Sport
1 February, 2024
Exciting final fortnight of Saturday pennant
With two rounds to go, the minor premiership in both division one and two has essentially been sealed, but the race is on in earnest for the rest of the finals spots. DIVISION ONE Dunolly Blue will be the minor premier of division one after...
With two rounds to go, the minor premiership in both division one and two has essentially been sealed, but the race is on in earnest for the rest of the finals spots.
DIVISION ONE
Dunolly Blue will be the minor premier of division one after establishing a 32-point lead with two rounds to go.
The ladder-leaders were able to take care of Newstead Blue to win 62-50 at Newstead.
Tony Galofaro took a 27-11 win over Bill Burnett, while Peter Waters won 18-16 over Brian Daly. Newstead were able to gain two points thanks to David Cobden’s 23-17 win over Keith Elliott.
Highland Tartan are in pole position to secure the double chance, extending their gap over third place to 12 points thanks to an 84-39 win over Maryborough Golf Blue in a result which extinguishes the latter’s chance of making finals.
Golf Blue were able to take two points courtesy of Gerry Carmody’s 25-15 win over Garry Coburn, but it was Tartan’s day, with Greg Shay defeating Anthony Chambers 35-10, while Michael Fryar was even more dominant in defeating Harold Patullo 34-4.
Talbot Gold have booked their spot in the finals in defeating Avoca Red 73-46 to hold a 29-point advantage over Golf Blue in fourth, while also simultaneously keeping their double chance hopes alive.
All three results were in play on Saturday, but it was Peter McLaughlan’s 34-6 win over Daniel Giddings which proved the key difference. Elsewhere, the other two rinks were tight, with Paul Radstock and Noel Parratt participating in a 19-19 draw, while Ian Proctor gave Avoca two points in a 21-20 win over Peter Fletcher.
Despite giving it all they had, Dunolly Gold will be wooden spooners after going down to Highland White 51-59.
Dunolly Gold took two of the rinks, with Frank Mifsud defeating Adrian Masterman-Smith 23-14 and Jim Haigh defeating Nathan Reeves 17-15. But it was Paul Gothard’s 30-11 win over Roy Pickering which was the key difference for Highland White, who are just eight points behind Golf Blue in sixth.
DIVISION TWO
With a 29-point lead, Highland Red are set to enter the finals series as minor premier, especially after taking their 88-38 win over Dunolly Green.
The ladder-leaders dominated all facets of the game, with Albert Spencer defeating Aaron Britten 23-18, Tilleke Wadeson defeating Wayne Stephens 43-7 and Lawrence Barry defeating Wayne McLeish 22-13.
Elsewhere, 21 points separates second to fifth in what looks set to be a wild finish to the season.
Talbot Brown are currently in pole position to take the double chance, thanks to their 78-44 win over Maldon.
Ray Prentice’s 25-13 win over Annette Gillham and Barb Crossley’s 33-10 win over Eric Cook was all the ammunition they needed, while Maldon prevented the sweep thanks to Geoff Cobden’s 21-20 win over William Donlon.
Carisbrook moved up to third, but it was a tighter battle than expected with Newstead White, despite taking the sweep in a 62-51 result.
Malcolm Milne defeated Stuary Cochrane 21-16, while Ross Gregory defeated Peter Tangey 23-21. Ron Baker finished things off with a 18-14 win over Mark Leckey.
In a key battle between finals contenders, it was Avoca Gold which fired a psychological blow by moving into fourth courtesy of a 65-42 win over Maryborough Golf Gold.
Golf Gold picked up two points with John Scott’s 24-20 win over Geoff Loosmore, but it was all Avoca Gold on the remaining two rinks, with Loralee Field winning 25-6 over Trevor Young and Allyson Hearnden taking a 20-12 win over Ross Andrews.
ROUND 13
With the minor premiers all-but sorted, interest now turns to the structure of the remainder of the top four in both competitions.
Highland Tartan can virtually seal the double chance if they are able to beat stablemates Highland White, sitting 12 points clear of Avoca Red and 14 clear of Talbot Gold.
Avoca Red will be hoping to land a blow by defeating Dunolly Blue at Avoca as they seek the double chance, but Dunolly Blue will be hoping to ensure they are in peak form ahead of the finals.
Talbot Gold will be hoping to get themselves in the race for the double chance as they take on bottom team Dunolly Gold.
It’s a crucial round for division two as teams look to shore up their spots in the finals.
Centre of attention will be Highland Red taking on fourth-placed Avoca Gold, who will need to win to maintain their spot in the top four, while Highland Red will be keen to show why they should remain premiership favourites.
Carisbrook will be hoping to avenge their earlier loss to Maldon when they host the Dons with a finals spot on the line. Maldon are 25 points behind fourth-placed Avoca Gold, but can rocket into contention with a victory and other results going their way.
Talbot Brown can lock in their spot in the finals should they beat Dunolly Green at Dunolly, while they can firm as the team most likely to claim the double chance.
Maryborough Golf Gold will need to defeat Newstead White, and rely on either Avoca Gold or Carisbrook losing to move back into the top four with one round to go, but will be wary of a Newstead White team that has been much more of a handful than their last-place position on the ladder suggests.