In-form Durbanville odds-on to pip WPCC

DURBANVILLE Bowling Club’s men are unbeaten and on course to defend their Premier League Flag title.

Three consecutive 10-5 victories for their team of 12 opened up a three and a half point lead at the top of the 10-team standings.

The northern suburbs club travels to Western Province Cricket Club today and should have little difficulty in seeing off the former champions, who have lost their last two outings and are now third from bottom.

WPCC made a winning start to their campaign beating Stellenbosch VD Stel 11-4, but then the wheels came off as first Constantia and then Edgemead brushed them aside 11-5-4,5.

Durbanville have had no such problems. They’ve beaten Glen CC, Oakdale (sweet revenge after losing this fixture last season) and last weekend Goodwood, whose winning run ended and at the same time surrendered top spot.

But Goodwood, who are away to joint third-placed Pinelands, remain second on the log.

League rookies Pinelands enjoyed fine returns in their first two outings, both winning efforts to net 20 points, but last time out they were tamed on their home green by Oakdale, the victors bagging 10 points.

Whether they can return to winning ways against a rival who have seen off Constantia and Edgemead remains to be seen.

Oakdale have won both away games but lost the one at home to Durbanville. A chance now to get the better of visiting Stel VD Stel, who are struggling and in the drop zone.

The men from the Winelands have in recent years come close to taking overall honours, but this time round they may be headed for the exit door. Just the one victory over minnows Somerset West to go with losses to WPCC and a zero-point return to Glen CC, sees Stel VD Stel languishing at the foot of the table heading into their next assignment.

Constantia’s long wait for silverware could continue. Second last year, they find themselves in fifth spot and seven points off the pacesetters on the back of wins against WPCC and Somerset West, both 10-point hauls.

They now face a tough task away to a powerful Glen outfit boasting big names such as Kevin Campbell and David Epstein as well as new WP skip Johan du Plessis, who like Campbell has represented South Africa.

Constantia will bank on former Protea Alan Lofthouse to skip one of their fours sides to victory, and many other capable hands who have too often in the past battled to live up to their billing as star players at inter-club level.

Once-mighty Edgemead should prove too strong for hosts Somerset West even though their three performances so far has produced just one win, that against WPCC.

To have kicked off their season with a shock loss to Oakdale and then to have taking a beating from Goodwood would have bruised many an ego.