ALTONA’S top-two aspirations took a blow with an 80-69 road loss to Moonee Ponds in the Bowls Victoria premier division at Queen’s Park on Saturday.
The A’s were in a position of strength over the festive season break, sitting equal first on the ladder and with a double chance that was theirs to lose.
One hiccup was all it took for the A’s to return to the pack and slip to third in the process.
“It was disappointing,” A’s’ skip, Brett Dodd, told the Weekly. “You can’t afford to drop a game. One loss and you put yourself at the mercy of dropping out of the top four altogether. They fully deserved their win.”
This was a clash of blockbuster proportions, the collision of two sides that are expected to be the main challenger to ladder-leader Melbourne in the run for the minor premiership.
The Ponds flexed their muscles, taking three of the four rinks. They led for the most part, but the A’s made them sweat in the latter ends.
“We got back to within three or four shots and thought we were going to overrun them,” Dodd said. “To fight back from the position we were in showed a lot of character.”
The A’s’ only winning rink was easily its hottest of the summer. Brenton Coad combined with Ben Loughlin, Farris Derrij and the promoted Carl Millen to overcome former A’s champion Mark Jacobsen. “Coady’s rink has been sensational,” Dodd said. “I reckon it’s the strongest rink in the premier league.”
With Brad Peck unavailable, the A’s were forced to shuffle the line-up .
Brett Foley stepped in to skip his rink and lost narrowly 20-18 to Shane Fordham.
Dodd, who like Foley was level at the start of the last end, had a 22-19 loss to Brett Spurr.
David Zitter was beaten 24-15 by Adam Galloway in the most lop-sided game of the game.
The A’s will be eager to bounce back on a tough road trip to Brighton on Saturday.
“With the competition so close, a top two spot is massively important to get a double chance,” Dodd said.
“It makes this week against Brighton, who are on the same wins as us, so important.
“They’re not going to be easy to beat on their synthetic surface.”
Bowls Victoria
Premier division: Moonee Ponds 16-80 d Altona 2-69
Division 1: Bundoora RSL 2 0-58 Yarraville/Footscray 18-96; Elsternwick Club 14-84 Footscray Park Rosamond 4-73
Division 2: Yarraville/Footscray 2 15-93 Williamstown 3-75
Division 3: Newport 16-88 Altona Sports 2-86
Division 4: Footscray Park Rosamond 3 2-76 Laverton 16-80
Division 5: Altona North 2-69 Werribee 6 16-85
