CRANBOURNE BOWLS
Welcome back to Pennant Bowls following the Christmas break and a happy New Year to one and all.
Saturday was a glorious sunny day, warm, with a stiff breeze blowing but this didn’t stop bowls games from starting in round 10.
Cranbourne 1 Div 1, playing at home, took on Parkdale 1 on the front synthetic and the matches were good. Staying in the hunt to play finals, Cranbourne 1 eventually overpowered the Parkdale 1 team, winning three rinks and sharing one. Best rink of the day was skipped by Shane Jakins, with Nick Arnold (3), Hayden Leveridge-Watkins (2), and Stephen Bentley (Lead) winning 20-11. Honourable mentions also to Jay Tootell’s team, who won by seven shots, along with Ryan Drummond who won by five. The team led by Scott Guymer drew with their opponents.
• Cranbourne 1 Div 1 (76) def Parkdale 1 (55) + 21 shots and 17 points. Ladder Position: Fifth.
Cranbourne 2 Div 2 travelled to Dandenong Club 2 to play on the under-roof synthetic. Well what a day; Dandenong Club 2 played out of their hats, and we didn’t, to put it simply. For a team sitting second on the ladder it was a terrible display, but you can only do what your opponents allow you too and our opponents played the better bowls on the day. Despite losing all rinks, we much acknowledge our best rink effort. Skipped by Neil Drummond, Fred Scicluna (3), Billy Bradbury (2) and Marijan Bobetic (Lead) fought it out to the end, going down by four shots. I’m sure this team will be back to their best this Saturday.
• Cranbourne 2 Div 2 (43) def by Dandenong Club 2 (106) – 63 shots and zero points. Ladder Position: Third.
Cranbourne 3 Div 3 hosted Dandenong Club 3 and played their game on the back grass green. Like their number two team who savaged our number two team at Dandenong, this team came ready to play, and play they did, at the expense of Cranbourne 3.
The best rink was skipped by Phil Nielsen, with Dermot McConville (3), John Stanley (2), with Roger Townley (Lead) who were defeated by four shots. Cranbourne was playing the top of the ladder Dandy team, and they need a big confidence booster and can hopefully get some wins before seasons end.
• Cranbourne 3 Div 3 (57) def by Dandenong Club 3 (117) – 60 shots and zero points. Ladder Position: Eighth.
Cranbourne 4 Div 6 took the short trip to the Cranbourne RSL 1 at Silks to do battle on their very tricky synthetic, especially with the wind making it more difficult. Following a couple of close losses, this team took the opportunity to get to the venue a little earlier than normal and availed of the time and opportunity to get some practice. They worked on line and speed and I really believe this helped us win a very close encounter. There is not much between the two teams, but to get a win playing away is something special.
The best rink for the day belonged to skip Cheryl Wright, with Scott De Piazza (3), Jo Alsop (2) and Jacqui Warner (Lead) winning their rink by eight shots.
Cranbourne 4 eventually won two rinks, lost 1 and drew one.
The rink who lost was down 15-2 at one stage, but continued to fight and keep their loss to a minimum and this they did eventually going down by 10 shots.
• Cranbourne 4 Div 6 (70) def Cranbourne RSL 1 (68) + 2 shots and 15 points. Ladder Position: Third.
Cranbourne 5 (Div 8 Sth) forfeited its game against Churchill Waverley Golf 2 due to the lack of available players. Ladder Position: Sixth.
-Derek Maguire-
