MILDURA Workers sit three points shy of the top four in Bowls Sunraysia’s Division One Saturday Pennant competition.
That means a club with a solid tradition of making finals are staring down the barrel of missing postseason action this year.
Their opponents Merbein have been full on prior to Christmas taking Mildura to the edge only to lose by one-shot and then turning over last years premiers, Irymple by three.
The Hawks are up and about and see 2024-25 season as theirs to claim a stake of the action. Their last finals appearance would be a sore point for the Hawks faith-full losing to Mildura by a massive 56 shots.
Their younger bowlers are being given the chance to take front stage with the likes of Jack Anderson, Laurie McLaine, Evan Rice, Mark Butcher and Jamie Knudsen moving through the ranks and now stand tall and producing under pressure.
Workers at home are a different team and will present well, but the Hawks keen to see finals action will prevail.
In the second game of the day, Red Cliffs welcome Irymple to Tiger Park but it remains to be seen where this match will be played.
Yes at Red Cliffs, but will it slip out to B Green which runs a good two seconds quicker than the front green. That requires a brain conversion.
Speed of the green and then the mental process to focus ability to line and length, good weight control and a solid team effort.
Red Cliffs caught Irymple short in round two recording a 16-shot win.
This weekend the Suns will be hunting for top spot and expect a solid Sun shine.
In game three Mildura at home to Ouyen.
The Two Blues occupy third spot, six points clear of Merbein. If the Hawks get over Workers and the Two Blues lose it’s game set and match.
If Workers lay the Hawks low and the Two Blues defeat the Magic; the season revitalises.
The Magic sit top of the table and won’t be in any hurry to surrender top spot.
Norm Latta has added a cog to the Two Blues gear box finishing runner up in the Champions of Champion singles. He adds much to the program playing third to Alan Crook.
Whoever draws the Crook rink will be in for a solid days bowls and the magic should prevail by a single digit.
In Division Two Irymple are at home to Workers and the visitors need a big win to look at finals opportunities. Suns to shine again.
Coomealla sit on top of the table will play Nangiloc at Coomealla on Friday night with clubs embracing the opportunity to play evening games.
The Nangiloc side can produce an upset. They have youth, skill and ability on their side, but can they adapt ?
Finally Mildura will welcome Ouyen to Cureton Ave on Saturday. Mildura will win.
Division Three action sees ladder leaders Wentworth take on the Euston Bandits at the Bandit Hideout with match will be pivotal to Wentworth.
A win proves their ladder leader status but the Bandits have the players to make a serious contest. A Bandit win would not surprise.
Meanwhile Workers take on Red Cliffs at home and Workers to prevail.
Irymple and Merbein will be fighting for survival. A win leads to hope and glory – a loss: auf wiedersehen and good night. Toss a coin.
Underbool hosts Mildura to the heart of the mallee and both sides will be powering along to secure a finals appearance. The Magic have the score on the board. The better side will win.
Lastly Division Four season looks done with two rounds left to play.
Top side Coomealla are 18 points clear of Mildura 4. Then the race hardens up with Mildura 4 and Irymple 4 are separated by only 6 points.
Euston and Mildura 5 sit together on the same points. With 2 teams in the Division and both sides playing each other it will be interesting to see the outcome of this weekend’s results.
Coomealla play Irymple 4 with Cannons to fire, Euston Bandits 2 host Bandit 3 with two to win, Mildura 4 take on Mildura 5 and four should win, and Underbool host Red Cliffs with the Kangas by a hop.
