Sydney Saints Crusade 21 Day 2
After a great start to our campaign for BPL21, the Saints players and Crusaders awoke early for another day of battle.
Day 2 Battles
Battle 6 – Melbourne Extreme
Set 1 – End 1 – held 3 and it was killed to drop 1. End 2 – dropped a 1. End 3 – dropped a 3. End 4 – Sir Ben turns off front knocker and Lady Dawn draws 3 more for a power play 8. End 5 – Dropped a power play 2 to hold on to win 8-7.
Set 2 – End 1 – Sir Jamie starts with two touchers first up and Sir Ben sits shot bowl to get a one. End 2 – Holding 3 extreme skip draws 1 with last bowl. End 3 – good end from the lads to collect a 3. End 4 – pick up a good 3 leading 7–1. End 5 – pickup a power play 4 win 11-1. A good start to the day.
Battle 7 – Perth
Set 1- End 1 – drop a 1. End 2 – Brilliant end from Sir Ben and Lady Dawn to collect a 4. End 3 – Lady Dawn plays a cracker but Carl plays a better 1 to score a 1. End 4 – drop a 2, 4 all going into the last end. End 5 – dropped a power play 6 to lose set 4–10. One bad end in this format and it can be curtains and frustration.
Set 2- End 1 – dropped a 2. End 2 – collect a 1. End 3 – collect a 1, 2-2. End 4 – Suns power play, Sir Ben draws a shot, 3-2. End 5 – Kristina necks the jack game over, Suns win.
Played good but small lapses and good play from the opposition means a loss.
Battle 8 – Lions
The local derby for the first time in BPL21.
Set 1 – end 1, Lady Dawn sits a bowl for a 2. End 2 – drop a 1. End 3 – drop a 1 for 2-2. End 4 – drop a 1, 2-3. End 5 – cracking end to score a 1 for a tied set. An extremely well played and tied set from all four players.
Set 2 – end 1 – holding a 3 but eventually drop a 4 with a jack in the ditch. End 2 – 2 on a power play, 2-4. End 3 – Sir Ben plays a cracker for 1, 3-4. End 4- dropped a 1, 3-5, need a 2 for a tied set. End 5 – dropped a 2, 3-7. Loss.
Once again good bowls but fine margins and good play from the opposition at the right time and we end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Battle 9 – Tridents
A change of tactics for our first game on the tv rink, which is decidedly different than the main green.
Set 1- Sir Ben lands a bowl for a 3 to start. End 2- dropped a 2. End 3- Sir Ben a cracker for 1. End 4 – dropped a 4 on the power play, 4-6. End 5 – dropped a 2, 4-8 loss.
Played a good set but one loose end and things not going our way and it results in a set loss.
Set 2 – end 1 – dropped a power play 4. End 2 – dropped a very unlucky 1. End 3 – dropped a 4 for 0-9. End 4 – dropped a 1, 0-10. End 5 – dropped a 3, 0-13. On to the next battle, enough said about this game.
Battle 10 – Pirates
Last battle for the day against the mighty Scot in Alex Marshall.
Set 1- end 1 and we start with a 2. End 2- cracking end, holding a 3 until Alex hits the head, we hold onto a 1, 3-0. End 3 – Brilliant Lady Dawnie jack in the sump for a big 4, 7-0. End 4- good end of bowls, dropped a 3, 7-3. End 5 – dropped a one, set win, 7-4.
Set 2 – dropped a 1, 0-1. End 2 – pick up a 1 with a measure, 1-1. End 3- unlucky result on a drive and we drop an 8 on the power play, 1-9. End 4- dropped a 2 on our power play, 1-11, set gone. End 5 – playing for pride, tie break coming our first for the event. Jack in the ditch from Sir Ben, 2-11.
Tie break – played a good end and holding 4 but very inviting and Burnett necks it in the ditch for the win.
Once again played well but little things not going your way and opposition good bowls and you end on the wrong side of the ledger in this amazingly tight battle for the BPL21 crown.
Finish the day with 4 losses to drop to 4 wins & 6losses. This is a better position than we were in at BPL20 at the same stage. Other than the rampaging Geelong Jets and the Tweed Ospreys, there is not much between the rest of the sides. Finish on the right side of the ledger on Day 3 and we are back in the competition. The Saints are in high spirits and playing well. As more and more reinforcements arrive, the more support there will be for our warriors.
On to Day 3.