General News
11 November, 2021
Lakers eyeing off Terang test following loss
MORTLAKE Blue is looking to take solid form out of its opening round loss to Warrnambool Blue into this weekend’s clash with Terang Green.
MORTLAKE Blue is looking to take solid form out of its opening round loss to Warrnambool Blue into this weekend’s clash with Terang Green.
The Lakers suffered a 70-58 defeat at home in the opening week of matches, with Warrnambool winning all three rinks of play.
Selector Darren Grant, who played as a third in Colin Goldsworthy’s rink, said the club could take heart from its first-up performance.
“Obviously it was disappointing because it we would have liked to have won at home but the form line coming out of the game is good,” he said.
“Everyone played pretty well, they were just a bit better than us.
“There wasn’t much in it (in the end) but it was disappointing to lose all three rinks.”
David McNicoll suffered a 26-19 loss to Brian McMahon, George Draffen went down to Paul Howard 23-18 and Goldsworthy was defeated 21-19 by Daryl Andrew.
While disappointed not to walk away with a couple of rink points, Grant is confident the Lakers can bounce back with a bit of luck against Terang.
“The form line coming out of the game is pretty solid for a first up effort,” he said.
“Those guys at the big clubs have the facilities to get a lot more game practice in so that means we partly go in underprepared compared to those clubs.
“But as I said all three rinks played solid so we’ll go to Terang with a bit of confidence.”
Grant conceded Terang would hold a slight advantage entering the contest considering it was to be played on Terang’s territory.
But he knows his club will do everything it can to get itself up for the contest.
“Mortlake versus Terang is always a game that we’re happy to put a bit of extra effort in to win,” Grant said.
“We certainly don’t want to go zero and two at the start of the year so we’re out to win.
“I’m definitely expecting a close fought game.
“It’s played on their home surface which gives them a slight advantage but there’s plenty of our players who enjoy these free-running greens.”