Top 4 sides a game ahead halfway in
DRYSDALE faces the prospect of back-to-back losses after a surprise slip-up against Torquay in Division 1 pennant at the weekend.
The previously unbeaten side now faces a tough assignment against top side City of Geelong, albeit at home next weekend.
Torquay’s 19-shot threerink win reinforced its finals credentials, with Ashley Prosser’s rink the pick of the three, getting a 23-shot win over Aidan Keranen.
Over at City the game was a bit more one-sided with the home side getting up overall by 23 shots over Belmont, which was coming off a tight win against Torquay last week. City spokesman Craig Elliott said a couple of selection changes helped them get the win.
He said the selection committee shuffled three of the thirds around with Aaron Hyatt against David Gunsser, James Dahler against Lance Kelly and Zane Lugg against Nick Craven.
Elliott said this seemed to be the spark that Lugg needed to get his rink going, spearheading a 13-shot win over Steve Davies.
James Dahler had to be content for a tie with Robin Hayes.
Elliott said the club was very pleased with the progress of the rink skipped by Hyatt, who now sits at the top of the Division 1 skips ladder with just one loss for the season.
Elliott said that he personally could not make anything happen on his rink.
He said his front end bowlers were getting there and thereabouts but he wished by the end that he didn’t have to play his bowls as he thought all he would manage was to give extra shot away.
Given his experience and credentials he will be back to form shortly, which will be daunting for the rest of the competition.
St Leonards and Leopold went into the game at the bottom of the ladder and the result showed they are basically evenly matched.
They finished with two rinks each and a single figure margin overall with Leopold getting the 10 points for the overall win.
It made no change to their ladder positions.
The Division 1 ladder now has the top four at least a game clear of the of rest the sides, with next week’s games marking the end of the first half of the season.