Headaches for Neerim District

For the third week in a row, COVID gave the Neerim District selectors some headaches.

Division two: Neerim District lost to Longwarry 71/131.

Ross Pollard (skip), Jim Fallon, Ray Throup and Graeme Wingrove lost to Ken White’s team 11/35.

Neerim led 4/0 after three ends but only scored one shot over the next 15 ends to trail 5/26. Longwarry continued its dominance and ran out winners by 24 shots.

Peter Throup (skip), Pat Fraser-Aurisch, Tony Thornton and Karren Sheers defeated Matt Eccles’ team 27/26.

Neerim started well and led 7/0 after three ends. Longwarry levelled the scores at seven-all on the seventh end. A five had Longwarry with a good lead on the 13th end. Neerim started a comeback, winning five of the next seven ends to hit the front by one shot. Longwarry responded and led by three on the penultimate end, only for Neerim to score a four for the one-shot win.

Ray Watts (skip), Chris Hogan, Robert Cook and Greg Bond lost to Kenneth Towt’s team 22/30.

Neerim competed well for most of the day, but Longwarry came home the stronger for an eight-shot win. A great start for Neerim had them leading 12/4 with the help of a five on the third end. Longwarry fought back to level the scores at 13-all on the 12th end. Longwarry proceeded to win most ends and ran out eight-shot winners.

Angus McGillivray (skip), Neil Adams, Richard Kerr and Colin McKay lost to Adam Proctor’s team 11/40.

Neerim struggled all day but winning three ends in a row gave them a glimmer of hope when they trailed by 15 on the 17th end. Unfortunately, their fortunes were reversed after the break as Longwarry won the remaining eight ends for a 29-shot win.

Division five: Neerim District (2) defeated Morwell Club (2) 82/63.

Playing at home in a top of the table contest, second placed Neerim came out on top with all rinks up.

Jim Schroeder (skip), Fish Halligan, Neville Cousins and Thelma Schroeder defeated Beryl Noblett’s team 31/17.

This game had a close start with Neerim two shots up after six ends. Morwell Club picked up six shots to lead 18/8 on the ninth end. Neerim responded strongly as they took control and won 13 of the last 16 ends to run away with a 14-shot win.

Mal Collins (skip), John Rochford, Gerry Engelstad and Des Pelly defeated Andrew Shepley’s team 24/20.

A four on the first end was a great start for Neerim. Another four on the eighth end had them leading by six. Play was tight with singles only as Neerim eased ahead by nine after the 18th end. Morwell Club cut the lead back to three, but Neerim picked up a five on the 22nd end. Morwell Club followed with a four, but Neerim held on for a four-shot win.

Russell Meehan, Cookie Halligan, Mick Talbot and Gerald Winter defeated Lisa Arnold’s team 27/26.

Neerim led 6/0 after three ends before a five on the sixth end had the score at 11/3. Neerim eased further ahead with singles to lead 16/4 on the 11th end. Morwell started to fight back and trailed by just three on the 17th end thanks to two fours. Neerim responded and had the lead back out to 10 on the 22nd end. However, two fours and a single to Morwell on the last three ends made it a nail biter, with Neerim holding on for the one-shot win.

Midweek

Neerim played away against the higher ranked Newborough with one rink up in the 12-shot loss.

Division two: Neerim District lost to Newborough (2) 52/64.

Pat Fraser-Aurisch (skip), Fish Halligan, Thelma Schroeder and John Rochford defeated Carmel Goss’ team 20/12.

It was a tight game early with singles dominating the scoring. After being level at 10-all on the 14th end, Neerim broke away with a five followed by five singles. Newborough won the last end, but it was Neerim by eight shots.

Cookie Halligan (skip), Russell Meehan, Gerald Winter and Jim Schroeder lost to Heather Mooney’s team 19/31.

Neerim dropped a five on the second end and things did not get much better as Newborough powered away to lead 20/3 on the ninth end. In a huge turnaround, Neerim won eight of the next nine ends, including an eight, and only trailed by five shots on the 18th end. Unfortunately, that was the end of Neerim’s run as Newborough won the last three ends to win by 13 shots.

Karren Sheers (skip), Kay Cousins, Gerry Engelstad and Richard Kerr lost to Adrienne Birchall’s team 13/21.

The game was very even, with neither team able to get a break and scores level at 10-all on the 13th end. Newborough got on top, winning six of the last seven ends to win by eight shots.