Comets Focused On Securing Minor Crown

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday December 17, 2008

John Gilmour ON THE KITTY

COMPETITION leaders East Cessnock are the only side certain of making the play-offs heading into the final round of the Invitation Big Bowls Challenge.

The Comets lead with 116.5 points and tomorrow night play bottom-placed Soldiers Point (65.5).

Mick Cronin, who will play the singles rubber, said while the Comets can breathe a little easier knowing they will be in the top five, they won't be complacent.

"We want to win the minor premiership and we will be going flat out," Cronin said.

"At the start of the season making the play-offs was our goal, then as the season progressed it was the top three so that we would get two chances in the semi-finals, now it is the top spot."

In contrast third-placed Redhead (98), who have the bye this week, are in for an anxious wait. They get ten points for the bye but with all their matches completed, their destiny rests in the hands of others.

Second-placed Alder Park (101.5), fourth-placed Charlestown (95) and fifth-placed Nelson Bay (88) all have one deferred match each to play. Kurri Kurri and East Maitland, who share sixth place on 85 points, both have two deferred matches in hand including a game against each other at Kurri tonight.

Alder Park coach and co-ordinator Martin Ball highlighted the tightness of the competition yesterday.

"If we lose both our games this week we could well be the team to miss out on a semi-final spot," Ball said.

The Stallions hosted Valentine (73) in a deferred match last night, then tomorrow night they head to Nelson Bay to meet the Marlins (88).

Ball is in the midst of a torrid run of singles encounters heading to the play-offs.

He was beaten in straight sets by Aron Sherriff when Alder Park went down to East Cessnock two weeks ago. Last night he was to do battle with Sam Laguzza against Valentine and tomorrow night he will play Steve Glasson, who will be the marquee player for Nelson Bay.

"I failed to put pressure on Aron [Sherriff] with my first two bowls and he made me pay," Ball said. "It is important to make a good start on every end in singles and imperative against the top players."

Kurri Kurri host East Maitland tonight, and are also at home to Swansea (84) tomorrow night before travelling to the new Charlestown club in Lincoln Street on Monday night to tackle the Tigers.

Kurri Kurri will qualify Nathan Mitchell as their marquee player for the finals series by playing him as skipper in the pairs rubbers both tonight and tomorrow night.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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