YARRAVILLE-Footscray has sewn up the Bowls Victoria division 1 section 2 minor premiership, but the team from Francis Street is nowhere near content.
The Combines edged out cross-town rivals Footscray Park-Rosamond by five shots in the local derby on Saturday to seal the No.1 finals ranking, but skip Wayne Roberts knows that first place counts for little when the action hots up in March.
“Yeah, I’m pleased; I didn’t think we’d get it so soon,” was his reaction to having top spot under wraps, before adding: “We could finish six games in front and it’s not going to count for much.
“All it does is give us a home final. We don’t get a second chance, so if we don’t win that first final we’re out. Doesn’t matter who we play, we’ve got to produce the goods on the day.”
Roberts was not overly thrilled with the way his team competed in the derby.
He admitted his side was lucky to get away with the close-fought victory.
“Happy to win, but we didn’t play that well,” he said. “Give Footscray Park Rosamond credit, they did.
“Two [rink] wins and a draw, but they were all tight. One rink won by two, one went down by one, one played a draw and I won by four. It was very close.
“I gave them a spray after the game. If you don’t turn up and do the right things and play the right way, that’s what can happen.”
For the most part, the Combines have monstered opposition this summer, regularly picking up three- and four-rink victories. Significantly, the improvement has come from within the club, not via the cheque book.
“I’ve changed a lot of personnel,” Roberts said.
“There’s six to seven people playing now who didn’t play in the finals last year.
“Most of them have come from within our own club.
“We haven’t gone out and recruited a lot of players into the side; they’ve sort of come from our seconds side and stepped up and that’s what you want.”
The Combines are a settled unit.
Their four skips — Roberts, Alan Dove, James Pearce and Ray Coulter — will remain unchanged.
“They’re in cement, so they’ll be the four skips in the finals,” Roberts said.
Altona is taking a walk down struggle street in the premier division, losing its third in a row to remain winless this calendar year.
The A’s were shocked 81-71 by relegation-threatened Lalor on Saturday and face an uphill task to reach the finals.
SCOREBOARD:
Premier division: Altona 2-71 Lalor 16-81.
Division 1: Footscray Park Rosamond 3-78 Yarraville/Footscray 15-83.
Division 2: Werribee 2 18-98 Williamstown 0-72.
Division 3: Altona Sports 16-90 Keilor 2 2-73, Newport 0-53 Hoppers 2 18-101.
Division 4: Laverton 16-89 Altona 4 2-68.
Division 5: Sunshine City 2 2-66 Altona North 16-81.
