OLD rivals Mildura Magic and Workers will do battle at Cureton Avenue on Saturday to determine who will take on the Irymple Suns in the Division One grand final next weekend.
Magic and Workers have a rivalry that extends back to last century.
Throughout the last two decades, these two clubs have been perennial opponents in the grand final, having met on 17 occasions, with the Magic holding the mantle.
Saturday, that rivalry goes up a notch as the two sides face off for a place in the final.
Workers will be up and about after their solid all rinks win over Ouyen last weekend and will be confident that they can get over Mildura, after their last home game went down to the wire.
A quick look at the player ladder on Bowlslink reveals that Workers have five players ranked in the top 20, while the Magic have seven.
Both sides have quality skips who can get the job done. The determining factor will be the battle between the leads and seconds. Mildura’s leads, Judy Osborne, Chris Richards and John Simpson, are all quality draw shot bowlers.
Not to be denied, Workers’ Mick Legin, Fred Bacon and Ron Archer are no strangers to the big stage. The side that gets a solid consistent start from the get-go can apply the pressure early and dictate terms.
Mildura are solid finishers and have a reputation of being able to conjure up victory from the jaws of defeat.
Saturday you can expect a quality final. Don’t be surprised if the match goes into extra time.
Division 2
NANGILOC front up to a rampant Irymple who will be cock-a-hoop after their broadside win over Red Cliffs last weekend.
The Nangiloc side boasts very strong top-end players, with Jamie Forte and Darren Kerslake combining well as a unit. Kerslake is strong on the draw at third and Forte is an aggressive playing skip.
Ben Mansell and Alan Erskine combine wisdom and youth while Wade Duncan and Toby Moore sit inside the top 10 players on Bowlslink.
For a small club, Nangiloc have punched solidly above their weight all season.
Irymple collected the points in the last home and away game against the Loc, winning on only one rink to get home by three shots.
Phil Newton’s rink of Gus Storer, Phil Connell and Chris Scott were the match winners.
Finals bring about a different scenario when your season is on the line. Win – play next week, lose – mothballs, pack your bags, season over.
The Suns’ John Harmer at skip adds experience with George Millward at lead, the two combine well. Graeme Phillips, Ian Kellett, Geoff Madigan and Wayne McDonald are all solid performers.
Irymple have won all three matches against the Loc this year and will start favourites.
Division 3
MINOR premiers Irymple front up to Underbool after narrowly going down to Ouyen by two shots last week end.
This will be a tough examination for both sides.
Irymple’s Peter Lambert, Tracie Metcalf, John Vuik and Gary Metcalf are all in the top 10 players across Division 3 this season. Not to be denied, Underbool are a side that has the potential to cause an upset.
Collectively driving 1000km each week for their away games, there is a lot of time for team bonding, match analysis and debriefs. The club boasts experience with Ray Gloster having played in excess of 600 games for the Bool, with three more generations of Glosters following suit.
The Suns have an unblemished record against Underbool and will start favourites.
Division 4
WENTWORTH Steamers take on the Euston Bandits for a battle royale.
Wentworth is a side with a wealth of experience and plenty of get up and go, well balanced across all rinks.
The Behsmann Brigade – Alan, Ivan and Jake bring plenty to the table. They will be contending against a side that boasts individual performers such as Glenn Scott and former international blind bowler Tony Scott, who both bring plenty to the table.
Euston have a nucleus of next generation players who they have been nurturing slowly. Wentworth have collected the points in all three home and away contests and will start slight favourites in a slug fest extraordinaire.
