Round 9 Pennant Report 2018/19
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – 2018/19 PENNANT ROUND 9
SATURDAY
It was imperative that the Pakenham One (Div 1) players maintained their match winning momentum at Mulgrave Country Club on Saturday and they did not disappoint, despite the fact that it was only the third time that they had played on grass this season. They were up and about from the word go, and by the completion of 20 ends had surged to a 28/10 lead with three rinks up and one level. By the half way point, the margin had grown to 56/32, still with three up and one square. The Coach’s plea after the tea break was predictable; it may have been in a broad Scottish brogue but the meaning was clear – keep the pressure up and don’t let them back in! The final result was a big 98/68 win with two rinks up and the other two only falling short by very narrow margins (one and three respectively). (New) best winning rink with 34/13 was Trent Gribbin (S), Dave Wood (3), Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (2) and Terry Sullivan (L).
The win elevated the Ones into the top four and incredibly, despite being unable to collect any points in the Sunday double header, (their round 10 game against Mentone having been rescheduled to 25 January) they were still in fourth position on Sunday night. They host second on the ladder Burden Park next Saturday for the final round of 2018.
For the majority of the other Pakenham sides it was a dirty weekend. Pakenham Two had “two that got away” and they were both at home. On Saturday they hosted Edithvale and were in front 46/41 at half time with three rinks up only to be outscored in the run home and go down 80/88 overall with two winning rinks. On Sunday against Berwick they started well but were caught by the half way mark. It then became an arm wrestle which could have gone either way but it was the “old enemy” unfortunately, which prevailed. Best winning rink on both days with 26/20 and 23/15 respectively, was Peter Ellis (S), Gary (Crow) Crowley (3), Charles Harris (2) and Ian (Lefty) Anderson (L).
The Twos now occupy the seventh rung of the ladder. They are away to Cranbourne 1 (sixth) next round.
Pakenham Three (Div 3) continue their year in purgatory. They also let two chances slip away – on Saturday at half time they had three rinks up and the narrowest of leads (one shot) over the visiting Edithvale only to fall by the way side, eventually losing 73/91 with only one successful rink. On Sunday against second placed Narre Warren they had two rinks up and again a one shot lead only to go down 70/101(what are they putting in their afternoon cuppa?). Best rink on Saturday with 24/19 was Jim Williams (S), Paul Walter (3), Tina Courtin (2) and Razor Ray Pigdon (L). Sunday’s best was Paul Currie (S), Reg (Wombat) Mattingly (3), Anna Barrie (2) and John Coote (L) with 25/18.
The Threes will be at Noble Park for round 11.
The tale of woe continued with Pakenham Four (Div 6). With the exception of one rink they started well at Burden Park on Saturday and even by the half way point they only trailed by five shots. However they never seemed able to get a handle on the game and eventually lost by just seven shots, 73/80. On Sunday at Upwey-Tecoma they got away to a good start again and had a slender three shot lead at half time. However the wheels fell off after that and they ultimately lost the game 75/95. Bill Bosch (S), Ray Illing (3), Darren Webster (2) and Ray Leggett (L) with 28/8 were the best rink on Saturday while John Moore, Sam Granieri (3), Luis Aguilar and Adrian (ATrain)Wheelan with 21/19 were best on Sunday.
Pakenham Four are in no man’s land in fifth spot at present, almost a full round clear of Burden Park in sixth but almost a full round behind Ferntree Gully in fourth. After two away games, they will be at home next Saturday against Carrum (second).
The one bright light at home on Saturday was the Div 7 match between Pakenham Five and the Dandenong Club. The Fives led at all stages of the game and eventually cruised to a 99/71 victory with three winning rinks and the other losing by only two shots. Best of the winners with 26/13 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Alan Waterson (3), Alan Wilcock (2) and Gail Bowman (L). Unfortunately, due to religious and other committments there were insufficient players available to field all teams on Sunday and the Fives were therefore obliged to forfeit their home game against Cardinia Waters. They meet Narre Warren (ninth) away next round.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 1) had only one winning rink in their 53/64 loss at Beaumaris last Tuesday. Gary (Crow) Crowley and his crew of Ned Courtin (3), Jim Williams (2) and Stormin’ Norm Box (L) had a close battle all day against their hosts but although they drew level on a couple of occasions they were never in front. Then on the last end, at two down on the card and one down at the head, Crow took out the Beaumaris shot as clean as a whistle with his last bowl and converted to four up to snatch a 24/22 win. The Ones dropped to sixth place on the ladder, equal on points with Ringwood in seventh but ahead on percentage. They meet Ringwood at home next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 2) unfortunately came home from the Dandenong Club without one winning rink. This game simply got away from them in the second half and from being close at half time they eventually lost by 37/80. They were fortunate to retain fifth spot. They would hope for a win away at Cranbourne (ninth) next round.
The Fifth Division side (Pakenham Three) showed how it’s done. They started positively at home against Mulgrave Country Club and were in front all day, eventually romping home by forty shots, 76/36. Best rink with 33/10 was Bill Bosch (S), David Moore (3), Peter Wilson (2) and Lavinia Moss (L). The Threes sit proudly on top of the ladder. They have a home game against Noble Park (fifth) next round.
The Six-A-Side Pakenham Four also constructed a good home win last Tuesday against Keysborough. Although challenged earlier, one rink began to dominate while the other, although trailing, never allowed its opponent to get away. They were eventually rewarded with a reasonably comfortable 40/31 win. Best rink was Roy Harvie (S), John Barlow (2) and Jan Stevenson (L) with a 23/11 score card. They will be away at Willow Lodge next round.
HI-LO
The winner of the HI-LO for round nine was Graeme (Wildman) Wilde with number 25.
Des Leigh
