Murray's Preview on One Blue North.
Round Seven

December 15, 2005
This weeks fixtures shapes as the best so far this season. For the first time this season (and I am hoping to make it a weekly feature) we have had a pre-draw for the match of the day between second placed Osborne Park (5 wins, 1 loss, 36.5 points) & third placed Bassendean (5 wins, 1 loss, 36 points).

Before I commence on the preview I must give thanks to Steve Black (Manager- Bassendean) and John Goddard (Chairman of Selectors-Osborne Park) for granting permission for the pre-draw. Special thanks to Andrew Collings (BowlsWA) for facilitating this initiative and conducting the draw at Headquarters.

Game of the Day

Bassendean vs Osborne Park

This is going to be a beauty with the two teams separated by only half a point after 6 rounds. A win in these types of games is worth double points as it can put a very solid wedge between the teams. Both sides will be very keen to win this one.

Tom Norac vs Rance Dewson
Two class players with very good teams. Tom's record is 4-2 (plus 30 shots) whilst Rance is returning from First Division red action after having a 3-0 (plus 25 hots) in this division earlier in the season. In this one I favour Rance because his team is more experienced and Tom loses his third Marcel Heruer as Marcel is required to skipper another rink.

Tommy Norac (pictured) Top line Skipper for the Bassendean Bombers


Kevin Beaglehole vs Doug Eaton
Another ripper. I played against Doug two weeks ago and left very impressed with him and his team. However, I see he got mauled last week and Kevin with his record of 5 wins 1 loss (plus 37) is not the person to be playing if you are "in and out". I think Kevin is thriving in the role of skipper and his team will win this one in a very close contest.

Peter Maynard (pictured) terrific player for Osborne Park


Marcel Heruer vs "Chalkey" White
The good games keep coming. I always expected that Marcel would skipper sooner or later. I just thought it may be sooner. He plays his first game as skipper against a team that has lost only one game for the season and over the past couple of weeks would be "the form" team of the competion. On that basis I am picking "Chalkey" to win but not with a lot of confidence because Marcel is a class act.

John Lynch vs Dante Mariani
A fantastic game played between skippers of contrasting styles. Dante is more of a "big shot" player whereby John will just wear you down with relentless draw bowling. I have enormous respect for both players but I am selecting John to fall in.

I have absolutely no idea who is going to win because the ability of both sides is so even but I will give Bassendean the nod because they are at home. 6-2.

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Cambridge vs Bedford
Cambridge recent form has been terrible but they are fortunate to run into a Bedford side who are minus their best performed skipper. Dave Scott 5 wins 1 loss (plus 24)
has family commitments and will be replaced by the competent Brian Tupper. Whilst the game is at Cambridge I think Bedford's form has been solid enough to start them as favourites. Bedford 6-2.

Dalkeith vs Doubleview

Very hard to go past Dalkeith but if there is a side capable of defeating them it is Doubleview. Danny Slavich has been an outstanding success as a skipper for "the view" and with John Nicholls and Eddie Johnson expected to perform well they will push Dalkeith all the way. However the form of the Dalkeith teams and in particular Dinko Golem cannot be denied. Dalkeith 7-1

Morrison Park vs Sorrento

The winner of this game will be in 4th spot come Saturday night. Morrison Park have been inconsistent. From my reports they swing from being brilliant to being quite ordinary. On the other hand Sorrento have been quite consistent but need to rise to another level to challenge the top sides. This game will be a very good indicator to where both clubs are at. Sorrento to win 6-2.

Nollamara vs Sportsmen's

I am not talking tongue in cheek when I say this will be a terrific game. Nollamara have a genuine chance to open their winning account whilst Sportsmen's will not pull out any stops in their endeavour to win. A win to Sportsmen's will see them out of the relegation zone (something I thought impossible at the start of the year). This will be a game of pride versus will and I think Sportsmen's will win. 6-2


Tim Murray