General News
10 December, 2020
Lakers’ season on the rocks
MORTLAKE Blue selector Darren Grant admitted his side faces an uphill battle to remain in Western District Bowls Division finals contention.
MORTLAKE Blue selector Darren Grant admitted his side faces an uphill battle to remain in Western District Bowls Division finals contention.
The Lakers finals suffered another blow last Saturday, with the side falling to Warrnambool Blue in a 56-54 thriller at Mortlake.
Grant’s rink along with David McNicoll’s drew their contests, with the result determined by the outcome of George Draffen’s rink.
He lost 16-14 to Shane Dalton, with the two shot loss the same margin as the overall deficit.
“It’s obviously disappointing to lose a close one,” Grant said.
“It was one we had set ourselves to win and to have it so close was disappointing as we’re slowly watching our season slip away.
“This week against Timboon will be sink or swim; they will be hard to beat down there and they are playing well so this will really test us out.”
Grant said his side would now need to embark on a lengthy winning streak to remain in touch with the top four.
The Lakers currently sit eighth on the ladder, 16 points outside of the four with two games to play before the Christmas break.
“I think we’re two and four so I think for us to be any chance of finals virtually we’d nearly have to win every game from now on which includes City Red, Warrnambool Gold and Koroit Blue,” Grant said.
“We’ve made it hard for ourselves by not being able to win our games.
“Last year it seemed to fall our way and we all played well but this year it seems to be falling the other way.”
Grant said the Lakers would be out to atone for last season’s elimination final loss to Timboon when play gets underway at Timboon this weekend.
“They defeated us pretty easy in the elimination final so it’d be great to turn the tables on them this week,” he said.
Mortlake will host to finish off 2020 at home against City Gold and will resume the season with a road trip to Port Fairy on Janaury 9.