AT first glance, Rosamond Bowls Club appears to be the equivalent of a boxer fighting out of his weight division.
The plucky Rockets defied the pundits by moving to the top of the Royal Victorian Bowls Association (RVBA) Premier Division ladder earlier this season.
But some unwelcome additions to the losses column has resulted in a tumble out of the top four for Steve Fowler’s team, which is in its third year in the top competition.
The Rockets sit in seventh position, with a 5-5 win-loss record.
Despite being minus a chequebook, Rosamond are a united bunch and cannot be taken lightly by any opposition.
Fowler said the first challenge was avoiding relegation in such a tight competition.
“We’re still in touch with the top four. For us, staying out of relegation is the big thing with all the money that gets thrown around (by other clubs),” skipper Fowler said.
“We really want to have a crack at the top four, and we’re still a chance.
“We’re probably above where I thought we’d be, in all honesty. We’re having a go, and that’s all you can really ask.”
Rosamond has proven it can spar with, and conquer, the blue chip teams. This season the Rockets boast wins against Altona and Essendon, but have also narrowly lost against Clayton and Moonee Ponds.
A relatively kind draw post-Christmas, which includes games against Sunbury, Melton, Werribee and Bundoora, has left Fowler confident his side can make an unexpected run towards the finals.
Up-and-comer Jay Bye-Norris, who is just 13, has impressed in the early stages of his life in the Premier Division side, while David Zitter has been the standout performer.
“This is our third year in, and all the other clubs have been in and established for a long time. It’s very hard, when you come in, to stay up,” Fowler said.
“Guys are now in their third year, so they’re getting a bit more seasoned.
“Let’s face it. There is no way we will get relegated this year, so they’ll have another year under their belt, which is a bonus for us.
“We’re not getting smashed (when we lose), and the boys are also fighting and holding onto the leads, which is really good.”
One concern for the club, however, is player numbers.
“We’ve only got two sides, which is not good. All the other Premier clubs have five, six, seven, eight or nine sides.
“That’s the part that’s a bit worrying, but we’ll get on the membership drive again and see how we go.
“None of us get paid and we just go along and do our thing. I think the main part about our side is that we’re very compatible and very close.
“People don’t respect us, let’s face it. We have no state players.
“I think making the top-four would be a massive thing for the club, because we don’t have many members.
“I would hope to think we’d be able to give the top four a shake, but fifth or sixth would be a very good effort.”
Rosamond resumes playing against Sunbury on Saturday.
