Phil Marsden
DESPITE winning the rink count 2-1, Gawler’s Thursday division one ladies couldn’t overcome home team Somerton, eventually going down 50-55.
In a tight contest, the five-shot loss has failed to put an end to finals hopes, with only seven points separating Gawler from the top-four.
However, it now relies on Somerton to produce the same result against fourth-placed West Lakes this week, with Gawler needing to also defeat ninth-placed Semaphore to hold up its end of the bargain.
Two Wells on its home deck was always going to be a tough ask for the division three ladies, with the third-placed hosts running out comfortable 43-shot winners.
On Saturday, a seven-shot loss to visiting side Henley sees Gawler’s division two team in a parlous situation.
What could have reasonably been expected to be a home win didn’t eventuate, and has resulted in it sinking to seventh on the ladder, only nine points from the relegation zone.
With a win in this week’s game against top-ranked Salisbury unlikely, it appears that its fate will hinge on the final game of the year when hosting Port Noarlunga.
The division five Gawler Red team continued its excellent second half of the season with an authoritative 40-shot win away to Para Hills.
Never a happy hunting ground for visiting sides, it was a commanding performance by the top-of-the-table team.
Brian Lacey’s four backed up last week’s big win to finish 21-shots up, and this was matched by the four of Thorogood, Boucher, McConnell and Grant – also 21-shot winners.
Losing to Hope Valley by 15 shots, the division five Gawler White team appears to have fallen out of contention for a finals berth.
With this week’s game away to second-placed Tranmere a tough assignment, and sitting 11 points out of the top-four, it would seem that its season has run its course – but this team has surprised before.
Taking all rinks in a total domination of their opponents, the division seven team continues to nip at the heels of top side Croydon.
In what has become a race in two for the pennant, it is unfortunate the two top sides don’t play each other in the final two rounds, as they sit head and shoulders above all other sides and both seem guaranteed to post wins in the last two fixtures.
Still, the Gawler team can do no more than win, and it is doing it handsomely each week.
With all three rinks winning well, it was the four of Houghton, Ransom, Cufone and skipper Hamilton who took bragging rights with a huge 30-shot win.