Mid-Week Pennant Mid Season Review
Bowls ACT Mid-Week competition brings players of all levels to the greens
With the season now to the half way-point we stop to take a look at the action we’ve seen so far and try to have a look into the crystal ball to see if we can determine the winners!
Womens Mid-Week
Grade 1
Tuggeranong Vikings sit in first place and are looking good to claim victory after letting the 2022 Mid-Week championship slip through their fingers. Chasing are Queanbeyan Bowls Club and 2022 Champions Canberra BC, both with a game in hand as representatives at ‘The Nationals’ led to the club agreeing to defer the round 5 contest. Fourth place Queanbeyan RSL and Fifth place 2022 Grade 2 Champions Crookwell have shown glimpses, Catherine Hunt (QRSL) and Janette Dunn (Crookwell) both toward the top of the player ladder and the representative players will be leaned on if those clubs are to make an impact at the back-end of the season.
Grade 2
Queanbeyan currently sit in first, but this grade could be anyone’s, Yass currently in last place but have got the talent to make a run while Vikings, Norths and Yowani are jockeying with two wins and two losses. I like the talent of Yowani with a number of former ACT representative to make things interesting but can’t rule out any club at the half-way point.
Grade 3
Skill development and friendship is as important as results for most clubs in this grade, but that doesn’t mean the players aren’t giving their best each week! Yowani are in front showing their ability at home with 30 from a maximum 32 points but have some tougher games in the second half with away fixtures, starting with Canberra in Round 6. Vikings currently sit second and Goulburn Railway third, both clubs have the talent to make a run in the second half. Canberra BC claimed their first win in round four and will be wanting to make a run, while the combined Queanbeyan/Weston Creek side will better after the first half developing combinations.
Mens Mid-Week
With eight clubs nominating the match committee determined that a seven round competition would be played, with the top fours clubs playing finals for the Grade 1 Pennant and the bottom four to play-off for Grade 2. This balanced schedule would allow clubs to find their correct level and give all members a chance to learn and meet members from clubs across the capital region. With two rounds to play we look at the current positions below:
- Yass – The new boys in the Mid-Week competition, Yass fell to QRSL in the first round and haven’t looked back with four straight wins, including a dominant victory over second place Weston Creek
- Weston Creek – The 2022 Grade 2 winners have continued the clubs charge up the grades and up the ladder, the loss to Yass the only blemish on their sheet in 2023, the Creekers have a tough run home with games against the two Queanbeyan based clubs likely to go a long way to determining the make-up of Grade 1
- Queanbeyan RSL Memorial – Currently in third, QRSL have shown to be very competitive in 2023 with the rink of Dave Cave holding a great record so far. The club can still finish first with two wins and a slip-up from Yass. The round six game at Weston Creek looks to be crucial.
- Yowani 1 – The surprise packets to many so far, but not to their own membership, Yowani entered two sides into the competition this year and have been able to get great performances from the experienced Ron Hawke as well as the youth with ACT Junior Brayden Noonan making valuable contributions. The club will be fighting to hold a place in the top grade with Queanbeyan nipping at their heels.
- Queanbeyan – Holding a similar record to Yowani 1, QBC are out of Grade 1 on for & against and will have aspirations of finishing strongly to make Grade 1. The club has a tricky run home with a trip to Crookwell in round six before hosting Weston Creek in the final round, a match which could be the difference between Grade 1 & Grade 2.
- Crookwell – In their first mid-week season the club has had some mixed results. The Peter Hammond rink has been outstanding winning three out of four but the club is still to settle on the supporting cast, development was always a priority and with a match in hand the club could still push for Grade 1. (Round 4 v Yowani 2 – 23/10)
- Canberra North – Have been more competitive than results suggest with both rinks showing some fight as the club trial new combinations in 2023. Mark Carter deserves a mention, the clubs President is yet to record a rink win, but has an average margin against of -4.5 showing the club have been in every game. Continued improvement will be the goal for all members.
- Yowani 2 – Winless so far, but getting closer every week. Yowani 2 are using this team for development and combination with new players getting opportunities. Look for the club to chase down their first win before finals with games against Norths and Yass at home and the make-up game against Crookwell set down for Monday October 23rd.
