Murray's Preview on One Blue North.
Round SIXTEEN

 



GAME OF THE DAY
MAKE OR BREAK FOR BASSENDEAN & OSBORNE PARK

1st Round Osborne Park (7) 95 def Bassendean (1) 86

In what should be one of the best matches this season we have two very good sides pitted against each other. The season will be over for the loser of the Bassendean-Osborne Park clash. For the winner it will be a case of being able to fight another day.

Kevin Beaglehole Bassendean (Pictured) Been a very solid contributor over the years at Bassendean

Osborne Park have gone backwards in Round 2 for no apparent reason. They have a healthy supply of talented players and a couple of match winners in Keith Guelfi and Rance Dewson. However, these players are not performing at their optimum level and that is hurting Osborne Park's cause. Bassendean are equally talented with their big guns in Tom Norac, John Lynch and Marcel Heruer capable of carving up opposition sides. I think Bassendean's recent form is much better that their opponents and as such I am selecting them to take the points.

Bedford vs Cambridge

1st Round Cambridge (8) 92 def Bed (0) 63

I am not sure about many things but one thing I am sure of is that Bedford will not play Cambridge on the carpet.

In the first round Cambridge humiliated Bedford and the home team will be out to ensure that does not happen again. Led by Keith Cannon, John Dawson & Gary Hawkes, Cambridge at present are the best side in the competition. On that basis I think they will defeat Bedford but it will much closer that the last encounter.

Doubleview vs Dalkeith/Nedlands

1st Round Dalkeith (8) 90 def Doubleview (0) 66

When these two teams first met Dalkeith were clearly the best side in the competition. I have a sense that Dalkeith at present are "shaky" and have probably remained perched on top through a number of factors the least not being good luck.

Mike Coyne Doubleview (pictured) Mike loves his bowls and having a good year at Doubleview

Doubleview have a good side and are capable of taking this right up to the ladder leaders however I think that the old heads of Dalkeith particularly Krajancic & Golem will realise that a loss places them in serious jeopardy of not finishing on top. This would have been unthinkable to them for the majority of this season.

Sorrento vs Morrison Park

1st Round Sorrento (7) 91 def Morrison Park (1) 86

Both these clubs are now playing out time. We do not even have the thrill of trying to avoid relegation. Morrison Park are a good unit and whilst I am biased, Sorrento are a better side. However, Sorrento have a lot of "outs" this week and given that our second and third side cannot be touched because of demotion and promotion issues we are perhaps not as strong we would otherwise be.

Jim Welsh Sorrento (pictured) very handy player for the Sorrento Swans

Compounding that issue is that a lot of the players who are held in some esteem within the club are not playing well (myself included). For the sake of Ray "Mr Sorrento" Beard (who is playing very well) I believe we will lift. Ray is playing his last year with the club after he and his lovely wife Maureen have sold up in "God's Country" and become a Mexican "South of the Border". He will line up for Safety Bay next year.

Sportsmen's vs Nollamara

1st Round Nollamara (7) 88 def Sportsmen's (1) 74

Firstly, I apologise to Nollamara for not giving you due credit for your win over Sorrento last Saturday. You played well and thoroughly deserved your win. John Wardrop and John Ellis were particularly good.

This game will be a beauty. Whilst both sides will be relegated they have shown improvement as the season has progressed. After 4 rounds had been played Nollamara had not scored a solitary rink win whilst Sportsmen's were decimated by a mass exodus of players with a just a week leading into the season. This gave them no time to recruit.

Both clubs can be proud of their efforts and I hope they both finish the season in good style. However, in this game there will be only one winner. I am really unsure about this one but I will go for Sporties at 'the paddock". (Tell the green-keeper I am only joking and that Sorrento will look forward to it next week).

Tim Murray