-----------------TIM MURRAY PREVIEW ROUND SIXTEEN---------------------

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March 8, 2007

------------------ SEASON DEFINING MATCHES FOR EIGHT TEAMS


This Saturday brings the most important round of matches for 8 of the ten teams so far this season.

Five teams are striving for the top four and their ultimate position in that four whilst three other teams are trying desperately to stave off relegation.

The only game that appears to have no influence on the final outcome is the Gosnells vs Safety Bay game in which neither side will make the four or be relegated.

Victoria Park vs Thornlie
After an awesome 8-0 thrashing of Scarborough last Sunday, Victoria Park will welcome back the very talented Steve Withers. Victoria Park occupy top spot but by only one point over Dalkeith Nedlands but with an inferior percentage.

Thornlie hold 4th spot on percentage but South Perth (5th) have a game in hand. If Thornlie don’t win this one I fear they may not make the four. There we have it.
Victoria Park cannot afford to lose a rink let alone the game whilst Thornlie must win to keep their final four chances realistically alive.
I predict that the Graeme Wishart led Victoria Park “Reds” will overcome the Thornlie “Ravens” in a great game.

Dalkeith/Nedlands vs South Perth
Similarly Dalkeith/Nedlands need to win and win well to exert pressure on Victoria Park whereby South Perth must win to ensure they finish in the four. I think a top two finish is out of the “Millers” grasp now but any further losses may see them miss the four altogether.

Marko Krajancic Dalkeith (pictured) Marko has had an enormous season so far, and has recieved great support from his team, 13 wins 2 losses

I think Dalkeith will win this one because of the return to form of key rinks in Dinko Golem and Tony Skoric.

Warwick vs Kardinya
The bottom placed Warwick “Magpies” take on 3rd placed Kardinya who have been in spectacular form. If Warwick wins they live to fight another day but a loss will condemn them to demotion. If Kardinya win they will take a firm grip on the top four whereby a loss opens the door for Thornlie & South Perth.

Both teams would love to win but neither can afford to lose. I think Warwick at home may upset Kardinya and really make things interesting over the next two weeks.

Yokine vs Scarborough
8th Placed Yokine clash with 9th placed Scarborough in what is the biggest game both these clubs have played in all year. A loss by either side will be a blow in which they may not recover whilst the victors will probably celebrate long and hard into Saturday evening.

Star players Ron Kuziela (Scarborough) and Michael Yates (Yokine) have had miserable seasons by their own standards and I would love to see them clash. I am going for the home side but with a sense of sadness as a once great club (Scarborough) fall to a depth they have never known before.

If they lose it is the end of an era which brought us such great players as Dennis Katunarich, John Rainoldi, Lindsay “Neville” Thorn, Stewart Davies, Joe Rodin & Col Lindsay just to mention a few.

Gosnells vs Safety Bay

Both of these sides are safe from relegation but cannot make the four. I expect Gosnells to win at home.

NOTE TO BOWLS WA:

The three sides favoured to be demoted from One White this season are Warwick, Scarborough & Yokine (all North teams). Which One will you send south next year?
Poor old Midland/Morrison copped the rough end of the pineapple this year. Who will be the victim next year?
Another glaring example of the stupidity of the decision to change the Blue and Gold format.

Will fix table next week

One White Premiership Table
Club	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Rink Wins	For	Agst	Points	Per %
Vic Park	13	9	4			1100	981	68.5	112. 13
Dalkeith	14	10	4			1119	912	74 .5	121. 48
Sth Perth	13	9	4			1045	983	67	100.70
Thornlie	14	8	6			917	813	62	112. 89
Kardinya	14	8	5	1		989	1000	56	98. 90
Safety Bay	14	5	8			1002	1092	43	98. 63
Gosnells	14	5	7	1		1004	1083	45	89. 63
Yokine	14	4	10			992	1100	37. 5	88. 49
Scarborough	14	4	9			968	1043	36. 5	92 .78
Warwick	14	4	10			926	1105	30	87. 92