Premier League Mid-season Report Card
Women’s BCiB Pennants North Beach
Position: 1st
Grade: A+
What’s Working?: Consistency. North Beach’s only two losses have come from the other sides in the top three and in one of those they still won on two rinks. They are getting good contributions across the board with all three rinks on the right side of the win-loss ledger. Kaye Blackwell in particular is flying with her rink undefeated from her eight games in charge.
What’s Not?: For all their achievements they still haven’t beaten one of the main contenders. Both Manning 1 and Mosman Park, the other two perennial powerhouses, have beaten them with Mosman Park giving them a solid whack. A win against at least one of those sides is a must for their confidence going into finals.
Summary: A great start to the year has North Beach in top spot twelve points clear in the four. Whilst a win against a fellow contender would be welcome what they’re doing should be enough to keep them in the top two. If they can finish on top they’d love their chances.
Revised Prediction: 2nd
Manning 1
Position: 2nd
Grade: A-
What’s Working?: Helen Morss’ rink. Eight wins and over 100 shots to the good is formidable record and a big reason why Manning 1 have won seven aggregates. The team has contributed almost half of the sides rink wins and playing alongside an in-form rink is a major luxury to have.
What’s Not?: The Leeming problem. Manning have become Leeming’s “bunnies” in recent years. They failed to register a point against them last year and although this year was better it wasn’t the result they were looking for. The round one clash at Manning yielded a draw from which Leeming took the lions share of the points. With Leeming in fourth there is ever chance the sides could meet in the finals. The round ten clash at Leeming could be crucial from a psychological point of view.
Summary: Seven wins, one loss and a draw is a pretty handy start to the season. Still the Manning girls would like to be in top spot. They’ve beaten the other two major contenders but failed to win against Leeming or their own second side, two games they would have hoped to win. Still the talent in their line-up ensures top spot is very much on the cards.
Revised Prediction: 1st
Mosman Park
Position: 3rd
Grade: B+
What’s Working?: Rink wins. Seventeen and a half rink point from nine games is nothing to be sneezed at, with the Mossies averaging almost two rinks a game. Winning two out of three rinks will always see you in the hunt for the aggregate. The charge has been lead by Lisa Featherby and her rink who have accrued six and a half of those rink points.
What’s Not?: Aggregate wins. Despite being in third place Mosman Park would have been hoping for more than the five aggregates they’ve collected thus far. A draw at home with Gosnells in the season opener followed by a home loss to Leeming in round three would have been two wins the Mossies were expecting to get. The loss to sixth placed Osborne Park would also sting.
Summary: The Mossies have had their hiccups but have given themselves every chance to contend again. Second place is a very achievable whilst a good run of form could see them make top spot. Their home record of two wins, two losses and a draw is slightly concerning but they have the ability to turn it around.
Revised Prediction: 3rd
Leeming
Position: 4th
Grade: A+
What’s Working?: Beating the good sides. Leeming continued their good record against Manning’s top side in the first game of the year and followed up with an impressive away win at Mosman Park. They also won convincingly against 2014/15 grand finalist Gosnells to put themselves well in finals contention.
What’s Not?: Pam Webber’s rink. The only negative we can find is this rink which has won just three games. However a shots difference of -22 indicates they probably aren’t that far away. Possibly the loss to Manning 2 could break their spell over the Eagles but they’d have to right their chances at home against them first game back.
Summary: The Leeming girls have done significantly more than we expected and now look like a genuine threat. Their impressive record against top sides has got them this far and could see them make their first finals appearance.
Revised Prediction: 4th
Sorrento
Position: 5th
Grade: B+
What’s Working?: Kathy Gobbart’s rink. Sorrento’s marquee signing has delivered with Gobbart currently sitting third on the skip ladder. Her seven rink points makes up half of the teams total and has lifted the side to fifth spot. With a bit more support the rink could see them push for a finals berth.
What’s Not?: Inconsistency. Whilst Sorrento have recorded good wins such as beating the bolters Leeming and against Osborne Park they’ve also had disappointing losses. Number one on that list is the loss to ninth placed Safety Bay, the Bay’s only win for the year. Sorrento have longest winning streak of two, highlight their inability to put wins together.
Summary: Sorrento were considered the dark horses at the start of the year and are living up to that potential. In fifth place and only two and a half points out of the four they would be ecstatic with where they are at the break. If they can find more consistency to their game and make sure to put away the teams below them they could make a run for the finals in their first season up from White.
Revised Prediction: 5th
Osborne Park
Position: 6th
Grade: C
What’s Working?: Their start. The Saints won four of their first six, including a win against Mosman Park, to sit in fourth place. A loss at Leeming may have been unexpected but looks better now than it did at the time. The other loss to Manning 1 was no disaster.
What’s Not?: Recent form. Osborne Park have lost their past three games including a crucial home game against Sorrento. A win against Gosnells in round nine would have put them right in the frame for finals instead they have fallen back to the pack.
Summary: The Saints are the first of three teams delicately placed at the halfway mark. Whilst safe from relegation they are still six points back from forth, meaning any slip-ups could dash their chances. They need to halt there run of losses immediately. If they can recapture their early season form they are a chance to sneak in.
Revised Prediction: 7th
Gosnells
Position: 7th
Grade: C-
What’s Working?: Home games. Gosnells have won three of their four home games thus far this year with their only loss coming at the hands of league leaders North Beach. The win at Osborne Park is their best home win and has put them back in the hunt. With five games at home in the new year Gosnells could turn it into a fortress and make a late charge.
What’s Not?: As successful as they have been at home Gosnells have been equally unsuccessful away. A round one draw at Mosman Park was a promising start but they are just one win from four their four away games since. Losses to fellow fourth place aspirants Sorrento and Leeming have been particularly damaging.
Summary: A little behind where they’d like to be but they are still a chance to make a late sure. The drop off from last years grand final appearance will be sure to motivate the group to achieve better in the second half of the season. They are helped by getting Sorrento and Leeming at home in their return bouts.
Revised Prediction: 6th
Manning 2
Position: 8th
Grade: B-
What’s Working?: Home games. Like many sides the Eagles’ second team are formidable at home. In their five games at Manning they have four wins with their only loss to Gosnells by just three shots. They’ve picked up two significant scalps at home. They broke Manning’s hoodoo against surprise packets Leeming and even beat their own firsts side, scoring the ultimate bragging rights over their club mates.
What’s Not?: Playing away. Away games are not working at all. In their five games away form Manning they have not won an aggregate yet. Just two out of Manning 2’s twenty four points have come away from home. That must improve if they are to be any chance of a finals place.
Summary: Manning 2 have done well in dealing not just with their own unavailabilities but that of Manning 1 as well. Seemingly safe from relegation they’ve done what was expected. With a hint of finals action in the air they must continue on and with another five games to come at Manning they could be in the hunt.
Revised Prediction: 8th
Safety Bay
Position: 9th
Grade: D+
What’s Working?: Jennifer Kite’s rink. Five wins from their nine games makes them the clubs best rink the one shining light. They are the only rink to win more than they’ve lost and have contributed five of the Bay’s ten and a half rink points.
What’s Not?: The new green. Traditionally Safety Bay has been one of the hardest places for an away team to go to and win. Faced with gusty winds and a tricky green it was a hard place to go and play. But now with a much easier surface it seems much of the Bay’s home ground advantage is gone as they have picked up just the one win.
Summary: They were expected to be in the thick of a relegation battle but Safety Bay seem practically doomed. A drastic change in fortunes will need to occur for the Bay to avoid demotion and results would need to go their way. Turning their home green into a fortress once again would be a good start.
Revised Prediction: 9th
Victoria Park Carlisle
Position: 10th
Grade: F
What’s Working?: Very little. Their best skipper Barbara Gedge has three wins for the season but it hasn’t been enough. They started okay with some reasonable performances against the two Manning sides but not much has been positive since. Their win at home against Safety Bay in round eight hopefully will signal a reversal in fortunes.
What’s Not?: Rink wins. From twenty seven opportunities the Reds have been able to secure just five points. One of their rinks has gone through the first have without a win. Basically anything that can go wrong has.
Summary: Being sixteen points behind eighth Victoria Park will go down barring a miracle. On current form they will finish last but one more home win and a win at Safety Bay might be enough to save them from the spoon.
Revised Prediction: 10th
