Sturt III and IV both enjoyed strong wins on Saturday 31 October, with each side producing encouraging performances across the rinks.
Sturt III recorded a percentage-boosting 90–67 victory over Ascot Park V, while Sturt IV overcame some late selection disruptions to defeat Colonel Light Gardens II 69–50.
Team Manager Ralph Hounslow and Team Leader Nick Manglaras report on two satisfying afternoons — although Nick viewed his through the unmistakable lens of Spring Carnival racing.
Sturt III report by Team Manager Ralph Hounslow
Sturt III went into Round 4 with two losses, each by one shot, and a win, putting us fifth on the ladder.
Our opponents, the always threatening Ascot Park V, were sitting third on the ladder. Overnight rain and a grey drizzly morning looked ominous although the BOM assured us that all would be well by game time.
Gerry Dillon’s rink (Dave Paley, Karen Esdale, Brett Lymn) took control early and held that control all day for a nice win 21–14, taking 14 ends.
Margie Haines’s rink (Victoria Kavanagh, Jim Trenerry, Cheryl Saunders) had a good battle all day finishing two down, 20–22.
Mocha Dunstan’s rink (Alan Speck, Noal Mullins, Ralph Hounslow) also had a day-long arm wrestle, succumbing by two shots, 17–19.
Big winner for the day was Wyatt Groth’s rink (Silvio Marrollo, Keith Sinkinson, Peter Hughes) who took a six on the first end and never looked back from there. Their final count was 32–12.
It was a nice win with a percentage-boosting 90–67. Good day out for Sturt III.
Sturt IV report by Team Leader Nick Manglaras
With the spring carnival in full swing, the Sturt IV thoroughbreds came out to play.
Selection was in slight disarray, with injuries, multiple forfeits and last-minute substitutions, but that didn’t distract the Sturters.
Some rain overnight, but the track was firm with a good covering of grass: not a day for mudlarks.
Sturt IV took on Colonel Light Gardens II and showed them a clean pair of heels, winning 69–50.
The Griffith and Manglaras rinks got out of the gates quickly and led all day, each winning by 13 lengths, I mean shots.
Dirk de Jong was solid as ever as the lead, with Jackie Hammond, Robb Nuus and John Griffith using the whip judiciously to inflict pain on the opposition.
On the adjacent track, Joylene Koch was rolling the jack with precision onto the T with monotonous regularity.
Lesley Dunstall, Stewart Adams and Nick Manglaras followed her lead to leave the opposition scrambling to make the distance. Some cunning tactical play designed by Joylene.
The Phil Scardigno rink (with John Fullerton, Den Vail and David Beales) got left at the gates, down 15–0 after six ends. A sluggish start, but an excellent finish, picking up 17 shots to 9 in the latter part of the race.
The excellent sandwiches, laced with furosemide, did the trick.
Special mention to John Fullerton, playing his first game, who showed excellent promise. He will be better for the run and should be backed in.
The Scardigno rink showed what Sturters are made of – never give up the race, plug away and do it for the team.
All in all, a good day made even better by the phenomenal support in the grandstands.