Post by stuartcapel on Jul 14, 2011 20:53:44 GMT 10
For the movie buffs among you, you will recall a spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood named The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Last week’s DBA Round featured all three descriptions as well, though unlike the film, there was no Confederate gold at the end of the day.
The Good – Was Clint Eastwood’s ‘Blondie’ in the film, however I’ll suggest that the umpiring on the weekend gets the nod here. With a distinct shortage of ‘Blues’ out there last week, it was good to see that all the match reports on the forum didn’t even mention the umpires or any bad calls. Good umpiring essentially exists when at the end of the day you realise you never noticed them. Well done to those officials, and those club umpires who did their bit to help everyone get through their fixtures last week.
The Bad – I may cop a bit of flak from the Cheltenham people, but if the rumours of playing someone who is a registered member of another club are indeed true, that can only be described as ‘Bad’ form.
The Ugly – From the match report down at Bicentennial Park, it sounds like the Mornington fielding was certainly far from good and worse than bad, leading to several unearned runs as the Blue Jays romped to an 11-1 victory. The Pirates gloves will need to be much better on Saturday if they are to put any pressure on the new ladder leaders.
Speaking of the ladder leaders, I mentioned earlier there was no gold at the end of the day in the DBA, but perhaps Dingley people would be to differ with me as the Dingoes 2-1 victory over Cheltenham propelled them to the top of the A1 table.
Grant Irving has been a wonderful appointment for Dingley, and has made them into a genuine contender for the DBA title without having any real marquee names on their list. Irving has trusted several young players with important roles throughout the season, and his faith has been rewarded with several excellent results and a ladder position that cannot be argued with.
Top billing should be Dingley’s for at least another week as they head into their match against Mornington as red-hot favourites. It’s hard to see any other result than a solid Dingley victory coming out of Pirate Park.
Frankston not only kept their top four position thanks to a solid victory at Berwick last weekend, but they dropped the Dodgers into a scenario that could see them outside the top four in as little as a fortnight. For now, the Tomatoes continue to hold onto fourth position as if it was their first born child, however a visit from Cheltenham, fresh from a loss to Dingley last weekend means that the Frankston boys may be in a tie for fourth come the end of the round, before a Round 13 date with Dingley.
I’d back Frankston here, however when was the last time Cheltenham lost two in a row? Cheltenham for me.
Since defeating Bonbeach back in Round Six, Berwick has only won once, that being a victory over winless Mornington, and the Dodgers now find themselves just a win and a half ahead of Dandenong, who are the Dodgers opponents at Couch Burner Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A Berwick win would almost shut the door on any thoughts of their missing the finals, as they would move five points clear of the Angels, and with a game against Mornington and a bye still ahead, the Angels (or Bonbeach), would need to win five of their remaining six matches to have any chance of overtaking Coach Robinson’s chargers. A Dandenong win would however see just a solitary point between the two teams, leaving third and fourth positions on the table wide open as the league turns for home at the top of the straight.
Berwick emerged victorious in a 2-1 game decided largely by the back Tom Ellis’s melon. I’m all for a game deciding ‘Falcon’, and after leaving Berwick with the L and a headache last time, I think fortunes may smile on Tom and the Angels in Round 12.
I’m going to skip ahead to Sunday for the big B1 game of the weekend, where Chelsea hosts Carrum Downs in a match that can shut the door on the top four for the season, or keep the intrigue alive for a couple of weeks at least.
A Chelsea win here moves them three games and percentage clear of the Cardinals, and while Carrum Downs don’t have the toughest run home, they’d require Chelsea to start losing more than the win, and there’s no form line that suggests that’s about to happen. For me, Chelsea will win and shut the door on the top four for 2011.
A Carrum Downs victory however would keep the door ajar for some late season drama, and if the Cardinals win, and Dandenong beats Boneo down Rosebud way, then there will be just a game separating Chelsea, Boneo and Carrum Downs for third, fourth and fifth. Again, I think the Dolphins will put the Cardinals season to bed, and unfortunately for the Angels, I can’t see them upsetting the Braves at home either.
In looking at the fixture, I noted Pakenham’s home clash with Cheltenham and felt as if every week the Pumas were enjoying a home fixture. Indeed, this match brings to the end a four game home stand for the Pumas. The first three matches of the home stand have resulted in victories for the home side, and with Cheltenham now struggling, it’s hard to see just how the Pumas can avoid going four from four.
Moorabbin’s victory over Boneo last Saturday cements their position as the B Grade’s Gold Standard, and while visiting Dingley will give them a solid match, the Panthers should have more than enough in reserve to outduel the Dingoes on Saturday.
The final B Grade game is the battle for the wooden spoon as Oakleigh and Ormond-Glenhuntly go head-to-head in a duel where the winner will go a game clear the loser for tenth position on the table.
Strangely enough for two 2-9 teams, both have defeated a side in the top three, but at the same time, both enter this game on the back of a double-digit defeat. Might need a photo finish here, but I’ll lean towards Oakleigh, as a pure guess.
Melbourne University’s win over Berwick last weekend has meant there is a tie at the top of the table in the women’s division, and both teams look like being locked together for until their next meeting in Round 14, where the Minor Premiership will likely be decided.
Sunday’s matches in the women’s division see Melbourne University take on Footscray, who may be slightly behind the top two but are ever improving, while Berwick go up against winless Sandringham in a game the Dodgers are red-hot favourites to win. Look for the top two to win on Sunday.
Good luck to all players, coaches and officials on the weekend.
The Good – Was Clint Eastwood’s ‘Blondie’ in the film, however I’ll suggest that the umpiring on the weekend gets the nod here. With a distinct shortage of ‘Blues’ out there last week, it was good to see that all the match reports on the forum didn’t even mention the umpires or any bad calls. Good umpiring essentially exists when at the end of the day you realise you never noticed them. Well done to those officials, and those club umpires who did their bit to help everyone get through their fixtures last week.
The Bad – I may cop a bit of flak from the Cheltenham people, but if the rumours of playing someone who is a registered member of another club are indeed true, that can only be described as ‘Bad’ form.
The Ugly – From the match report down at Bicentennial Park, it sounds like the Mornington fielding was certainly far from good and worse than bad, leading to several unearned runs as the Blue Jays romped to an 11-1 victory. The Pirates gloves will need to be much better on Saturday if they are to put any pressure on the new ladder leaders.
Speaking of the ladder leaders, I mentioned earlier there was no gold at the end of the day in the DBA, but perhaps Dingley people would be to differ with me as the Dingoes 2-1 victory over Cheltenham propelled them to the top of the A1 table.
Grant Irving has been a wonderful appointment for Dingley, and has made them into a genuine contender for the DBA title without having any real marquee names on their list. Irving has trusted several young players with important roles throughout the season, and his faith has been rewarded with several excellent results and a ladder position that cannot be argued with.
Top billing should be Dingley’s for at least another week as they head into their match against Mornington as red-hot favourites. It’s hard to see any other result than a solid Dingley victory coming out of Pirate Park.
Frankston not only kept their top four position thanks to a solid victory at Berwick last weekend, but they dropped the Dodgers into a scenario that could see them outside the top four in as little as a fortnight. For now, the Tomatoes continue to hold onto fourth position as if it was their first born child, however a visit from Cheltenham, fresh from a loss to Dingley last weekend means that the Frankston boys may be in a tie for fourth come the end of the round, before a Round 13 date with Dingley.
I’d back Frankston here, however when was the last time Cheltenham lost two in a row? Cheltenham for me.
Since defeating Bonbeach back in Round Six, Berwick has only won once, that being a victory over winless Mornington, and the Dodgers now find themselves just a win and a half ahead of Dandenong, who are the Dodgers opponents at Couch Burner Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
A Berwick win would almost shut the door on any thoughts of their missing the finals, as they would move five points clear of the Angels, and with a game against Mornington and a bye still ahead, the Angels (or Bonbeach), would need to win five of their remaining six matches to have any chance of overtaking Coach Robinson’s chargers. A Dandenong win would however see just a solitary point between the two teams, leaving third and fourth positions on the table wide open as the league turns for home at the top of the straight.
Berwick emerged victorious in a 2-1 game decided largely by the back Tom Ellis’s melon. I’m all for a game deciding ‘Falcon’, and after leaving Berwick with the L and a headache last time, I think fortunes may smile on Tom and the Angels in Round 12.
I’m going to skip ahead to Sunday for the big B1 game of the weekend, where Chelsea hosts Carrum Downs in a match that can shut the door on the top four for the season, or keep the intrigue alive for a couple of weeks at least.
A Chelsea win here moves them three games and percentage clear of the Cardinals, and while Carrum Downs don’t have the toughest run home, they’d require Chelsea to start losing more than the win, and there’s no form line that suggests that’s about to happen. For me, Chelsea will win and shut the door on the top four for 2011.
A Carrum Downs victory however would keep the door ajar for some late season drama, and if the Cardinals win, and Dandenong beats Boneo down Rosebud way, then there will be just a game separating Chelsea, Boneo and Carrum Downs for third, fourth and fifth. Again, I think the Dolphins will put the Cardinals season to bed, and unfortunately for the Angels, I can’t see them upsetting the Braves at home either.
In looking at the fixture, I noted Pakenham’s home clash with Cheltenham and felt as if every week the Pumas were enjoying a home fixture. Indeed, this match brings to the end a four game home stand for the Pumas. The first three matches of the home stand have resulted in victories for the home side, and with Cheltenham now struggling, it’s hard to see just how the Pumas can avoid going four from four.
Moorabbin’s victory over Boneo last Saturday cements their position as the B Grade’s Gold Standard, and while visiting Dingley will give them a solid match, the Panthers should have more than enough in reserve to outduel the Dingoes on Saturday.
The final B Grade game is the battle for the wooden spoon as Oakleigh and Ormond-Glenhuntly go head-to-head in a duel where the winner will go a game clear the loser for tenth position on the table.
Strangely enough for two 2-9 teams, both have defeated a side in the top three, but at the same time, both enter this game on the back of a double-digit defeat. Might need a photo finish here, but I’ll lean towards Oakleigh, as a pure guess.
Melbourne University’s win over Berwick last weekend has meant there is a tie at the top of the table in the women’s division, and both teams look like being locked together for until their next meeting in Round 14, where the Minor Premiership will likely be decided.
Sunday’s matches in the women’s division see Melbourne University take on Footscray, who may be slightly behind the top two but are ever improving, while Berwick go up against winless Sandringham in a game the Dodgers are red-hot favourites to win. Look for the top two to win on Sunday.
Good luck to all players, coaches and officials on the weekend.
