Wardrobe World Cup – Round 11

Cometh the hour – cometh he man! Who will step up in the last round and take their place in the finals series? There are some great matches to be played and plenty of pressure on that 6th placed finals berth.

The opening match is a top-of-the-table clash between season-long favourites – Hosel Rockets 3.0 – and Drawshank Redemptions. The Hosel Rockets have some big guns firing, with Semmler(s), Emerson, and Huggard producing the firepower, and our great sponsor Mr Tomich in good touch, too. Hosel-lover Chandler has gone quiet, though, so watch to see how he bounces back. They will be tough to beat, but there is good form on the other side of the ledger, too. Hoppe & Huggard back from holidays, Sladey in good touch, and bombers Di Stefano and Webb ready to post some big scores, the Drawshanks will take the fight up to the hosel jockeys.

A pivotal match in the deciding 6th place will see That’s a Dollar (6th) square off against the experienced campaigners from Horace’s Heroes (4th). Captain Mannall’s men have been quietly building (I know – it’s out of character for them to be quiet!), and are always competitive. Killa is a big game player, and Mick Peters and Bicko are both due. Lodgey has some new weapons in the bag and will be sure to make a good account of himself, as will Agent Orange. The penny pinchers from That’s A Dollar just have more to play for though, and I think they’ll come out swinging. Look for big efforts from quiet achievers Quinny, Orman, Mangan & Bannam, and less quiet results from Scam & Chad 🙂 . This one will go down to the wire, I reckon, but I’d put a dollar on the coin collective.

In another real nail-biter that could really impact the finals make-up, the Spray n Wipes (3rd) will be looking to end the season for the chirpy Cockatoos (7th). The scoring firepower of the cleaning crew is undeniable, with Hocking, Addison, O’Malley, Creek & Owen all capable of some big scores, and B Grade Champ Jay Oates clearly a big-game performer. These guys were early season leaders, but have come back to the pack a little (as the handicap police caught up to them! 🙂  ). The feathers will be flying, though, as the Cockatoos boast some of the most battle-hardened old heads in the competition. The great man, Ziggy, will lead the charge, with a strong team in tow. The Mexicans -Whitehead, McLeish & Willcox are all ready to fire if they can clear immigration, with Joey & Plunk both capable of big 40 pointers at any time. This one is a coin-toss, for mine.

Looking solid in 5th place, WWC virgins Jug A Naut start as favourites against the Outcasts (10th). The Outcasts have had an interrupted season with failing hips and failing excuses, they have come up a little short. There is still some fight in the old dogs, though, and I’d look for big efforts from Bernie, Col Trainer, and stalwart Crowie. The man with the bionic hip hasn’t had 44 points for a couple of weeks, so he must be due – watch for a big score from Bob Toal. I hope Robbo is safe and sound and can make it to play – we’d all love to see it. I think it’s an uphill battle for these guys, though, as the Jug A Naut just rolls on. Their scoring potential is huge and I reckon they’ll bust it out this week. I’m predicting Beesley & Robinson will lead the charge, but any of these guys can post a big stableford score.

Depending on where the chips fall, the match between Norfolk & Chance (8th) and the 3 Putts (9th) may provide a late entrant to the finals. The permutations could see the Norfolk boys jump into 6th with a a win, while the 3 Putters need a massive win and some luck, but are still mathematically possible. The yippers have loads of upside scoring capacity, with the Purtell boys, Franzie, and Hanley all with history of strong scoring, and Wilcox and Morey both able to fire, but I think the quiet achievers of the competition from Norfolk & Chance will be too consistent for them. Gary Davies is solid as a rock and will be one to count on. Messrs Booth, East, and Fisher are all very steady campaigners, while Salsbury and Elliott might be the dark horses that carry the day.

While the Wooden Spoon is sewn up for the hapless Huntingdale Heroes, there is pride to play for in the battle of the cellar-dwellers. Never ones to complain (???), the Wilson twins will have to stand up and be counted if the Heroes want the win. A good form line from Harves shows promise, but they’ll need a full team contribution to get the chocolates. Nige, Mick Keys, and Cirra will all need to hit the scoreboard. Oh, how the mighty have fallen, with the prior champions Angry Aardvarks languishing near the bottom of the ladder all year. Despite plenty of hot air from their leader, they could not float their balloon this year and will depart with a whimper, rather than a bang. While the infighting has been amusing, it hasn’t jelled for the Agitated Anteaters this season. The Major may be looking for a strong off-season campaign and list review as he looks back on a troubled year. His teammates may put him up for trade, though, based on the banter this year. Watch out for Redman & Goldsmith this week – both are due.

I am looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. It has been a fantastic season played in great spirit. A huge thank you to Mark Tomich for the sponsorship and support from Wardrobe World. We will advise details of the finals draws straight away, and announce the Presentation Night dates and details soon. Have a great week, and let the chirping begin.

Cheers

Mike Lane