Men’s Division Four Promotion.
Played 27th March
Our Division Five guys who have had a very commendable year and played off against a strong Quinns Rocks team to gain promotion to Division Four in the last Pennant Game of the year held at Joondalup. This was a very tight and exciting game with Joondalup winning by only two shots.
The Greens Committee presented a lovely green for the final and the Match Committee set up a pleasant environment with an outside bar and free sausage sizzle for Joondalup Spectators. It was very pleasing that a large number of Joondalup members attended to support our guys.
The game got under way in lovely conditions for spectators but a tricking wind for the Players. Unfortunately everyone’s favourite man in Frank Arias had an injury that flared up in the warm up and he tried to continue in a gutsy effort but the issue was too severe to continue. Many thanks to Quinns Rocks who agreed that Mike Wickings could come into the side and replace the injured Frank.
Skipper Chucky and his team got off to a flyer playing very good bowls. His team of Colin Bailey, Roy Sutcliffe and Brian Vandervelde started very well but went off the boil when the opposition rallied late in the game and the win was not looking good.
Vern Jones with Mike Wickings, Shane Nelligan and Nigel Poulton played very well and it was nip and tuck early. All played some exception bowls to keep in touch but the opposition were also playing very well and had their noses in front. John Cooper with his team of Con Parker, Mike Batka and Ray Lane had a great day and all bowled extremely well to be far too good for the opposition. Even with John Cooper’s teams large lead the game came down to the wire in the last end.
Joondalup was only one point in front of the opposition with all teams playing the last end. Chucky and his team who had been struggling were able to get bowls into the head but were one shot down and holding two seconds. Skipper Chucky with one bowl left pulled out a great shot and removed the opposition shot bowl and they won that end by three shots. Great shot Chucky.
Vern and his team had a very tight last end with the opposition holding a sitting toucher and a couple of second shots. In a great bowl Vern came in and sat on the toucher to reduce the oppositions win down to one shot.
John Cooper and his boys had a good last end with the opposition also holding shot but Joondalup had bowls very close. In a very smart move John did not use his last bowl and Joondalup won the aggregate by two shots. What a great effort all day but especially the last end with two great shots from the Skippers.
All players played well and all appreciated the enthusiastic support from the Joondalup crowd. Congratulations to our Fifth Division Guys who did the club proud and gained promotion to Division Four next Season.
Many thanks again to the Green Keeper Craig and his team of Volunteers for presenting a lovely playing surface for the final. Thanks to the Match Committee for setting up the pleasant facilities next to the green and the great crowd that turned up to support the guys. It made them feel special.
The Phantom is now returning to the Skull Cave for a well-earned rest.
The Phantom
Men’s Saturday Pennants review for 2021
Submitted by the PHANTOM
The Saturday pennants were an interesting competition for the Joondalup Bowling Club. There were some very encouraging performances and some disappointing outcomes at the end of the season. Our Division Five team did very well and gained promotion to Division Four in a great outcome for the Club
With the success of our teams in the Mid Week Competition and the performances on the Saturday Competition, Joondalup is now not seen as just a Club up North but a very strong Club with excellent facilities and it is a club that you cannot take lightly and you have to be at your best to beat us on any level at home.
Division One Blue.
Our Division One guys had a very good year playing in this high level of competition. The Club welcomed a number of new players into this level and they all contributed and most of all they all fitted in well with everyone. New Players to the Club, Patrick Daley, Tom Dangerfield, Tom Vlahos, Trevor Vellios and Chris Street all had a part to play in the successes of our division one team. The team finished fifth on the ladder but right up to the last game they had a big chance of securing second or third position to get into the challenge finals and a possible promotion to Division One White. Unfortunately they did not perform at the level required in the last game and they finished five and a half points shy of second spot. This is an admirable effort at this level. They also gave the opportunity to develop some younger players which is a great step for the future. During the season they played twenty three players and they won nine of the eighteen rounds and drew one game.
The most impressive thing about this team is the way they all gel and combine as one identity before, during and after the games and their support for the other grades is impressive. This is an excellent trait that hopefully will filter down to the other grades next season. The regular rink of Jimmy Buchanan, Michael Korycin, Eugene Dardengo and Martin Cheesman had a very good year winning seventy five percent of their games. They were closely followed by Ben Leggett, Mike Wyndham, Patrick Daley and Jon Hunter as the most successful players during the season. Well done guys and thank you all for your efforts. Stick together and do the club proud once again next year as we look forward to the ongoing development of the younger players to make you a stronger team next season.
Division Two
This Division was an extremely disappointing season after being promoted last year only winning three of the eighteen rounds and finishing last to be relegated back to Division Three next season. Basically Joondalup had a very similar team that had very good success at this same level in the mid-week competition. This just amplifies the huge level difference between the Thursday and Saturday competitions. They had a big chance to avoid relegation with three or four rounds to go but unfortunately some bad losses in these rounds sealed their fate and they did not get off the bottom of the ladder. They played thirty six players during the season in an attempt to get back into the winning circle. This is a positive thing to give exposure to players at this level so the new players can identify what is required to play at this level and higher. The regular team of Keith Willett, John Wills, and Don Pike had a good year winning more than sixty percent of their games. Joe Wedlock, Kim Oakley, Wayne Skipper and Brett Driscoll also had a competitive year. You were too good in Division Three last season so rally and win again next season and get back to this level of competition.
Division Three had a very competitive year; they finished forth on the ladder by only two points from a promotion final. They won three games pre-Christmas and six after the break. They had a chance up to the last round to get into the promotion play off albeit a miracle had to happen and a miracle nearly did. Joondalup had to win all eight points on the last game and Yanchep had to lose all eight. Joondalup won seven and Yanchep managed one point so our guys missed out of the play offs by two points. A disappointing result but an admirable year. They played thirty four players during the season with young Josh Vlahos, Jeff Clarke, John Bartlett, Bill Brown, Andrew Groves, Pap John Kalajzic and Chris Lewis all having a very good year to be listed high in the players ladder on Bowls WA. Well done guys.
Division Five had a great year and is the sad story of the Club. They were on top of the ladder for most of the year and had to win at least two rinks in the last game of the year to secure that top spot but unfortunately they missed out of a possible pennant final and automatic promotion to Division Four by half a point. This was a gut wrenching result as they missed out on the flag play off by the smallest of margins. You may be gutted guys but you can hold your heads up high as you did yourselves and the club proud. They played thirty one players during the season with skippers in Chucky, John Cooper and Verne Jones doing very well. Players Brian Vandervelde, Colin Bailey, Nigel Poulton, Roy Sutcliffe, Shane Nelligan, Mike Wickings and Ray Lane all had a good year and are high in the Bowls WA rankings. However the team did a wonderful effort in winning the promotion final against a tough Quinn’s Rock team. They won by two shots to be promoted to Division Four next season. Well done on a very commendable year guys.
Division Six is a great story for the Joondalup Bowling Club. This year the team was mostly made up of first year bowlers who have represented the Club very well. Bert Neutgens did a great job guiding this team in the fine art of Pennant bowling. Anthony Phillips a first year bowler took on the awesome responsibility of command playing as skipper all year and he and his team of Blignault Olivier, Larry Young and Ian Griffin did very well only losing four games for the year. Others to do very well were Clive Tipper, Richard Gower, CJ Smith and Ren Plummer. Well done guys you did a great job and you should be very proud of yourselves. We look forward to your development and playing in higher grades next season.
Summary
With the success or our top level on both the Mid-Week and Saturday Competitions along with the excellent conditions of our greens Joondalup is a very attractive option for players who live north and play at other clubs. With the development of the younger players and the fantastic development of all the new players, the club has an excellent future. This year we had thirty six men players available to play in the novice competition. This is unheard of and a big envy of other clubs. Division Six success is a great thing for our club as these players have the potential to bolster our top division teams.
Well done to all players this season you have conducted yourselves admirably. Keep up the great work next season and we will continue to advance and develop this great club.
None of the successes this year could have been achieved without the great work of the Green Keeper Craig with his assistant Wes and their group of volunteers and also Chris Leggett as Greens liaison. Sincere thanks to the committee of management who ensure the club is a safe and happy environment. Thanks to the coaches in Geoff Stevenson, Eric Buck and Dave Urquhart.
Special mention must go to the Selectors with Ben Leggett as Chairman, Lance Farrow, Dave Urquhart, Eugene Dardengo, Geoff Stevenson and John Ferguson. This is a tough and sometimes thankless task. The results this year are an indication that the Selection Panel did a great job.
MEN’S MID-WEEK PENNANT FINALS AND PROMOTION FINALS
3rd Div and their Pennant flag
Div 2 winners promoted to Div 1 North
Div 2 winners promoted to Div 1 North
Another great day for the Joondalup Bowling Club with all mid-week teams being promoted and one pennant flag to add to the Division One flag last week.
Promotion
Division Two guys travelled to Osborne Park to take on Division One side Dalkeith Nedlands in a promotion/relegation final. In windy conditions Joondalup all played very well and came away with a good win by thirteen shots. This win has elevated the Division Two team to compete in the Division One Blue section next season. The Club now has two teams in Division One on a Thursday. Dave Webber with Trevor Vellios, Wayne Skipper and Kim Oakley had a very good day and got off to a flyer being fifteen shots to three early in the game. The opposition fought back but our guys were too good in the end and won by nine shots in a very good team effort as all played exceptionally well. Joe Wedlock with Clive Raymond, Doug Peck and Harry T played a very tough team and were well done early but in typical Joe and boys fashion they fought back with some excellent saving bowls and only went down by seven shots in a commendable effort. Keith Willett with Brett Driscoll, Lance Farrow and Geoff Stevenson had a tight tussle early against a formidable opponent. Our boys rallied and took the game away from Dalkeith and won by eleven shots in a splendid effort. Geoff Stevenson continued his great form and Keith was once again special. Great effort to all players you certainly did the club very proud. Sincere thanks to the supporters who travelled to Osborne Park to support our guys. It was much appreciated.
Pennant Flag and Promotion.
Division Three you beauty.
Our Division Three Boys joined our Division One guys with a Pennant win in a great and very exciting win against East Fremantle played at Joondalup. It was a very exciting game with Joondalup looking like taking the win late in the game but the opposition fought back and at the end of play the scores were tied at fifty eight shots each.
Div 2 winners promoted to Div 1 North
Div 2 winners promoted to Div 1 North
Div 2 winners promoted to Div 1 North
All rinks returned to the Greens and our boys did very well in a one end play off and won by nine shots. Allan Covell with John Ferguson, PaPa John Kalajzic and Tom Dennett did very well and won the twenty one ends by three shots with Skipper Allan playing a great last bowl to cut down a winning margin and take shot. They also won the extra end by one shot.
Jeff Clarke with Roy Moss, Kev Gray and Alan Taylor had a tight contest with all playing well. At the end of the twenty one ends they won the rink by two shots. They also won the extra end by two shots. The Team of Scott Baldock, Dave Kemp, Tony Mirto and Dave Farrow had a tough game in the first twenty one ends against a very good opposition and went down by five shots. They went into the extra end and in true gutsy fashion they won the extra end by an impressive six shots. What a great effort by all. You are all now Pennant Flag heroes.
Pennant Flag and Promotion.
Division Five what a story. Our guys have been wonderful all season finishing on top of the ladder and gaining automatic promotion to Division Four next season. They earned themselves a bye in the first round of finals and they were to take on the very strong South Perth Club at the Joondalup Greens in the Pennant Final. This was a very tough day for our guys as South Perth fielded a very strong team that have experience at much higher levels. But that is bowls.Harry Pickford, Roy Sutcliffe, Pim Schook and Nigel Poulton played very well and went down by seven shots. Chuck Honeycutt with Brain Vandervelde, Shane Nelligan and Mal Grant also had a tough opponent and they all tried very hard but went down by six shots. John Cooper and his team of George Smart, Mike Wickings and Colin Bailey have had an excellent year together but this game was very tough against a very highly ranked team and they went down by twelve shots.A great effort all year to finish on top of the table and get auto promotion and make the Pennant Final. The Club is very proud of you and you can certainly hold you head up high. The Phantom
1st Blue Division Pennant Flag
Played 19th March
The Blooms the Chemist Men’s Midweek Pennant flag was presented yesterday with the 1st Blue final held in fabulous weather conditions.
In 1st Blue it was Joondalup versus Leeming after both teams finished on top of their respective North and South Divisions. Osborne Park was the neutral venue and the game was played on a very quick green which ran superbly.
Joondalup had claimed top spot in 1st Blue North on the very last game of the season getting maximum points to leapfrog Swan who were defeated in the last round. Joondalup finished on 72pts for the year whilst Leeming had finished the season on top with 70pts but with a shaky end to the season losing to bottom place Warnbro in Round 18.
The final was a real beauty and both teams gave it their all across the 21 ends and three rinks. The game was in the balance for a lot of the match and level with just two ends to play but Joondalup were able to edge clear picking up a two and then a three to win 55-50.
The rink of Jimmy Buchanan (skip), Mike Korycin, Mark Ryan and Martin Cheeseman the best for the winning side with a 22-15 victory over the Leeming team skipped by Ian Ashworth.