Men's Pennant Wrap

Metro Pennant Wrap Close finish in Premier League

Another great season of The Professional’s Men’s Saturday Pennants came to a close with two days of bumper finals day action across multiple venues on Saturday the 2nd April and Sunday the 3rd April. Congratulations to all those that made it to finals and to the winners of the Pennant.

Premier League

The Professionals Men’s Premier League came to its ultimate conclusion on a warm and humid day at Yokine Bowling Club, Sunday 3rd April.

The season had been a very interesting one with Doubleview, Cambridge and South Perth all sitting at the top of the ladder through out the year but ultimately it would be Manning who would steal the show in the finals defeating all three to claim their third title in the last eight seasons.

Doubleview Bowling Club hosted the opening finals rounds on the Saturday after defeating Cambridge in the last home and away round, and they would have been bitterly disappointed to end the season with consecutive defeats to South Perth and Manning on their home track.

South Perth accounted for them in the morning match comfortably 89-67 whilst at the same time Manning eked out a narrow 6 shot win over Cambridge. With the winner to face South Perth in the grand final Manning proved too good for Doubleview 86-62 to go into the grand final with plenty of confidence.

South Perth who had tasted defeat in grand finals on a number of occasions would have been hoping this was going to be the day they would break through for another flag having last won the title in 1970/71 however right from the start it was Manning who played the better bowls on the day.

The rink of Trewhella, Butler, Ker and O’Brien burst out the blocks scoring multiples on several ends to quickly lead the Pauling rink by double digits and with the other Manning teams all playing strongly Manning had built a 38 shot lead approaching the half way mark of the contest.

To the credit of South Perth they then lifted, the rink of Brown, Such, Antonio and Galipo who had earlier dropped a 6 to the Knott team of Jones, Ellis and Angel was able to score a big end of 7 and then followed up with a 5 a few ends later to help narrow the margin.

Pauling was able to close the margin on Trewhella and Opie picked up some shots against a very steady Tom Mitchell skipped side along with Ross Bresland’s rink grabbing a much needed count of 4 for them through out the next hour of play saw the margin narrow right down to just 12 shots with around 15 ends to play.

• Manning – Premier League Pennant winners.

The most unlikely comeback looked a possibility but the Mitchell rink of Grigg, Hogg and Kemp closed out there win over Opie, Kinnane, Manton and Griffin by 8 shots and Daniel Trewhella drew shot on the last end of his match it was the final nail on the coffin leaving the superbly led Will Hyatt rink with the dynamic play of David Downey along with Alan Heal and Mitchell Walker to close out the match with a 7 shot win over the Bresland rink.

Manning were duly presented with the Professionals Men’s Premier League flag and shield with former international cricketer Brad Hogg in just his third season of bowls taking the microphone on behalf of the club.

Whether it was real or the thrill of the moment Hogg claimed the pressure and the atmosphere of the final was as intense as any sporting moment he had been in, which is amazing consider he won a World Cup with the Australian cricket team.

1st Division White

Gosnells are The Professionals 1st White champions for 2021-22 as they claimed the title over Mt Lawley by 12 shots. Amazingly had they bounced back from a 30 shot defeat to the same team the previous day. Mt Lawley had been the best team all season finishing the year clear on top of the ladder however the Gosnells players showed they were up for the challenge as they played great bowls in the grand final to claim the title.

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• Gosnells – 1st Division White Pennant winners.

Men’s Pennant Wrap 1st Division White

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The Gosnells rink of Nicol, Harris, Anderson and Deas had a brilliant last two matches of the year with a 35-9 preliminary final effort getting them to the grand final were they backed it up with the 25-11 win against Mt Lawley in the final.

Mt Lawley whilst perhaps disappointed with their grand final effort will however but absolutely thrilled to have secured a return to the top grade of Premier League.

Whilst officials records are hard to find it is believed 202223 will be the first time they have done so since the last 1960s. Gosnells return to Premier League for the first time since 2005-06.

1st Division Blue

The 1st Division Blue grand final is always an interesting one as it pits the best teams from North and South against each other. Joondalup showed they are a club on the rise having first entered a team in 5th division in 1996 have reached their highest point yet claiming the 1st Division Blue flag and move into 1st White next season. A mixture of good recruiting and home grown talent got the job done for them against a very gallant Kalamunda side in the final 98-63.

Joondalup boost 5 father and son pairings through all divisions which include two skippers in Wayne and Wes Neilson in their top side. Wes Neilson’s rink ultra impressive defeating Bill Brandsma 25-11 whilst Wayne Neilson’s rink who jumped out the blocks to lead 13-0 head on for a 19-18 victory. Ben Leggett was another big winner 30-13 whilst his father was playing third for Shane Rixom who provided a clean sweep for Joondalup winning 24-21.

Both these teams will progress to 1st White next year. Warnbro and Quinns Rocks will also remain in 1st White surviving their challenge playoffs against the 1st Blue teams of Swan and South Perth.

2nd Division

The final four for 2nd Division were Safety Bay 1, Victoria Park Carlisle, Forrestfield and Districts, and Cambridge, with each club looking to win the 2nd Division for the first time in a number of years. The Semi Finals saw Victoria Park Carlisle play Safety Bay 1, and Cambridge face Forrestfield and Districts.

Cambridge were victors against Forrestfield & Districts with a 12 shot win, only losing one rink by just 1 shot. The Semi Final between Victoria Park Carlisle and Safety Bay 1, was an absolute nail bitter, with Victoria Park Carlisle securing the aggregate keeping it tight and winning just one rink by 15 shots to drag them over the line to win by just 2 shots.

With the Final set as Victoria Park Carlisle vs Cambridge it was anyone’s Pennant to win. With three rink wins under their belt, Victoria Park Carlisle claimed the 2nd Division Pennant Flag for the first time since 2006.

Safety Bay 1, Victoria Park Carlisle, Cambridge, and Forrestfield and Districts will look to make their mark when they join 1st Division next year. Fremantle, Hilton Park and Doubleview all retain their spots in 2nd Division with North Perth providing the upset and winning their challenge finals to join 1st Division next year, whilst Morley come down to 2nd Division.

• Joondalup – 1st Division Blue Pennant winners.

3rd Division

The final four were determined with each team leading their respective ladders comfortably, the teams of Perth & Tattersalls, Rockingham, Midland Morrison and Joondalup 2. The Semi Final line up saw Rockingham take on Perth & Tattersalls, and Joondalup 2 face off against Midland Morrison, all taking place at Joondalup Bowling Club.

Both games were won comfortably, with Perth & Tattersalls defeating Rockingham by 26 shots, and Joondalup 2 overcoming Midland Morrison by 14 shots.

The Final was a closely fought contest with one rink ending in a draw, but in the end Joondalup 2 continued the clubs winning ways winning by 12 shots against Perth & Tattersalls another club on the rise in recent times.

As well as participating in the Pennant Final, Perth & Tattersalls, Rockingham, Midland Morrison and Joondalup 2 have earnt the right to join 2nd Division next season, bringing an injection of new blood into the division. Another four teams will also move up a grade after the promotion finals.

Manning played off against Kalamunda to see who else could join the ladder toppers into 2nd Division. In the end Manning earned the right with just a 5 shot win with two rinks decided by just 1 shot each.

Hilton Park and Rossmoyne faced off for a spot in 2nd Division with Hilton Park claiming glory by 14 shots with a 10 shot rink win helping push them over the line.

Glen Forrest and Lake Monger battled it out to earn promotion and saw Lake Monger winners by just 4 shots, despite Lake Monger having a 37-10 rink win, Glen Forrest put up a valiant effort to fight back and gave it everything they had.

Merriwa AFA and Sorrento were the final sides to contest for a 2nd Division spot. Merriwa AFA put out an absolutely dominating performance against Sorrento defeating them 10159, with each Merriwa AFA rink scoring over 20 shots each. – continued page 22…