-------------------------TIM MURRAY REVIEW ROUND FOUR----------------------

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November 20, 2006

With four rounds now complete the competition is well and truly taking shape as the most even in this division for many years. It appears the only safe prediction is that the Scarborough “Seagulls” will be relegated to First Division Blue for the first time in this great club’s proud history.

The two sides promoted from First Division Blue in Dalkeith/Nedlands (North) and South Perth (South) hold first and third position respectively and if the weekends form is any guide they will not relinquish those positions easily.

South Perth 91 (8) def Safety Bay 64 (0)
Whilst I tipped South Perth to win this one, I did not expect them to whitewash Safety Bay down at the Bay. They are travelling extremely well and will be a force to be reckoned with.
Larry Bandy continues his astonishing run of form now having won 14 games one loss and drawn one game in his last 16 outings as a skipper. Safety Bay will rebound because they just have too much ability and experience not to.

Thornlie 89 (7) def Warwick 81 (1)

An important win to Thornlie particularly given the game was played at Warwick. Thornlie are another team with a genuine claim to a top four finish this season.

Ross McMillan (pictured) Has been a terrific player over the years for Thornlie

A concern for the Warwick selectors will be the form of John Mather’s rink. For the second successive week John’s rink has suffered a heavy defeat costing the side any chance of winning the aggregate.
Warwick are fortunate in that they have a fair deal of flexibility in their playing group.

Victoria Park 91 (7) def Kardinya 80 (1)

As expected “the Reds” proved a little too strong for Kardinya at home. The rinks of Thomas Mitchell & Graeme Wishart proved the difference with a 29 shot advantage.
Jeff Mitchell defeated the talented Tony Cocodis by 2. Probably the biggest surprise came in the form of Steve Withers rink. With Mark Simpson, Kevin Beaglehole and Phil Long it looks on paper to be Victoria Park’s strongest rink.
However, the game has never been played on paper and they were thrashed by 15 shots by their Kardinya counterparts.

Dalkeith/Nedlands 77 (7) def Yokine 72 (1)

Whilst the aggregate score line is close Dalkeith won handsomely on three rinks. The Yokine rink led by Tony Kay had a whopping 22 shot win over Tony Skoric to tidy the scoreboard up.
Dalkeith will finish near the top of the table and I have not given up on Yokine just yet either. However, Yokine must win their next three matches South Perth (away) Kardinya (home) Scarborough (away) to gather the momentum to seriously challenge for a top four spot.
By my mathematics, a loss in any of these games will seriously harm their chances of a top four finish.

Gosnells 88 (7) def Scarborough 60 (1)

I fear that Gosnells drove the first nail into Scarborough’s coffin on Saturday. Even this early in the season it is difficult to see how Scarborough is going to accumulate seven wins for the season.

A rule of thumb is that generally seven wins in a season will stave off relegation, however, with the competition being so close this year it may require eight wins. It does not augur well for “the Seagulls” that they could not defeat an undermanned Gosnells on the weekend.
With two of their best players in Robbie and Bert Cruikshank missing Gosnells still had too many guns for the gulls. Newly promoted skipper Dennis Corby showed ex State player Ron Kuziela no respect at all with a 30-6 demolition. As all good mates do when they read a friend has been thrashed by such a margin,
I rang Ronnie today to offer my heartfelt sympathies (sort of). The former State Singles, Masters Singles, Consistency Singles, State Fours and Australian Fours champion advised that Dennis had a “day out” and it was impossible to hold shot against him.

TIM MURRAY