News: MEN’S PENNANTS – ROUND SIX

Published on 19th July 2022 in Members

The Sixth round of the 2022 Men’s Pennant season was played on Sunday with mixed results for the two Nedlands Teams.

DIVISION TWO

Nedlands played host to the 6^th round of Division 2 pennants. A cold and wet morning greeted all players and Nedlands desperately needed to win at home and get them out of the “Relegation Zone”.

Tim Tan and Matt Dumble (winners from last week) were both unavailable. Callum White returned to the team and Dave Southam, after several solid performances in Division 5 made his first appearance in Division 2. After a late change to the team positions, Cameron White went to the number 2 spot, Anthony Joseph to 3 and Aiden Cooper to 4.

David Rees jumped out of the blocks and was 4 up after 10 holes. A couple of lost holes followed by two wins saw him run out a comfortable 4/2 winner.

After being outplayed over the first 11 holes. David Southam turned the match around winning the next 3 holes and after halving the next 2 was square with 2 to play. An untimely loss on the 17^th saw him requiring a win on the 18^th to go into overtime – but he was only able to halve the hole and went down by just the one hole.

Andrew Ogilvie regained his lost form and after being 1 up after 13 won the next 3 holes and closed out the match 4/2.

Aiden Cooper tried valiantly and after 10 holes was square. He then lost 3 of the next 4 and went down 3/1.

Anthony Joseph was locked in an intriguing battle all morning and ultimately went down at the last hole.

After turning square, Callum White won 3 of the next 5 holes, lost the next and closed out the match at the 17^th winning 2/1.

So now it was 3 all and the fate of the team rested in the hands of team captain, Ben Cullinan. Once again it was a seesawing contest and after 14 holes the match was all square. It remained that way until the 17^th when a bogey was not good enough and needing to win the final hole to go down 19 his opponent got up and down for 5. Ben was unable to do the same to save par – hole halved – loss 1down.

Final result – a disappointing loss at home 4/3 and relegation to Division 3 looks inevitable – unfortunately.

The final round of fixtures will be played next Sunday at ROYAL PERTH with Nedlands pitted against the undefeated host club commencing at 11.30am

Refer scores and Pennant Table after Round 6 below.

Roving reporter’s comment – It is probably too much to ask for the team to beat the undefeated Royal Perth at Royal Perth next week. But as one of our former political leaders said “I believe in miracles”.

I am sure they will give it their best shot.

DIVISION FIVE

After two losses the team travelled to Lakelands to take on Royal Perth and a win was essential to keep their finals chances alive.

Coming into the team this week were Reegan Cake and Dylan Morgan. They replaced Dave Southam who went up to Division 2 and Rehan Alikhan, who after starting the year in outstanding form had suddenly gone off the boil.

Reegan Cake, in his first game for the year, struggled from the outset but came back tenaciously and ultimately went down at the last hole.

Making his Pennant debut, Dylan Morgan took a little time to settle in and was down early. To his credit he fought back gamely ultimately losing at the 17^th hole.

After a halved match last week Rob Pluske flew out of the blocks and never looked back – an outstanding 7/5 victory.

Similarly, after a disappointing loss last week, Gus Elliot jumped out to an early lead and was 5 up at the turn and went on to record a convincing 6/5 victory.

Sick of going the full distance John Samuels decided it was too wet and cold to do that again and after a good battle put the foot down over the last few holes and recorded a 4/3 win.

Team Captain Scott Van Heurck gave away a 4 hole lead after 10 holes and lost 6 of the next 8 holes – losing 2 down. (draw your own conclusions!!)

Now it was 3 all and the result and fate of the team rested in the hands of Damon Watkins. Damon struggled early, and was down after 9 holes. He put his foot on the accelerator ultimately winning 4/2 which gave the team the victory they were looking for to keep their finals chances alive.

Final result – a 4-3 win.

Refer scores and Pennant Table after Round 4 below.

So, after the penultimate round the ladder is very interesting with 4 teams fighting for the right to play in the final.

To qualify Nedlands will have to overcome bottom team Cottesloe but they will still be relying on other results to go their way – in particular a WA Golf Club loss to Royal Perth.

Next week they go to LAKE KARRINYUP to play COTTESLOE commencing at 11.30am.