BERWICK BOWLS
WEEKEND PENNANT
• Berwick 6 (Section Grand Final) def Cranbourne 4 (Away) 92-80
The sixes are the toast of Berwick this week! A sectional grand final win gave them and the club something to cheer about. All rinks performed brilliantly and the only loss was Avril Steere’s rink that went down by one shot. They’ve been the most stable of the eight sides this season with little to no movement of players for most of the year and it clearly showed. Experience is key at this time of the season and the sixes have it in spades so a sectional grand final win saw them progress to the Divisional Finals on Sunday. Congratulations to the 16 players that claimed victory; Judy Turner (L), Joan Marshall (2), Val Fowler (3) and Tony Wynen (S) who won 24-20, Leanne Kleverlaan (L), Martin Grindley (2), Helen D’Amelio (3) and Tom McDermott (S) who won 30-23, Peter Kirby (L), Annette Kirby (21), Ray Findlay (3) and Bruce Shearer (S) who won 20-18, and to Patrick Steare (L), Albert Bertoncello (2), Val Wynen (3) and Avril, Steere (S) that narrowly went down 18-19.
• Berwick 6 (Divisional Quarter Final) def Wallan 2 62-59 (Away)
And they just keep rolling on! Out at Ivanhoe against the unknown Wallan 2, the sixes had nothing to lose and went out on a mission! Did they deliver? Absolutely they did! Behind for most of the game the sixes pegged back the lead to hit the front in the last 15 ends and from there they powered home to get over the line by a slim three shots on the big board. The Tom McDermott rink went down by 10 shots but was very well covered by the other three rinks who continued to win ends in the latter part of the game to keep their noses in front. Pat Steere, Albert Bertoncello, Val Wynen – who was on fire all weekend – and Avril Steere won by eight to cover McDermott. Tony Wynen’s rink kept it close all day to go down by one shot and Peter and Annette Kirby, Ray Findlay and Brucey Shearer steadied the ship up front to win by eight as well.
So, the sixes now go to the Divisional Semi-Final this weekend. Venues are yet to be determined but we do know they’ll take on Moorabbin 4 and more than likely at a Mulgrave or Burden Park venue but we should know by Tuesday night.
The big flag, the Divisional flag is the one that all clubs are chasing and the sixes are right in this up to their eyeballs. Plenty of support over the weekend was greatly appreciated by the sixes and they’ll be expecting the same to help them over the line this week as well.
• Berwick 7 (Qualifying Final) def by Mulgrave Away
As we mentioned last week, the sevens were embroiled in an umpiring debacle that saw a decision to award the game to Mulgrave CC due to them winning two rinks to one but the overall score being a draw. Bowls Victoria staged a one-end play off of the three rinks at Burden Park on Wednesday night. Our sevens travelled to Burden Park as did Mulgrave CC for each rink to play one end and see who ultimately was awarded the win. It was a pretty sad result for the sevens as they went down across the three rinks by one shot and Mulgrave was awarded the match and on to the section grand final on Saturday. For the sevens, a fantastic year, backed up by last year’s great year and well done to everyone that played throughout the season. To finish on top and play two finals is a great effort.
• Berwick 1 def by Mitcham 71-94 (Away). Ladder: 5th
It was not the result the top side was hoping for on Saturday. We said at the beginning of the season that we would be in the top five – that was the aim anyway – and from there the make-up was unknown. We were right about that but were hoping that after a reasonably good start to the season we would play finals. The wheels began to fall off at Flemington in round six and then there were the very poor performances against Pakenham in Round 10 and Brunswick in Round 13. The latter two proved the difference as they were games that should have seen us grab the points, but again, attitude and shot selection was the downfall. It was a challenging year playing against clubs on the other side of the city but clearly capable was the top sides’ ability and that was definitely shown throughout the year. Now, the merry go round of player movements begin, across all clubs I guess. A good hard look at ourselves, realistically, our ability as a 16 and of course our want to play the club game for the club will be the telling story in the coming months when it comes to players coming and going. Disappointing not to play finals but a challenging and at times rewarding season overall.
• Summary
Overall, our weekend pennant season during home and away was fantastic with four out of eight playing finals. The ones probably should have, but let themselves down, the fives were in finals until the mishap of selectors in the final rounds, so a great season all in all after most sides went up divisions from last season. Our twos and fours bowed out in straight sets – which for both teams was heartbreaking – but as we’ve said, the home and away season means nothing once finals arrive and they’ve all had that confirmed. What’s next? A review of the season will be conducted by the selectors and some hard decisions to be made about personnel and some planning to begin for next season. A very competitive season by all and now we all rally behind the sixes this weekend to watch them battle it out for the big flag.
Well Done Berwick bowlers on a great season.
-John Rich-
