Pennant Season 2019-2020 Round 12

PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – 2019/20 PENNANT SEASON – ROUND 12

Play resumed in both the Weekend and Midweek Pennant competitions last week after the longest Christmas break in recent memory.

SATURDAY

At third place on the ladder and having won five on the trot, Pakenham One (Div 1) was keen to resume hostilities, looking for a win at home against the resurgent Yarra Glen.  However after the completion of the first twenty ends, there was a lot of work to be done if they were to achieve that outcome; the rain affected green was not providing any home ground advantage and with the visitors up and about, the locals were down on all rinks and trailling by eight shots to 29!  Nevertheless, by the half way mark, with two rinks up and Geoff (Voota) Van Vugt’s crew picking up multiples, the score had swing back in the Lions’ favour by three shots.    By the commencement of the business ends of the game that margin had grown to seven shots and it was a battle all the way to the final 11 shot, 91/80 win.  Best rink with 33/20 was Geoff (Voota) Van Vugt (S), Glenn (Google) Bainbridge (3), David Wood (2) and Peter (Hacksaw) Bott (L).  The quote of the round which came from that rink was, “Voota makes Google look good” – make of that what you will.

The Ones are now second on the ladder but face two hard away games in a row – first against clear ladder leader Croydon and then in round 14 against Warburton, which is only one point behind them in third.

Pakenham Two (Div 2) had a day to forget at Glen Waverley.  Their opponents established an early lead and never looked in danger at any stage of the game, eventually recording a clear overall win by 88 shots to 56.  The Lions’ only winning rink with a score of 19 to 18 was Jim Barrie (S), (Stormin’) Norm Box (3), Ken Clifton (2) and (Razor) Ray Pigdon (L).  At ninth spot, the Twos desparately need to turn their season around – they have a tough home game against Edithvale (third) in round thirteen.

Although they also found that their home ground was not behaving as it usually does, Pakenham Three (Div 4) did not allow their opponents Hampton Park to get away from them on the top (Banks) Green.  After twenty ends, with two up and two down, the Lions held a slender two shot lead which they only managed to extend to five shots by the half way mark.  However they put the foot down after the break and by the commencement of the business ends were 16 shots in front and had two and a half rinks up.  They then dominated the run home to record a 98/67 win and with three successful rinks, collected 16 Pennant points.  Best rink with 36/10 was Allister Stewart (S), Sam Granieri (3), Roger Platt (2) and John Barlow (L).

At seventh on the ladder, the Threes face Mulgrave Country Club (fifth) on what is predicted to be very wet grass, next round.

Pakenham Four (Div 5) had a tough away game, bayside at Carrum.  They trailled for most of the match and were behind at all of the important milestones yet came home with a wet sail to snatch victory by just two shots (77/75) and collected 14 vital Pennant points.  Best of two winning rinks with a healthy 29/10 was Craig Cameron (S), Eric Peterson (3), Gail Bowman (2) and Helen Wright (L).  Despite the win, the Fours are still at the lower end of the ladder.  They have a home game against Keysborough (second) next round.

MIDWEEK

The big question of the week is, “Why do players who perform well and win on Saturday fail to fire midweek?” – If only we knew.  After winning two in a row prior to the Christmas break, Pakenham One (Div 1) were soundly thrashed at Berwick last Tuesday – and they couldn’t blame the greens as the grass was not rain affected and behaved beautifully. As a result of the loss, they dropped to eighth spot on the ladder but are still a full round clear of Carrum in ninth.  Their round 12 game away at Mordialloc is a, “must win” – in fact pretty much every game for the rest of the season falls into that category.

Pakenham Two (Div 2) were more than competitive at home against Keysborough.  After the completion of the first 15 ends, the scores were level at 14 apiece and at the half way mark, despite one rink being mauled, the Lions had a slender four shot lead.  However by the commencement of the business ends, that lead had been reduced to a single shot and the game was there for the taking; unfortunately, it was the visitors who came home that little bit stronger and at 51/53 Pakenham lost by just two shots.  Pakenham’s best rink with a creditable 27/10 was John (Giovanni) Donazzon (S), Peter Powney (3), Kevin (Digger) Goonan (2) and Ken Clifton (L).

The Twos are still in eighth spot but now have Churchill Waverley Golf and Keysborough breathing down their necks.  They are home again next round against Hampton Park One (seventh).

Although winning two of the three rinks, Pakenham Three (Div 4) were never really in the hunt at Noble Park, but they were never far away either.  A twelve shot deficit at the half way mark was marginally reduced to eleven shots by the start of the business ends and that had been whittled back to seven shots by the completion of play – perhaps if the game had been over 25 ends?  Best rink with 15/12 was Ray Illing (S), Ray Leggett (3), Vincent Bevilacqua (2) and John Barlow (L).  The Threes are still in seventh spot but face a tough opponent at home against clear ladder leader, Edithvale, next round.

Having forfeited a number of games this season due to insufficient numbers, the Six-A-Side Pakenham Four sit squarely on the bottom rung of the ladder which is disappointing for all involved.  Fortunately however, they were able to field a side last Tuesday and played host to their neighbours, Cardinia Waters (third).  They got the jump on the visitors and apart from a minor hiccup early in the contest were in front all day to run out winners in a low scoring game, 36/27.  Best rink with 18/12 was John Hickman (S), Graham Epps (2) and Judith Ferrari (L).

Despite collecting the maximum Pennant points, the Fours remain at the bottom of the ladder – what might the situation have been if they had been able to play every game?

HI-LO

The winner for Round 12 was Ray Leggett with number 12.

Des Leigh (Grizzly)