Pennant Season 2019-2020 Round 9

PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – 2019/20 PENNANT – ROUND 9

Bowlers on Saturday experienced something which has been rare so far this season – a fine and mild day!

Pakenham’s Div 1 side were at home to former ladder leaders Burden Park, which at third spot were two rungs above the Lions on the ladder and travelling well – however they were in for a shock.  The home side established a lead quite early in the game and by the half way point had three rinks up, one level and an overall lead of 18 shots.  After the break, the pressure was maintained and as the contest enterred the business ends the situation was three up, one down (just) and an overall lead of  28 shots.  When the dust settled, the Lions won by 40 shots (98/58) and with three rinks up collected 16 Pennant Points.  The losing rink only went down by a single shot on the final end.  Best of the winners with a massive 36/7 score were Foxy (Chris Fox) (S), Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (3), Kevin (Smurf) Murphy (2) and Ian (Lefty) Anderson (L).

With the season now at the half way mark, the Lions hold fourth spot on the ladder.  They will be home again in round 10 against Beaumaris, third.

The Second Division of the Pennant competition continues to grow stronger and quit a few of the sides in Div 2 would provide a real challenge to some of the Div 1 teams.  Last Saturday Pakenham Two were pitted against one such team in The Dandenong Club One – that club’s top side and the clear ladder leader.  It was obvious from the outset that the Lions had a battle on their hands and by the half way point, with only one rink up, their score was barely half that of their opponent.  They eventually lost 54/95 and collected just two Pennant points.  The one winning rink (18/17) was Jim Barrie (S), (Stormin’) Norm Box (3), (Razor) Ray Pigdon (2) and Sandra (Wildwoman) Wilde (L).  Now in ninth spot, they will be away again next round for the battle of the cellar dwellars at Hampton Park.

Pakenham Three (Div 4) unfortunately snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at home against Beaumaris Three.  They led at all of the important milestones and were up by 10 shots at the commencement of the business ends, only to experience a turnaround of 16 shots in the run home, which at 69/75 saw them lose by six shots.  With a score of 23/15 and in front all day, the Lions’ one winning rink was Bill Bosch (S), David Moore (3), Adrian (ATrain) Wheelan (2) and Lois Mashado (L).  Now in fourth spot, the Threes will host ladder leaders, The Dandenong Club Two, in round 10.

The story was similar for Pakenham Four.  Although they trailled early in their game at Churchhill Waverley Golf, they had  established a lead of 15 shots by the half way mark, with two up and two down.   At the commencement of the business ends that lead had only been slightly eroded and the Lions were looking good but the home side pushed that bit harder and ran them down in the home straight to win by two shots.  The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks with 27/14 was Ray Illing (S), Eric Peterson (3), John Hickman (2) and Graham Epps (L).  Now on the bottom of the ladder, they will be away to Berwick Seven (sixth) next round.

MIDWEEK

Pakenham One (Div 1) did not enjoy their outing down by the sea at Carrum last Tuesday; it blew a gale all day and the Lions simply could not handle the conditions (it must have been extreme if it was windier than Pakenham).  While our players were struggling to keep their caps on the locals jumped away to a big lead and although that was steadily reduced as the day wore on, Carrum never looked to be in strife.  The final result was a 10 shot win for the locals.  The one winning rink for Pakenham with a very healthy 25/13 was Gary (Crow) Crowley(S), Jim Williams (3), (Stormin’) Norm Box (2) and Val Moore (L).  Ironically, despite the loss, the Ones, at eighth spot, are still one point ahead of Carrum on the ladder.  They play Brighton (third) at home next round.

Playing host to Berwick Two, Pakenham Two lagged behind early in their game, despite having two rinks in front.  However players on those rinks soon found another gear and the home side was up by nine shots at about lunch time even though the third rink looked like it was in for a hiding.  Unfortunately that proved to be the case and as a result of a big win on one rink, the visitors went home victorious by four shots (60/64).  The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks was John Tarr (S), Ken Clifton (3), Peter Powney (2) and Sandra (Wildwoman) Wilde (L) with 23/14.  The Twos are now in seventh spot – they will be across town at Cardinia Waters (ninth) next round.

Pakenham Three (Div 4) stayed with their opponents in the earlier ends of their game on the grass at Mulgrave Country Club and even at the half way mark were only six shots behind, with one well up, one well down and the third more or less level pegging.  However the locals proved too strong and with two rinks up, eventually won the game by 12 shots with a score of 63/51.  The Lions’ winning rink was John (Giovanni) Donazzan (S), Kevin Holley (3), Jan Stevenson (2) and Helen Wright (L) with a score of 21/17.  Now in seventh, they will be home to Berwick Five (tenth) next round.

Pakenham Four had the bye.  Now in ninth, they will be away at Hampton Park (sixth) next round.

HI-LO

Saturday’s winner was Luis Aguilar with number nine.

 Des Leigh (Grizzly)