General News
17 December, 2020
Lakers’ to change season goal
MORTLAKE Blue is set to turn its attention to finishing its Western District Bowls Campaign strongly after another loss last weekend all but dashed its finals hopes.
MORTLAKE Blue is set to turn its attention to finishing its Western District Bowls Campaign strongly after another loss last weekend all but dashed its finals hopes.
The Lakers suffered a 62-48 loss to Timboon Gold, which left them reeling in eighth spot on the ladder with a two-five record at the halfway point of the season.
Selector Darren Grant conceded his side’s finals chances were all but gone and admitted some of the responsibility for the Timboon loss laid with him.
“The scoreline was only bad because of the rink I skippered,” he said.
“Dave McNicoll won his rink and George Draffen only lost his by a few but our rink probably lost by 12 or 14 shots.
“With that loss it virtually puts us out realistic contention for the finals so now our focus is to try to finish as high on the ladder as possible.”
With the pressure set to be released slightly as the side changes tact, Grant said the Lakers would continue to field the strongest side each week.
He said the side wanted to salvage as many wins out of the season as possible and secure a place in division one next season.
“The obvious focus is to avoid relegation but the main one is to get the highest possible spot we can on the ladder,” Grant said.
“Shaping the four or the finals is still a little bit hard to judge this far out but it’s really just a case of us trying to win as many as we can.
“This week we play City Memorial Gold at home and we’re really going to try hard to beat them and finish off 2020 with a win.”
Grant said the Lakers were disappointed not to repeat its 2019/20 campaign, in which they reached the elimination final.
“Generally we’re disappointed right across all the rinks,” he said.
“I think I said last week that last year we were winning games and always falling over the line whereas this year we’re falling just before the finish line.
“It’s just disappointing we weren’t able to continue last year’s strong form.”
Grant believes Mortlake can still recapture that form, and hopes its as early as this weekend.
“City Gold will be hard to beat as they’re an in-form side,” he said.
“Timboon Gold was another in-form side and at one point we were close to beating them so we know we can do it.
“We know we can beat them if we regain our previous strong form.”
The Lakers will also have extra motivation to win the contest, with the match doubling as Shane Cashill’s last for the club.
Cashill is set to move interstate, which the Lakers had been preparing for since the opening rounds.
“We’ll be trying to win to give him a good send-off because he’s been a valued player while he’s played with us,” Grant said.