Hawks, Tigers in tough match-up

By Chris Mitchell

MATCH of the round in Sunraysia Saturday Pennant bowls will have Merbein taking on Red Cliffs at Kenny Park.

Red Cliffs sit in fifth place and are sure to be pressing to challenge the Hawks to replace them.

David Maud’s Merbein rink of Eric Watson, Allan Johnston and John Pineo will have different ideas and will lead the Hawks’ attack.

Maud’s unit sit in third spot on the players’ ladder. Laurie McLaine and Jeff Greenhill at home will add support to the unit.

Red Cliffs skips Michael Clifford and Maurie Press will need to have their teams firing along with Fred Giugno.

The Tigers have the capacity to take the game right up to the Hawks. With a spot up for grabs in the four, a handful of shots is likely to separate the two with the home side to take the points.

Top side Irymple host Ouyen at the Cauldron.

The contest will be tight, with Ouyen’s skips Alan Crook, Janet Vallance and Mick Donaghy working hard to bring the best out of their teams.

The Two Blues have some quality draw bowlers in Norm Latta, Geoff Hahnel and Ken Graham who all have the capacity to rake havoc.

It will be the Suns’ Graham Lynch, Chris Madigan, David Gray and Mick Legin who if on song will help keep the Two Blues at bay.

The Workers-Mildura derby at Cureton Avenue will be a solid contest.

Mildura will be without Ron O’Neil and Bernard McArthy, but will welcome the return of Lindsay Lynch.

Workers’ Peter Bishop has taken to the skipping role and is currently the best-performed skip for the Green and Gold.

Bishop’s four of Ken Job, Ron Archer and Ken Capper have performed consistently over the first three rounds.

Mildura will be stinging after their white-wash against Irymple last week and will be looking to return to the winners’ list.

Usually strong finishers in tight matches, the Magic will need to dip deep into their bag of tricks to resurrect their mojo and collect the points.

Division 2 side Ouyen play Nangiloc at Blackburn Park. The Two Blues are languishing at the bottom of the table and will be seeking to restore their season.

Nangiloc sitting in fourth place will have different ideas, keen to regroup and restore their standing. The visitors to take the points.

Mildura host Workers. The home side have the runs on the board and will be keen to keep their winning streak going.

Magic’s Jon Underwood has led the Magic to good wins and, with Rob Hanns and Judy Osborne, will help the home side to collect the points.

Top side Coomealla, so far undefeated, will face a solid test against Irymple.

The Suns will reappear from the clouds after their loss to the Magic and take the game right up to the Cannons. The home side to win.

In Division 3, Workers 3 face off against the Wentworth Steamers. The visitors will be looking to keep their winning run on track. Steamers to whistle.

Mildura 3 host Merbein 2 at Cureton Avenue. Home side to win in a tight one. Irymple 3 will be at home to Underbool. The ’Bool will go back to back and take the points.

Top side Euston at home to Red Cliffs 2 look to have enough in the tank to salute.

Fourth-division contestants Euston 2 will play Irymple 4 at Euston. The Suns should shine. Underbool 2 welcome Magic 5. A tough one to call. The ’Bool at home to win.

Mildura 4 host Red Cliffs 3 and will record a win. Coomealla 2 will play Euston 3 at the Dome. Cannons to fire.

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