The East Cessnock Comets can claim the 2014 Invitational Big Bowls minor premiership with a perfect performance in their final round match against the Kahibah Bears on Friday night.
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The third-placed Comets will finish the regular season in first spot if they clean sweep the struggling Bears across all three rinks and take maximum points from the round 15 fixture.
The two-time champions (2008, 2012) need to beat the hosts 16-0 to jump Ettalong and Raymond Terrace, who have both completed their final round matches this week, on the overall standings.
With one game in hand the Comets (139) trail leaders Ettalong (155) and second-placed Raymond Terrace (153), but 16 points would place them alongside the Eagles on top of the ladder.
However, the Comets would clinch the minor premiership over the Central Coast outfit based on a greater number of wins.
The Comets and Eagles have 11 wins each, but success for East Cessnock on Friday night would take them to 12 victories this year.
The Comets have it all in front of them because anything less than a 16-point win and Ettalong would be crowned minor premiers.
Ettalong can finish no lower than second.
If East Cessnock were to triumph by 14 points on Friday night they would draw level with Raymond Terrace, but move past the Jets based on wins this season.
Raymond Terrace can finish no higher than second and no lower than third East Cessnock could finish anywhere from first to fifth depending on how fourth-placed Soldiers Point (131) and fifth-placed Charlestown (128) fare against Toronto (76) and Lambton (113) respectively.
Regardless of the East Cessnock’s result on Friday night the Comets, Raymond Terrace and Ettalong are assured of playing semi-finals, which start on Wednesday.
Defending champions Kurri Kurri (124.5) are sitting in sixth position but a 13-2 loss to Raymond Terrace on Tuesday means three teams below the Cannons – Nelson Bay (119), Lambton (113) and Valentine (110) – could push them out of the top eight if they all win by the right margins in the final round.
Nelson Bay needs six against Maitland City (71), Lambton 12 versus Charlestown and Valentine a clean sweep over Wallsend (74).
In other round 15 action Ettalong enjoyed a narrow 8-7 win against East Maitland (100.5) and Beresfield (90) were due to play Alder Park (56.5) on Thursday night.
