Mowbray sharpen the axe to cut down Old Oak

MOWBRAY’S men are well set to win promotion to the First Division.

The Division 2A front-runners have racked up an impressive 79 points through six rounds of Flag competition, the most by any team in any one of the five contested divisions.

It’s an amazing feat considering the club’s small membership which was less than 40 members in total a couple of years ago, which included one woman. But sheer determination to beat the odds had them representing the club on the brink of moving up the wrung and in touching distance of rejoining the big clubs in the Premier League.

Mowbray take the game seriously and deliver a good standard of bowls without any superstars to call on. Okay, Joel Roëbert is a top- class campaigner and there are a couple of others who can hold court in stronger company.

What really separates them from other clubs is their unwavering belief in team values. Encouraging words from skips to teammates can only inspire them to give of their best at all times. A healthy respect for one another’s strengths and weaknesses means all are given the confidence to shine, and results produced so far speak volumes of the 12-strong team’s character and commitment to the cause.

Mowbray lock horns with Old Oak B today and victory would move them a step closer to automatic promotion. Mowbray enjoy a 16-point lead over the visitors, who would stay in the hunt should they win by a big margin. Old Oak have a 50 percent win record so far from six outings, while Mowbray have yet to have their colours lowered. Mowbray’s remaining fixtures after today are against Oakdale B (home) and then Heldeberg B (away).

In Premier League action, table- toppers Constantia ( 59 points) entertain SA Police – a rival who showed up firstround leaders Edgemead with an empathic 13.5-1.5 home victory. SA Police do come into the game with much work to do after two heavy back-to-back defeats at the hands of Stellenbosch/Van der Stel and Glen CC respectively.

Constantia have won their last three starts by big margins to take the lead over a chasing pack that will be keen to pounce on them should they falter down the home straight. Edgemead (57) hold down second place on the 10-team standings and will be favoured to get the better of seventh-placed visitors Oakdale ( 39.5), who need a few points to keep clear of the relegation zone that has Plumstead (32) and Milnerton (19.5)in it.