PAKENHAM BOWLS – SATURDAY PENNANT
Pakenham’s Division 1 side should be swabbed.
After knocking off the ladder leaders in round 11, they were brought crashing back to earth on Saturday with a loss to bottom-side Berwick.
There was no indication early of what was to come; after the first 20 ends the Lions had one rink in front and one all square but overall, there was a difference of just one shot.
However, by the half-way mark, Pakenham had only one rink up (by a single shot) and the overall deficit had grown to 11 shots…not good, but still manageable.
As the game approached its business ends, the Lions had their noses in front on two rinks but were being badly mauled on one of the others and the Wickers’ overall lead had grown to 17 shots.
The rink which was struggling then regrouped to match its opponent in the run home, but the other – which had kept its rival within reach – suffered a total melt down over the last five ends.
Despite finishing with two rinks up, Pakenham lost overall by 61 shots to 85.
Best rink with 21 to 15 was Tommy Lodge (S), Daniel Carroll (3), Ned Courtin (2), and David Saint (L).
The Ones have dropped to sixth spot on the ladder, one point behind Cranbourne and ahead of Clayton by percentage only.
They will host Cranbourne on Saturday for the penultimate round of the home-and-away season.
After two weeks on the road, Pakenham Two (Div 3) was at home on Saturday to Narre Warren, a side which they had beaten by just three shots in round five.
Another tough game was expected and that was exactly what was served up.
After the first 20 ends both sides had two rinks in front but it was the locals who held a 19 to 16 shot advantage.
By afternoon tea however, the visitors had turned the tables to establish a seven-shot lead, although the situation was still two up and two down at that stage.
After the break, with a spirited address by “Stormin” Norm Box ringing in their ears, the Lions took to the field with renewed energy but by the start of the run home they had only managed to reduce the deficit by one shot and at that stage were down on three of the four rinks.
It was an all-in battle over the last 20 ends with the Lions drawing within one shot on two occasions but it was the Panthers, with two up and one drawn, who eventually took the spoils with a tight, four shot, 81 to 77 win.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 24 to 15 was Keith Lewis (S), Paul Currie (3), Des “Grizzly” Leigh (2) and Luis Aguilar (L).
The Twos have dropped to sixth on the ladder, three points behind Berwick and Cheltenham (separated only by percentage) and one ahead of Beaumaris.
With only four points between fourth and seventh, they are still a chance for the four – their next game will be away at Berwick.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) was also at home on Saturday where they proudly flew the Lions banner, getting all four rinks up in a crushing win over Noble Park.
Pakenham’s players hit the ground running in that game and after just 20 ends, with the score at 39 shots to five, had the visitors shell shocked.
Their score included an elusive eight, picked up by Bill Bosch, Rick Burns, Maree Taylor and Wayne Oosthuizen.
Although the Bulls had managed to get a few shots on the board by the half-way mark, the score had blown out to 70 to 22 by that stage and the Lions were cruising.
After the break, the visitors dug deep and over the next 24 ends managed to double their score but, by the start of the business ends, with the score at 89 to 48, were still well behind.
The Lions put the boot in again in the run home, winning by 112 shots to 60 and collecting maximum Pennant points.
Pakenham’s best rink with 33 shots to 12 was Charles Harris (S), Ken Clifton (3), Ray Leggett (2) and Trent Bedford (L).
The Threes are still in second position on the ladder; however, they must continue to win as Burden Park and Narre Warren still threaten, behind by just nine and 11 points respectively.
The major upset this round was Mulgrave Country Club being thrashed at home by Burden Park; however, Mulgrave still sits comfortably on top of the ladder, almost two full rounds clear of Pakenham.
The Lions will host Narre next round and play Mulgrave away in round 14.
After their huge win last round, Pakenham Four (Div 7) faced its game at Mulgrave Country Club with renewed confidence.
However, they were up against it almost from the outset as Ray Illing experienced a medical episode and was taken to hospital shortly after play commenced, leaving the team one member and approximately 38 bowls short.
Ray is one of nature’s true gentlemen and a pretty handy bowler; I know that I am joined by all members of the club in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Despite the early disruption and concern for their teammate, the Lions got away to a good start and led by 21 shots to 13 with three rinks up after the first 20 ends.
However, by the half-way mark the situation had been reversed and it was the locals with three rinks up and a four-shot lead.
Once given a taste of the lead, Mulgrave wanted more and they continued to build on their score, eventually putting together a comprehensive 87 to 59 shot win with three rinks up.
Pakenham’s only winning rink, with 16 shots to 13 was Dave Wood (S), Gary “Crow” Crowley (3), Gayle Harkness (2) and Karen Oosthuizen (L).
Despite the loss, the Fours still cling to the fourth rung of the ladder with Churchill Waverley Golf, Mulgrave Six and Cranbourne RSL breathing down their necks.
Their next opponent will be Narre Warren at Narre.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 1), second on the ladder, was home to Moorabbin, eighth, for a game which, for the most part, went according to expectations.
With two rinks up and the third all square, the Lions had established a 24 shot to 16 lead at the completion of the first 15 ends.
By about lunch time it was still two up and one level but Pakenham had not, at that stage, been able to build on its lead which remained at eight shots.
After the break however, the Lions put the foot down and by the start of the business ends were in front on all three rinks and held a lead of 59 shots to 36.
That pressure was maintained in the run home with Pakenham outscoring the Thunder by 30 shots to four over the last 15 ends to bag a big 89 to 40 win, collecting maximum points in the process.
Pakenham’s best rink, with 36 shots to 13, was Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (S), Terry “TMac” McRedmond (3), Peter Bott (2) and Lynne Smith (L).
The Ones are still in second spot, nine points ahead of Berwick and 20 behind Clayton.
Their round 12 opponent will be Berwick, away.
Pakenham Two (Div 3), top of the ladder, was away at Noble Park, fourth.
The locals gave the visitors a run for their money in the early stages of that game and after 15 ends each side had one up, one down and one level with Pakenham in front by a single shot.
However, from that point forward, the Lions began to demonstrate why they hold top spot on the ladder and by lunch time had all three rinks up and an overall lead of 39 shots to 20.
Pakenham continued to apply that pressure after the break and by the start of the home run had established a 30-shot lead which they continued to build on, finishing the day with all rinks up and a dominant final score of 80 shots to 39.
Best rink with 28 to 13 was Paul Currie (S), Vince Bevilacqua (3), Ken Clifton (2) and Judith Ferrari (L).
The Twos sit on top of the ladder, 12 points ahead of Cardinia Waters and 33 (more than two rounds) in front of Cranbourne.
They will host Cranbourne next round.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) got away to a slow start at Mt Waverley and were 10 shots to 15 down after the first 15 ends – although they had two rinks up at that stage.
From that point forward there were big swings in both directions throughout the day; e.g. the Pakenham rink which had failed to score during the first five ends picked up nine to three over the next five and a Pakenham rink which had been travelling well all day dropped the last six in a row to scrape in by two shots.
All in all, it was a far from convincing win.
However, “a win is a win” and although it was only by five shots, with two rinks up, the Lions came home with 14 of the available 16 Pennant points and still have a firm grip on the top rung of the ladder, 33 points (just over two rounds) ahead of Narre Warren and 46 (nearly three rounds) clear of Cardinia Waters.
Best rink with 23 to 15 was Bill Bosch (S), Mick Knight (3), Wayne Oosthuizen (2) and Graham Cooper (L).
The Threes will be home to Narre Warren next round.
HI-LO
The round 12 winner was Gian Pianezzola with number four.
-Des Leigh-
