PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB
SATURDAY
While all lower Divisions played round 11 on Saturday, Division One played round 12 as a result of the double-header in December.
Although buoyed by good wins over the previous three rounds, Pakenham One (Div 1) faced a formidable task at Heathmont on Saturday.
Their hosts sat on the second rung of the Pennant ladder and had recently beaten the clear competition leader, Flemington Kensington.
There were promising signs for the Lions early in this game – after the first twenty ends both sides had two rinks in front and there was only one shot in it.
Even at the half way mark, Pakenham still had one rink ahead by five shots with two others each only two shots down and despite the score beginning to blow out on the fourth, the overall margin was still a manageable nine shots.
From that stage to the start of the business ends however, with two rinks haemorrhaging badly, the deficit grew to 31 shots.
Although the Lions virtually matched their opponents in the run home, they eventually lost by 32 shots and returned to Pakenham with zero Pennant points.
The Ones are still in sixth spot but are now only seven points clear of Bacchus Marsh and 12 ahead of Parkdale.
They have an opportunity to widen the gap with a home game against Bacchus Marsh next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 4), top of the ladder, headed down the road to play the “Old Enemy” Berwick which held second spot.
As expected, this game was tight all day – after the first twenty ends the Lions had two rinks up, one level pegging and at 18 to 17, a lead of just one shot.
By the half way mark, Pakenham still had two rinks in front and one all square but with the score at 42 to 41, the leading margin had not changed.
By the start of the business ends however, there had been some movement – at that stage Pakenham was two up and two down but their overall lead had doubled to two shots!
The locals then seemed to find another gear – or perhaps they read the change in conditions on their beautiful grass green better than the visitors – and in a close finish, managed to best the Lions by just four shots.
All was not lost for Pakenham however, with two rinks up and one drawn they returned home with five Pennant points and still hold top spot on the ladder, now 22 points ahead of Berwick and 26 clear of Mulgrave in third.
Their next outing will be a home game against Cardinia Waters (fourth) followed by Upwey Tecoma (fifth) and Mulgrave (third).
Berwick, by comparison, has (on paper at least) an easier run home with their final three games against the sides in sixth, seventh and eighth.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks, with 21 to 19, was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Brian Norton (3), Ash Graham (2) and Jan Moore (L).
Pakenham Three (Div 6) took advantage of being the only side at home last Saturday and with sole use of the scoreboard, set about posting another big score.
They got the jump on their Upwey-Tecoma opponent right from the start and by the completion of the first twenty ends had a lead of 34 to six, with all rinks in front.
After recovering from their initial shock, the visitors began to make some impact on the scoreboard but at the half way point the Lions still had all rinks in front and at 56 to 25 had more than doubled the Tigers’ tally.
It was a case of more of the same for the remainder of the game, although one of the visitors’ rinks rallied to record a small victory.
The final outcome was a win by Pakenham, 107 shots to 56 with three winning rinks.
Best rink with an astounding score of 40 shots to three was Charles Harris (S), Luis Aguilar (3), Michael Hahn (2) and Sandra “Wildwoman” Wilde (L).
Still undefeated this season, the Threes hold top spot on the ladder, 16 points ahead of Narre Warren and 52 clear of Monbulk.
Now, with three rounds to go, even if the wheels fall off, they are guaranteed a home final.
Their next game will be away at Ferntree Gully (fifth) followed by the danger game at Narre Warren.
Pakenham Four (Div 7) were actually able to put a full team together on Saturday and they made the most of it with a good, hard fought win at Edithvale.
The Lions were behind for most of that game but they never allowed the deficit to get out of hand. With two up and two down they trailed 13 to 17 after the first twenty ends and 36 to 38 at the half way mark.
By the start of the business ends Pakenham had only one rink in front but at 54 to 58 the margin was still manageable.
They then fought out a gutsy run home and with two rinks up and one drawn and the final score at 79 to 73, won by six shots.
Best rink with 22 to 15 was Adrian “A-Train” Wheelan (S), Trent “Rowdy” Bedford (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Richard Grace (L).
The Fours remain in sixth spot but are now 25 points clear of Burden Park in seventh.
MIDWEEK
All three Midweek sides chalked up wins again last week.
Pakenham One (Div 2) were away at Cranbourne.
The game started slowly, with both sides easing into it and after the first 15 ends, despite having two rinks in front, Pakenham trailed by one shot.
As the Lions became accustomed to the conditions, that situation was turned around and at the half way mark they had grabbed the lead, 33 shots to 27.
From that point the Lions powered away, to be ahead by 55 to 37 at the start of the business ends and then finishing with two up, one drawn and a final score of 87 to 42.
Best rink with 43 to eight, including 17 to nil over the last six ends, was Neil “Big Dev” Devlin (S), Chris “Foxy” Fox (3), Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (2) and Peter Bott (L).
The Ones retain top spot on the ladder, 14 points clear of The Dandenong Club and 15 ahead of Parkdale.
They will be away at Dandy next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) were home to Monbulk.
The Lions were dominant from the very start of that game and with two rinks up, held a lead of 21 shots to 12 after the first 15 ends.
That lead had grown to 49 to 24 by the half way mark and 66 to 36 by the start of the business ends.
Despite one rink lagging behind, the Lions were always in control and coasted to an 81 to 54 win. Best rink with 37 shots to 15 was Jim Williams (S), Brian Norton (3), Gary “Crow” Crowley (2) and Sandra “Wildwoman” Wilde (L).
The Twos also kept top spot on the ladder, 14 points clear of Narre Warren and 21 clear of Monbulk. They will be home again next round to Noble Park (sixth).
Pakenham Three (Div 6) shared the home ground with the Twos but gazumped them on the scoreboard.
Playing Narre Warren, they bolted to a 24 to five lead after the first fifteen ends and by the half way point had blown that out to 50 to 14.
The pressure was kept up after lunch and by the start of the business ends the score was 65 to 23. The final outcome was a win to Pakenham on all three rinks with the final score at 81 to 36.
Best rink with 33 to 11 was Peter Wilson (S), Luis Aguilar (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Jan Stevenson (L).
The Threes have a firm grip on the top rung of the ladder, 34 points clear of Burden Park and 51 ahead of Churchill Waverley Golf.
Their next outing will be at Churchill Waverley Golf.
HI-LO
The winner for round 11 was Ken Clifton with number 22.
-Des Leigh-
