Outsiders Oakdale have reason to celebrate after lifting Premier Flag for the first time

OAKDALE BOWLING CLUB have a lot to be proud of.

Last bweekend, their men’s first team won the Premier League Flag title (90 points) for the first time last weekend.

It is an amazing achievement for a side viewed as no-hopers ahead of the inter-club competition midway through January.

While the smart money would have been on one of the many more fancied teams, it was Oakdale’s 12-man team who let their bowls do the talking, in a big way week in and week out.

Few can argue that they fully deserve all the plaudits based on stats throughout the nine weeks.

They suffered just the one loss – against Durbanville in round two – to illustrate how dominant they were in the fours format.

Last weekend’s ninth and final round saw three contenders vying for the silverware, with Oakdale setting the pace and defending champions Durbanville and Goodwood in hot pursuit.

At the south end, league rookies Pinelands were in a desperate battle to avoid a straight return to the First Division, so too Stel VD Stel, former winners Glen Country Club and Somerset West, who put their top-flight status at risk.

Now that the final sums have been tallied, it’s well done again to Oakdale and goodbye to Somerset West and Pinelands, the pair departing the scene having had horror campaigns, especially the latter who, after winning their opening two fixtures, went on a seven-game losing run.

Oakdale saw off Goodwood on their home green 11-4 to seal the deal, in the process extending their unbeaten run to seven games.

Durbanville ( 85 points) were favourites to make a successful defence, and after a strong start seemed on track, but a couple of lacklustre efforts and a surprise defeat would come back to haunt one of powerhouse clubs in the province.

Hot-and-cold Western Province Cricket Club, who lifted the trophy a few years’ back, handed the holders an 11-4 pasting, and those two consecutive winning eight-point returns from clashes with Constantia and Somerset West halted their charge.

Nevertheless, losing only one game was a fine showing that Durbanville can be proud of.

Goodwood, another underdog, also punched well above their weight.

But, come the championship rounds, they failed to deliver the desired results and had to settle for fourth place.

Losing two on the bounce, the last at home to the new champs after leading all three games, did them in.

Maybe next time round will see the proud club go all the way.

Edgemead (77) closed out the podium thanks to a strong home showing in their final tie against Constantia that netted 12½ from a possible 15.

Losing their opening two fixtures put them on the back-foot throughout.

WPCC and Glen CC finished fifth and sixth respectively, both camps armed with the firepower to make a fist of it without making it count on a regular basis.

Constantia, who finished runners-up last year, flattered to deceive back in seventh spot, while eighthplaced Stel VD Stel dodged a bullet thanks to two big wins from their last three outings.

Then for the remaining two teams spoken about, little to smile about.

Whether Somerset West and Pinelands will make it back to the elite league, only time will tell, but it will not be an easy assignment.