Oakdale to the fore in Premier League standings

OAKDALE Bowling Club’s men head the Premier League Flag standings with three rounds to go.

And that is a huge surprise considering who they’re up against.

But, from their side, there is much to be proud of. The 13-2 home mauling they dished out to former champions Glen CC will be savoured.

And a fifth win from six outings suggests more of the same to come.

Will the Bellville club go all the way? A question to be answered in three weeks.

Next up for them is a visit to under-performing Western Province CC.

WPCC were on the receiving end of a 11-4 beating at the hands of title contenders Goodwood last time out. Whether the men from the southern suburbs can avoid a third home defeat and fifth overall is hard to tell.

Defending champions Durbanville lost top spot last time out after only managing an eight-point haul at relegation-threatened Somerset West. A fifth win it was and maybe a sixth on the way when welcoming up-and-down Constantia, who finished runners-up last year. Constantia have a 50 percent win record, two of those victories achieved on the road.

It should be a cracker, with the smart money on the home side to pick up 10 points or more.

Third-placed Goodwood have won five of their six outings and remain on track for a tilt at the title. The men from the northern suburbs will be fancied to beat Somerset West on their home green, and who knows, maybe even bag a clean sweep (15 points).

Third-bottom Somerset West can ill-afford a negative outcome. They and basement dwellers Stellenbosch VD Stel, with league rookies Pinelands and to a lesser extend WPCC, are all scrambling not to be one of two teams to be relegated.

Improving Edgemead host Glen CC and will feel confident about their chances as their opponents have been battling for consistency.

To have their 12-man power team manhandled the way they were by minnows Oakdale will not have gone down well with the club’s members, especially with the personnel on hand.

We’re talking about the likes of legendary Kevin Campbell, David Epstein and Johan du Plessis. The trio of skips will want more from their charges in a bid to stave off a third straight defeat and fifth overall.

Second-bottom Pinelands are riding a four-game losing streak, the two positive results recorded in rounds one and two.

But they do have home green advantage for their clash with Stel VD Stel. The visitors have only managed a solitary win against West, and are set to be relegated.

In the women’s Muter Cup Premier League competition, Helderberg ( 43 points) lead Durbanville by one point ahead of their final-round showdown today. The new pacesetters scored a 10-1 victory over struggling Bellville last weekend, while Durbanville went down 9-2 at Constantia.

Other Muter fixtures (home teams first): Constantia v Bellville; Old Oak v Milnerton; Plumstead v WPCC.