THE Bendigo Bowls Division weekend pennant season returns on Saturday.
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Ahead of the re-start, here’s how each of the eight teams in division one is tracking.
- Numbers in brackets comparison to after eight games last season.
1 – BENDIGO EAST
The defending premiers sit at the top of the ladder.
Entered the season red-hot favourites to go back-to-back after some strong recruiting, but the Beasties haven’t had it all their own way so far, with two losses to South Bendigo and Castlemaine.
One of their recruits back to the club was David Keenan, who sits at the top of the skipper’s ladder.
Wins: 6 (-2)
Ladder: 1st (Same)
Points: 104 (-23)
Shots For: 808 (-7)
Shots Against: 668 (+20)
Shot Diff: +140 (-27)
Rinks:
David Keenan (12, +52)
Aaron Tomkins (12, +15)
Marc Smith (10, +56)
Darren Burgess (9, +17)
……………………………..
2 – BENDIGO
Played in three of the past four grand finals and right in the mix again with the foundation laid for a top two finish.
Had won four games in a row until a seven-shot loss to South Bendigo in the final round before the mid-season break halted their momentum.
Wins: 6 (Same)
Ladder: 2nd (Same)
Points: 102 (Same)
Shots For: 704 (-74)
Shots Against: 569 (-127)
Shot Diff: +135 (+43)
Rinks:
Ian Ross (12, +46)
Barry Anset (12, +21)
Andrew Brown (10, +53)
Tom Russell (6, +4)
……………………………..
3 – EAGLEHAWK
Here come the Hawks.
Questions were asked early in the season of could the club’s brilliant record of consecutive finals appearances stretching back to 2000 be coming to an end after it lost three of its first four games and was -58 shots.
However, the Hawks have since rocketed into third position on the back of four wins in a row by a combined 103 shots in which they have earned 65 of a possible 72 points.
Wins: 5 (Same)
Ladder: 3rd (Same)
Points: 83 (-7)
Shots For: 757 (-50)
Shots Against: 712 (-37)
Shot Diff: +45 (-87)
Rinks:
Brayden Byrne (12, +36)
Simon Carter (8, +25)
Ken Rusbridge (7, -18)
Tony Ellis (6, +2)
……………………………..
4 – SOUTH BENDIGO
From wooden-spooners last season to flag contenders this summer.
It has been quite the turnaround for South, which is in the top four and has won five on the trot, including victories over top two teams Bendigo East and Bendigo.
Coach Tom Hafey couldn’t quite take Collingwood from wooden-spooners in 1976 to VFL premiers in 1977 in his first year in charge.
But maybe Brad Holland can do it at South.
Wins: 5 (+4)
Ladder: 4th (+4)
Points: 82 (+52)
Shots For: 653 (+9)
Shots Against: 664 (-151)
Shot Diff: -11 (+160)
Skippers:
Ryan Tainton (12, +47)
Brad Holland (10, +32)
Liam Crapper (6, -35)
Greg Sherman (6, -44)
……………………………..
5 – INGLEWOOD
The perennial battlers were THE early story of the BBD when they won their first four games and sat at the top of the ladder.
However, the Woods have since lost their past four and slipped outside the top four.
The question now is can they regain their early-season form and get themselves a piece of long-awaited finals action?
Wins: 4 (+1)
Ladder: 5th (+2)
Points: 78 (+27)
Shots For: 715 (+38)
Shots Against: 745 (+43)
Shot Diff: -30 (+81)
Rinks:
Mal McLean (13, +20)
Daryl Rowley (9, +15)
Rob Day (8, -30)
Lindsay Kelly (8, -35)
……………………………..
6 – CASTLEMAINE
Season started well with four wins from its first six games, but lost its spot in the top four with back-to-back losses to Bendigo and Golden Square heading into the break.
Only 12 points outside the four, so still close enough to make a run at the finals for the first time in five years, particularly if the Maine can cash in on its four remaining games on its carpet greens at home.
Wins: 4 (+1)
Ladder: 6th (Same)
Points: 70 (+17)
Shots For: 729 (+1)
Shots Against: 699 (-133)
Shot Diff: +30 (+134)
Rinks:
Peter Brain (10, +15)
Rod Phillips (8, +14)
Ray McCumber (8, +13)
Luke Hoskin (4, -12)
……………………………..
7 – GOLDEN SQUARE
Tough season for Golden Square, which lost its first seven games before finally breaking through for its opening win against Castlemaine in round eight.
Square’s tally of 34 points is well short of its average of 76 after eight games over the previous five seasons.
Wins: 1 (-2)
Ladder: 7th (-3)
Points: 34 (-29)
Shots For: 672 (-42)
Shots Against: 796 (+57)
Shot Diff: -124 (-99)
Rinks:
Geoff Walsh (8, -15)
Daryl Cheeseman (8, -20)
Mal Finch (6, -22)
Trevor Schill (2, -67)
……………………………..
8 – KANGAROO FLAT
Mired to the bottom of the ladder with only win, which came against Golden Square, 95-88, in round three.
The Flat has been the “Richmond” of the BBD in recent years in regularly finishing one spot outside the finals, but this season it looks like it could be the wooden spoon.
Wins: 1 (-2)
Ladder: 8th (-3)
Points: 23 (-37)
Shots For: 627 (-132)
Shots Against: 812 (+73)
Shot Diff: -185 (-205)
Rinks:
John Berry (7, -30)
Ross Trevethan (2, -43)
Geoff Boyd (2, -49)
Max Watts (2, -63)