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April 13, 2008
REPORT ON ‘ONE WHITE’ 2007 / 2008.
PREVIEW - THE FINALS
GRAND FINAL PROMOTION
YOKINE DOGGIES 72 (6) def THORNLIE RAVENS 69 (2)
Alan Davis (Sk) Juris Lorencs John Gallop Chris Busing ---------22
Paul Pohe (Sk) A. Petchell Jim Stein Andy Lill---------------------15
Scott Edmonds (Sk) D. Kellond Tony Kay Ian Goghill ------------13
Jim McKenzie (Sk) M. Hansen Rod Kimble J. Irwine---.----------17
Rod Heaton (Sk) Ian Cooper John Bills Bill Morrison ------------15
G. Vaughan (Sk) R. McMillian Ian Rewell T. Churcher -----------21
Jamie O’Keefe (Sk) A. Durrant J. McGrath Wayne Coffey---------22
Greg Reagan (Sk) T. McCormack J. Walker R. Halse--------------16
First and foremost –
‘Congratulations’ to both Yokine and Thornlie for making it to Sunday’s final. Naturally a further huge - ‘Congratulations’ - to the Yokine One White Team on winning the flag and in so doing gaining the other promotion to the Premier Division for next year along with Dalkeith-Nedlands.
Those who attended the one white final were treated to a great game of shot and counter-shot in a game that had everything and was played in great spirit. The ‘momentum shifts’ came without notice and caught many of us by surprise as teams lifted to the challenges they faced. It all made for a great ‘nail biting’ spectacle where the result went down to the very last end. The final result - two rink wins each and only three shots separating these two very worthy finalists.
I had predicted that Thornlie would feel the effects of Saturday’s very long and hard day at the office and for a little while it looked like I was right as Yokine got away to a 30 to 10 lead after 24 ends. However, the Thornlie Ravens soon found their feet and in no time were well and truly back in the fight big time at 38 to 38 after 48 ends and so it went from there.
Following on from what I wrote last night about Rod Heaton becoming either a motivational speaker and/or a fortune teller here is some of what he wrote leading up to the game so that those who missed it can see what I mean:
“The dogs run up to the finals has been less than impressive, recording 5 losses from the last 6 games. Thankfully so many other results went our way.
But... we all know that finals are a different story.
The finals weekend is where the results for the whole year come down to a few games, the winner being the best team in those few games” &
“The dogs know that teams on a winning run are only closer to a loss, and teams that haven’t had their season go to plan sometimes find that something special at the end.
I am sure the dogs have plenty left in their tank for this big weekend” &
“We all saw that the silvertails were the best team last year and faulted in the end in both finals” &
“Us doggies will take every opportunity that comes our way in the finals. Yes our form has sometimes been ordinary. Yes our team moral has been low. Yes our confidence in each other has wavered over the season.
BUT WE KNOW THERE IS NO TOMORROW; WE KNOW THAT NO PLAYER IS BIGGER THAN THE YOKINE BOWLING CLUB; THE PAST IS WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
SATURDAY IS OUR TIME IN THE SUN TO FINISH THE JOB WE STARTED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR; TO PLAY AS ONE UNIT; TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED IN PURSUIT OF OUR GOAL.
BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL SEE THE YOKINE THAT WE HAVE PROMISED TO SHOW ALL YEAR”.
Just outstanding stuff, or should I say an outstanding ‘script’ that panned out to perfection. So take a bow Rod because you were spot on and when you have a minute could you let me know next week’s winning lotto numbers please.
First rink off:
Alan Davis (Sk) Juris Lorencs John Gallop Chris Busing 22
Paul Pohe (Sk) Alan Petchell Jim Stein Andy Lill 15
This was a good battle. A steady start saw Yokine up 4 to 3 after four ends but then up 9 to 3 after six ends with Alan Davis in particular playing some very telling up shots. But slowly Paul Pohe and his boys started to claw their way back into the game and after the thirteenth end Thornlie were now in front 13 to 11 and it was Yokine’s turn to dig deep to find something extra.
After seventeen ends Yokine were back in front 17 to 14 and they held the lead to run out winners 22 to 15. Yokine by 7.
Next rink off:
Rod Heaton (Sk) Ian Cooper John Bills Bill Morrison 15
Glyn Vaughan (Sk) Ross McMillian Ian Rewell Tony Churcher 21
Again, close early with Yokine up 4 to 3 after six ends but then Thornlie in front 10 to 7 after twelve ends. All the guys up front were contributing which left Glyn and the Heater with ample opportunity to exchange conversion shots which is exactly what they did much to the pleasure of a good group of spectators.
Thornlie in front 13 to 10 after fifteen ends but come the eighteenth end and the score was tied at 14 a piece. With the Davis/Pohe rink completed and Yokine up by 7 shots Glyn and Co responded according with pedal to metal and ran out strongly to win 21 to 15 and in so doing just about evened the ledger. Thornlie by 6.
---------------------Glynn Vaughan and Jim McKenzie
---------------
These two boys have done a great job trying get the Thornlie Ravens over the line, even tho they have lost the game they are smiling here and as always are terrific sportsmen
Next rink to finish:
Scott Edmonds (Sk) Darren Kellond Tony Kay Ian Coghill 13
Jim McKenzie (Sk) Mick Hansen Rod Kimble Jim Irwine 17
In the last game the previous day at Dalkeith, Jim McKenzie got jumped early and found himself down 10 to 1 to Peter Bacich. Against Yokine’s in form Scotty Edmonds and Co McKenzie found himself down 9 to 1 after seven ends and 10 to 2 after nine and things were looking bleak. Scott was again playing well and so was his strong rink. But in a repeat of the day before, that saw me single out Jim McKenzie for special mention, he got that steely look on his face again and things started to happen.
Yokine still up 11 to 7 after fourteen ends but by end nineteen the scores were locked at 13 a piece. End after end McKenzie either converted, added or cut down the opposition’s shots. As hard as his own team and the opposition were trying there is not doubt that McKenzie was the difference on that rink from the ninth end to completion and they won the last two ends to win 17 to 13 and give the Thornlie club a chance at overall victory. Thornlie by 4.
To the last rink playing:
Jamie O’Keefe (Sk) Adrian Durrant John McGrath Wayne Coffey 22
Greg Reagan (Sk) Terry McCormack John Walker Ray Halse 16
This was a tight battle especially early on. Yokine up 6 to 3 after five ends but only 11 to 10 after eleven ends. By the seventeenth end O’Keefe and Co had skipped away to lead 20 to 12 so when the other rinks had finished Thornlie were up in the aggregate by 3 shots on the finished rinks but were down 5 shots taking this rink into consideration.
----------------------------------JOHN McGRATH
----------------
John McGrath has been a more than handy player since he arrived at Yokine a couple of years ago would be thrilled to be part of this great Yokine 16
The pressure was well and truly on Greg Reagan and his boys to try and bridge the gap and give the Ravens a sniff. It was 21 to 13 after nineteen ends but right on queue Thornlie lifted to grab 3 shots on the twentieth end to leave only two shots in the aggregate to the advantage of Yokine.
You couldn’t help but think about the incredible drawn match the day before that saw all 4 rinks back out there for an extra end each. The crowd of spectators and players went quiet and I saw several players put down their drinks in anticipation of getting their bowls back out.
Come the last bowl to be played by skip Greg Reagan and Yokine were holding 1 shot and the flag and promotion. Greg had to convert but getting to the shot bowl that was well covered was going to be the problem.
He gave his bowl, his team mates and his club every chance by getting his bowl into the head but just couldn’t do enough to turn it over. Yokine win the end, the rink and the match by 3 shots.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
THORNLIE RAVENS 85 (6.5 ) def DALKEITH SILVERTAILS 75 (1.5 )
Nearly 3.00pm was getting late to start another game, no lunch break for Dalkeith-Nedlands, people getting tired and emotions running high - boiled over for a few minutes. Words exchanged, voices raised, push came to shove and a Thornlie third on his bum on the green at the hands of a Dalkeith-Nedlands skip.
Plenty jumped in to keep a lid on it while a couple more brush fires broke out in the form of invitations to take it down the lane either immediately or after school.
Not much in it really and the ‘bum on grass’ was more due to lost footing than any ferocity in what was only a good push. Pretty soon ‘love’ was restored, except for a bit of verbal jousting that continued throughout the game between one player and one spectator who took exception at the ‘hands on’ approach.
To the game briefly because it’s now very late. Dalkeith-Nedlands got away to an early lead on two rinks in particular. Krajancic over Vaughan & Bacich over McKenzie, and it wasn’t looking good for the Ravens at all for a little while as Morgan also joined in with a lead over Pohe. But to their credit the Ravens hung in there and slowly worked their way back into the game and ran out winners.
Although I’m reluctant to single out any one Thornlie player in particular that contributed to the turn around because I could see it was across the board but I have to mention Jim McKenzie for playing about 4 huge conversions under much pressure.
So the big one tomorrow will be between Yokine and Thornlie and on today effort it’s very hard to pick a winner. I can’t sit on the fence so will select Yokine to win solely on the fact that they didn’t have to endure the late finish and all the physical and mental strain that went with it.
Paul Pohe (Sk) A. Petchell Jim Stein Andy Lill---------------------15
J. Morgan (Sk) R. Donald S. Back Vaughan Colley -----------------15
Jim McKenzie (Sk) M. Hansen Rod Kimble J. Irwine---.----------22
Peter Bacich (Sk) Mark Lindsay Alex Gryta Peter Gason---------14
G. Vaughan (Sk) R. McMillian Ian Rewell T. Churcher -----------21
M. Krajancic (Sk) V. Santostefano N. Sutton R. MacKenzie ------23
Greg Reagan (Sk) T. McCormack J. Walker R. Halse--------------27
T. Williams (Sk) J. McIntosh G. Wilson J. McCormack-----------22
FIRST SEMI-FINAL
THORNLIE 92 (3) def MORLEY 63 (1)
Forget about the ‘Ali Shuffle’ what about the ‘Morley Shuffle’ were my thoughts when I saw the makeup of their rinks. I was told the changes were due to a combination of injuries, illness, work and travel commitments. However despite the makeup of the new look rinks, Morley got away well early particularly on the Aungier and Neilson rinks where they established good leads.
Squaring the ledger for Thornlie was the Vaughan rink that also got away well from their opponents.
With 41 ends gone we saw three rinks just about level pegging but the Glyn Vaughan rink was the difference in favour of Thornlie being up 16 to 5.
The future the game went, however, the more Thornlie started to assert their authority on 3 of the 4 rinks while. The Neilson rink for Morley was flying the flag. Thornlie went on to win comfortably.
Paul Pohe (Sk) A. Petchell Jim Stein Andy Lill--------------14
W. Neilson (sk), J.Sheridan M. Robinson G. Britten -------24
Jim McKenzie (Sk) M. Hansen Rod Kimble J. Irwine---.----27
Peter Aungier (Sk)A. Barron A. Elmer Bill Urquhart -------17
G. Vaughan (Sk) R. McMillian Ian Rewell T. Churcher -----30
G. White(Sk) ) John Hall Mark Callcott Bob Giekie ---------10
Greg Reagan (Sk) T. McCormack J. Walker R. Halse--------21
G. Grieve (sk),Joe Heiden M. Ford Travis Ingram ----------12
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
YOKINE 83 (5.5) draw with DALKEITH-NEDLANDS (2.5)
Should Rod Heaton give up his day job and become a motivational speaker or a fortune teller? I reckon one of the two following what he wrote in his Yokine preview leading up to this game.
What a game and what drama towards the end. It was absolutely gripping. Any disharmony that may have affected Yokine during the home and away series was gone and from the outset the doggies were very vocal in their support of each other.
They got away well and for the majority of the game seemed to have Dalkeith-Nedlands in their keeping but mainly on the back of the Edmonds rink who were well in control over the Morgan rink from the start. After 45 ends there were three tight rinks but Edmonds was out in front 21 to 6.
The Marco Krajancic verses Jamie O’Keefe rink was falling further and further behind the others as end after end was killed. The further the game went on the closer the scores became. The Thornlie game and the other rinks of this game finished. Yokine hand a sizable lead going solely on the results of the three finished rinks thanks to the Edmonds and Co while Marco and Jamie still had about six ends to play.
On the second last end Jamie’s rink dropped a 4 to hand Dalkeith- Nedlands the overall aggregate lead by 3 shots and it looked like curtains for Yokine. However Jamie and his boys fought back and after the last bowl was played Jamie was holding two shots and a measure. When the players couldn’t separate the third bowl the umpire was called. It was clearly very close but the umpire finally gave the third shot to Yokine to the cheers of the doggies and they lived to fight on from a 80 shot each draw.
That meant all 4 rinks were to play a final further end. You could feel the tension with every bowl and every end was a beauty.
First end completed - Davis by 1 for Yokine. Second end completed – Morgan one for Dalkeith-Nedlands. Third end completed and again only one shot in the result – O’Keefe 1 for Yokine. Again drama – the players couldn’t separate the shot bowl on the Williams verses Heaton rink so again to the umpire.
If one to Dalkeith-Nedlands they would have to play another extra end each and it was already nearly 3 o’clock.
One to Yokine and they win the match. After another careful measure – YOKINE Win
Jamie O’Keefe (Sk) A. Durrant J. McGrath Wayne Coffey---------13
M. Krajancic (Sk) V. Santostefano N. Sutton R. MacKenzie ------21
Scott Edmonds (Sk) D. Kellond Tony Kay Ian Goghill ------------29
J. Morgan (Sk) R. Donald S. Back Vaughan Colley
----------------16
Alan Davis (Sk) Juris Lorencs John Gallop Chris Busing
---------14
Peter Bacich (Sk) Mark Lindsay Alex Gryta Peter Gason
---------18
Rod Heaton (Sk) Ian Cooper John Bills Bill Morrison -------------24
T. Williams (Sk) J. McIntosh G. Wilson J. McCormack------------25
EXTRA END PLAYED
YOKINE 3 DALKEITH 1
YOKINE DAVIS 1
YOKINE O`KEEFE 1
YOKINE HEATON 1
DALKEITH MORGAN 1