With the semi-finals of the 2021 season completed, each division is now down to just three contenders remaining with no real clear favourites in any of them and all teams still in capable of winning a flag.

Division 1 minor round and reigning premiers German Club Underdogs got the jump on opponents Commercial Club Saints in the second semi-final and were out to a lead of 5-1 early in the piece.

Saints came back well winning 4 of the next 5 frames to make a match of it and keep themselves in contention but ultimately their opposition, Underdogs, were too strong and went on to take the win 8 frames to 6.

Starring for the victors was Shaun Patzel who was in good form winning 3 from 3 while this season’s “most frames” winner Tony Montesanto chalked up 2 wins.

“Best for the Saints were Matthew Driscoll – continuing on from last weeks’ outstanding effort – and David Johnston – who made amends for his winless qualifying-final – with 2 wins each.

Underdogs now look forward to another rest and will await an opponent in the grand final where they will attempt to make it three in a row while Saints will face elimination in the do-or-die prelim.

In the first semi-final it was a club derby with German Club Gatecrashers and German Club Meerkats fronting up to one another in a match that went right down to the black ball in the final frame.

The Gatecrashers opener got the team off on the right foot once again and when club president Bobby Huebner won his frame they were looking good with their nose a little further in front.

By completion of round 1 the Meerkats were down 4-1 and looking in danger of being wiped off the table but with wins posted in 4 of the 5 next frames the score was squared up at 5 apiece.

Gun Tony Renzi then got his third win of the night to put his team in front for the first time, Dan Champion got his third clearance (8 ball break) for the year, over significant other Karla Bowd – concidentally that makes 2 clearances from 2 attempts against Bowd this season – which levelled the score once again.

Stalwart and regular top 10 frame winner Trevor Wilson then put the Meerkats back in the lead and on the hill at 7 frames to 6.

All Gatecrashers’ hopes now rested on the shoulders of duo Ben Placucci and Kenny Bradley who would face Marc Letizia and barman Shaneo Brown.

Gatecrashers captain Placucci did well to take care of Letizia who went winless for the night after starring against Aussie last week in the elimination final which put all the pressure on Bradley and Brown with the scores locked at 7 all.

Brown had the ascendency for the most part of the frame but could not close it out leaving one yellow sitting over the corner pocket.

With the season on the line Bradley dug deep to clear his remaining 4 balls but in potting his final red, which he got absolutely brilliant position on to enable him to force it past Brown’s yellow in the pocket and get great position on the black, was fouled when the yellow somehow miraculously ended up in the adjacent corner.

Brown only needed to roll the black over the pocket with the first shot which allowed it to be easily potted on the second to get the frame and ultimately the match.

Meerkats will now face Saints in next week’s preliminary final while Gatecrashers will look forward to the free feed and drinks at the wind-up and presentation night which is to be held at Blue Lake Bar and Bistro on November 6.

Division 2 saw minor-round premiers Linksview having a good win over Commercial Club Lakers to progress straight to the grand-final.

Lakers will now look to the prelim where they will face Linksview Crawlers who easily accounted for RSL 8 frames to 3 who are now eliminated from the finals.

Commercial Club Cavemen have earnt themselves a grand final berth in division 3 after brushing aside minor premiers Commersh Chaos 8 frames to 4 in the second semi-final while Jens 1 snuck home 8-7 over German Club Outlaws.

Chaos and Jens 1 will now duke it out for the remaining grand final spot in the preliminary final next week.

German Club TNT will battle JT Sportsbar for a spot in the division 4 grand final against Eastern Allsorts who just got up 8 frames to 7 over JT Sportsbar in the second semi final.

In division 5, Victoria Hotel eliminated German Club Chokers in the first semi and will face Eastern Rangers – who went down to German Club Bandits (previously known as Bellum Bandits) – in the prelim.

The winner of the match will meet Bandits in the grand final.