Pennant Season 2019 – 2020 Round 18
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT ROUND 18 – 7 MARCH 2020-03-08
The last home and away round of Weekend Pennant was played last Saturday, whereas the final round of Midweek Pennant is scheduled for Tuesday 10 March.
SATURDAY
There were two parts to the equation which would see Pakenham One advance into the Div1 finals for season 2019/20: (a) they had to win well at Burden Park in the final round; and (b) teams above them on the ladder had to lose. Obviously, the first element was the only one over which they had any control and it was therefore very much a case of “heads down and tails up” from the moment they stepped onto the beautifully prepared grass at Springvale last Saturday.
The game was very close in the early stages and after the first twenty ends, with three rinks in front, the Lions had a slender overall lead of just two shots. By the mid way mark the locals had grabbed the lead on two rinks but Pakenham was scoring well on the other two and the margin had by that stage grown to 14 shots. The Lions kept plugging away after the break and came home strongly across the green and with three rinks up, won fairly comfortably by 24 shots – tick that box – part one completed! Best rink with 35/12 was Geoff (Voota) Van Vugt (S), Glenn (Google) Bainbridge (3), Dave Wood (2) and Peter (Hacksaw) Bott (L) – wonderful to see big Voota hitting some great form at the business end of the year. Big Dev’s rink got up 22/19 and Gribbo’s crew outscored their opponents 8/1 in the last five ends to come home with a wet sail for a 21/19 win. Foxy’s rink battled all day against very good opponents but never gave up, falling short by just four shots at the final hurdle.
Part two of the equation was also met with both Beaumaris and Yarra Glen losing and Cheltenham being held to a draw. The ladder was so tight that Pakenham’s win lifted them from seventh to fourth, leapfrogging three clubs which had jumped over them last week. The Ones will approach their semi-final against ladder leaders Croyden (at Croydon) next Saturday with renewed confidence.
Pakenham Two (Div2), has had an unrewarding season, depleted as it has been by the loss of players from last year’s Div1 and Div2 sides and struggling in a competition which grows stronger every year. To cap of their season, they played the last round against clear ladder leaders, The Dandenong Club (who will give many Div1 sides a real shock next season). The Lions were never in the hunt at any stage of the game and eventually went down on all rinks to the tune of 34 shots. However Peter Ellis (S), Terry Sullivan (3), Reg (Wombat) Mattingly (2) and Adrian (ATrain) Wheelan (L) had a real crack, eventually losing by just three shots at 17/20.
Hopefully, the Twos will be more competitive next season in Div3.
Although beaten comprehensively (56/95) in the final round at Beaumaris on Saturday, Pakenham Three (Div4) can look back with some satisfaction on their season – they finished fifth on the ladder and with a little luck could have been contesting the finals. They can look forward to another competitive season in 2020/2021.
Pakenham Four (Div5) finished off their up and down season with an excellent win at home against Churchill Waverley Golf. They established a big lead early in that game and by the half way mark, at 66/30, had more than doubled their opponents’ score. They never took the foot off at any stage and ended the day with a total of 102 shots to 64 with three rinks up and one drawn. Two rinks finished with 13 shots up: Eric Peterson (S), Craig Cameron (3), Ray Wood (2) and Helen Wright (L) and Alan Waterson (S), Ian Kitt (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Joan Montgomery (L). The Fours can look forward to a good season in Division 6 in 2020/2021.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div1) were at home to Carrum. Although the winning margin in that game was only 12 shots, the Lions appeared to be in control at all stages of the contest and held a handy lead at all of the important milestones. Best of two winning rinks with 22/13 was Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (S), Terry (TMac) McRedmond (3), Peter (Hacksaw) Bott (2) and Graeme (Wildman) Wilde (L). Now in ninth spot, the Ones will be away at Brighton (seventh) for the final round. A win could see them displace Carrum (eighth) and avoid relegation – although playing at home, Carrum have a tough game against Keysborough (fourth).
The Second Division Twos were just down the road at Berwick who proved to be anything but hospitable. The Lions struggled from the outset and fell further and further behind as the day progressed and a half time deficit of 11 shots blew out to 31 by the completion of play. With a low score of 21/19, Pakenham had one winning rink– Ave Jones (S), Roger Platt (3), Kevin (Digger) Goonan (2) and John Hickman (L). Now in tenth spot, the Twos face relegation; however as is the case with the Ones, a win at home against Cardinia Waters (admittedly, a tough assignment, tenth v third) could see them finish in eighth position.
Pakenham Three (Div4) had a magnificent fighting win at home against Mulgrave. After 15 ends, the Lions were in strife, trailling the visitors by nine shots to 24. Somehow they knuckled down to convert that score to 38 all by the half way mark and then continued the pressure after the break to get two rinks up and at 69/59, win overall by 10 shots. Best rink with 24/15 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Reg (Wombat) Mattingly (3), Ian Kitt (2) and Roy Harvie (L). Helen Wright played very well (some say too well) as a sub for Mulgrave who were a player short as the result of a bizarre last minute accident in their own car park.
Now in eighth, the Threes will play the last game of their season at Berwick (tenth). With seventh, eighth and ninth on equal points separated only by percentage, it is a “must win” game.
The Six-A-Side team had a bye. They will finish off the season with a home game against Hampton Park Two (seventh).
HI-LO
The winner (double the money) for the final round with number 11 was Peter Powney who seems to be on a winning streak at present.
Des Leigh (Grizzley)
