting, although Highland White were able to close the gap this time. Burt defeated Reeves 22-15, while Baker also took out the third rink with a 25-17 win over Wallis. Lacey took back two with a 21-17 win over Symons.
Like the division one grand final, a quick look shows that Carisbrook and Highland White, on paper, have been the two most dominant teams of the season.
Both teams enjoy competition leading score differentials, and both enjoy the best two attacking units in the competition.
Brook have led the way all season long with 839 shots for, while conceding just 565 shots, ranked number one in both, while also enjoying a score differential of 274 — almost 100 ahead of second-placed Highland White, who have 801 shots for (second) and 624 shots against (third).
Perhaps surprisingly, Carisbrook aren’t as well-represented on the player ladder, with Baker their best representative in sixth, while also having a competition-leading score differential of 142. However, it’s their overall consistency which has allowed them to dominate the year, with a further eight players all in the top 20 on the player ladder.
Highland have, however, the most dominant trio in division two, with Allan Pike, Lachlan Robinson and Lacey yet to taste defeat, comfortably sitting in the top three.