Second chance for Neerim
Neerim District’s division five team came up against strong opposition in the semi-final on Saturday.
After the 40-shot loss to Morwell Club, Neerim will regroup to meet Churchill on Saturday in the preliminary final.
Division five: Neerim District (2) lost to Morwell Club (4) 45/85
Jim Schroeder (skip), Rob Cook, Neville Cousins and Stephen Halligan drew with Lisa Arnold’s team 19/19.
It was a tight tussle early with scores level at five-all after eight ends. Morwell Club inched ahead by three, only for Neerim to pick up six shots in three ends to lead 11/8. Neerim continued on and led by eight on the 19th end. However, Morwell Club lifted, winning five of the last six ends. A single on the last end gave them a draw.
Mal Collins (skip), John Rochford, Gerry Engelstad and Des Pelly lost to Gail Reijner’s team 16/24.
This was another close game early, with neither team getting a break. A three to Morwell Club on the 13th end gave them the lead but Neerim immediately followed with a three. Morwell Club started to win more ends and, with the help of a four and another three, had an eight-shot lead on the 19th end. Neerim cut it back to four but Morwell Club picked up singles over the last four ends for an eight-shot win.
Russell Meehan, Cookie Halligan, Gerald Winter and Mick Talbot lost to Beryl Noblett’s team 10/42.
A three on the first end to Neerim looked promising. However, Morwell Club won the next 14 ends, including a five and a number of threes, to lead 29/3 on the 15th end. Neerim won three of the remaining 10 ends to get to 10 but Morwell Club powered on for a 32-shot win.
Midweek
Neerim District played at home against Drouin in the division two semi-final on Tuesday.
After leading by 10 shots with 18 ends to play, Neerim lost by seven shots.
This brings to a close Neerim’s season for 2021/22.
Division two: Neerim District lost to Drouin (2) 52/59
Pat Fraser-Aurisch (skip), Fish Halligan, Thelma Schroeder and Gerald Winter lost to Lyn Jeffrey’s team 9/31.
The first five ends were very close, with Neerim trailing 5/6. Drouin took control, dominating the rest of the game and only conceding four more singles while accumulating 25 shots themselves. Drouin ran out 22-shot winners.
Cookie Halligan (skip), Jim Schroeder, Neville Cousins and Richard Kerr lost to Margaret Owen’s team 16/18.
Drouin started well and managed a six-shot margin up to the ninth end. Neerim won five straight ends to lead 12/11. Drouin came back, winning the next four ends to lead by five shots on the 17th end. Neerim was able to reduce the margin over the last four ends but Drouin held on for a two-shot win.
Karren Sheers (skip), Kay Cousins, Gerry Engelstad and Graeme Wingrove defeated Mary Andrews’ team 27/10.
Neerim had a great start and led 8/0 after four ends. Drouin got on the board but Neerim surged ahead to lead 13/1 on the eighth end. A four on the 15th end had Neerim’s lead out to 20. Drouin closed the gap over the last six ends by three, giving Neerim a 17-shot win.