Yarraville-Footscray is bogged down in bottom-half mediocrity because of its inability to win close games in the Bowls Victoria premier division.
The Bulldogs have a positive score difference, but a negative win-loss record, because of their trend of losing the tight games.
They have lost three games by four shots or less, including a heartbreaking one-shot loss to cross-town rivals Altona away at Civic Parade on Saturday.
“We’ve only had the one bad day this season against Essendon, when they got us at Essendon,” Bulldogs’ skip Wayne Roberts said.
“With the other losses, we’ve been in positions to win and just haven’t been able to get over the line.
“This was another game we could’ve won, or should’ve won, and we find ourselves down the bottom end of the ladder when we could’ve been at the top.”
It was all on the line late in the western derby for Altona and Yarraville-Footscray.
In a close competition, with the top eight sides separated by only two wins, a 10-point swing either way would have massive consequences.
Yarraville-Footscray went to the last end three shots down, but Chris Ball could only pick up two, and Altona held on to keep their spot in the top four.
For Yarraville-Footscray, this makes Saturday’s trip to Clayton a must-win game, otherwise it will be leaving itself too much work to do in the new year.
“It’s probably season-on-the-line,” Roberts said.
“If we don’t win that, it will be getting a bit too hard to make up.”
Altona will host MCC in a Christmas cracker back at Civic Parade on Saturday.
