Men’s State Fours conclude tomorrow
The Men’s Fours will conclude tomorrow at the Devonport Bowls Club, with 8 teams keen to take out the first title of the year. With some quality teams still remaining anyone could make the final but I’m not one to shy away from predicting what might happen!
Peter Bannister’s team will be up against it when they take on the defending champions skipped by Lee Schraner. When you’ve got Michael Sims and Cameron Tegg as your front end, you know you’ll be well supported all day. Shannon Kerec and David Heron will be keen to show everyone that they belong at this level and there is no better opportunity then this match up. I think Schraner’s rink will be too strong.
David Minns’ rink will go in favourite against Blair Fidler. Minns’ rink is full of experience and as it was for Schraner’s rink, bowls in the head will be valuable. The lead match up of Ray Boucher and Isaac Maughan should be great to watch with Isaac showing great temperament to progress in both the Pairs and Fours. David Minns should be able to convert too many times and take the win.
The match of the quarter finals has to be Luke Richardson vs Tim Douce. Both skips are highly talented and have some great players in their team. It could come down to how the front ends match up together with Richardson relying on Peter French & Callan Butler whilst Douce has Andrew Whitmore and David Douce. Whitmore is in some great form so I’ll just give the edge to Tim Douce.
The remaining quarter final sees Chris Roach take on Kevin Rowlings. Rowlings has been fortunate enough to go through in the Pairs and Fours as lucky losers and will be keen to take advantage of this chance. Roach’s rink of Mathew Mitchell, Jake Wyllie & Keghan Booth should prove to be too strong for their opposition.
It’s hard to predict the semi-finals not knowing who will be playing but if I had to say which teams would make the final it would be Schraner & Douce. Both skips have won the fours before but I think it will be Schraner who will go back to back.
Best of luck to all players and to those competing in the Satellite Series at Spreyton.
By David Genford
