Pakenham Bowls Club – Pennant Season 2022/23 – Round 3
SATURDAY
Pakenham’s Weekend sides returned mixed results last Saturday. The Division One team received something of a reality check, suffering a comprehensive loss, at home, at the hands of Heathmont. The game did not start well for the Lions – by the completion of the first twenty ends they were down on two rinks, all square on the other two and trailing 15 shots to 23. By the half way mark, the visitors had three rinks in front and the deficit had grown to twenty shots. As the game progressed, that situation steadily grew worse until by the end of hostilities, with the final score at 57 to 99, Pakenham lost by 42 shots and collected zero Pennant points.
The Ones face the long trip to Bacchus Marsh next round. However given the weather expected this week, there is a very real possibility that the greens will be unplayable and the game will be called off. Hopefully that is not the case, as the Lions want the opportunity to redeem themselves – and they need the points.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) fared much better at Hampton Park. It took the Lions some time to get used to the unusually heavy (for a synthetic) green but with two rinks up and two down they were only two shots behind after the completion of the first twenty ends. At the half way mark the visitors were still behind on two rinks but with the score at 39 to 38 (in Pakenham’s favour) the game was up for grabs by either side. However after the break, Pakenham’s players really applied the pressure and had three rinks up and an overall lead of 24 shots by the start of the business ends. The Lions kept the foot down in the run home to finish 30 shots up and with three successful rinks collected 16 Pennant points.
The best of Pakenham’s rinks, with 16 of 21 ends and a huge score of 29 to eight was Keith Lewis (S), Dave Wood (3), Darren Webster (2) and Val Moore (L). At this early stage of the season the Two’s sit on top of the Pennant ladder, ahead of Berwick but only by percentage. Their round four match at home next Saturday against Berwick is therefore critical.
As a footnote to this game, special mention must be made regarding the roast beef and gravy rolls put on by Hampton Park after the game – they were magnificent!
Despite playing on their home deck, Pakenham Three (Div 6) were a little tardy in getting their act together against Monbulk Two and with the score at 22 to 21 and just two rinks up, led by only a single shot after the first twenty ends. However they then began to warm to the task and by half way had three rinks in front and an overall lead of 13 shots. After the break, the Lions slowly drew away from their opponents and with 20 ends to go the lead had grown marginally to 15 shots and then finally to 18 by the completion of play.
With two winning rinks, the Three’s picked up 14 Pennant points which put them into second spot on the ladder. Best rink with 29 shots to 11 was Peter Wilson (S), Charles Harris (3), Eric Peterson (2) and Ian Kitt (L). They travel to Upwey-Tecoma (seventh) for round four.
Unfortunately, with up to 16 players being unavailable on Saturday, Pakenham Four were unable to field a full side again – on this occasion they were two short which, given the close finish, probably made the difference between a win and a loss. The weather had also adversely affected what are usually magnificent grass greens at Burden Park, which didn’t help.
Despite these handicaps, the Lions got away to a great start and after 20 ends had all rinks up and a lead of 24 shots to seven! This seemed to wake the locals from their stupour as they came back hard and by half time had one rink well ahead and had reduced Pakenham’s lead to just four shots. The locals’ best rink (playing a Pakenham rink which was one short) then began to wreak havoc and by the start of the business ends Burden Park had taken the lead by eight shots overall, although the Lions still had two up and one all square. The game ended with both sides winning two rinks apiece but Burden Park took the chocolates by five shots.
Best of the two winning rinks for Pakenham with 21 to 14 was Reg “Wombat” Mattingly (S), Helen Wright (3), Ryan “Grill” McGill (2) and Shane Hamblyn (L). Following two narrow losses, the Four’s are now seventh on the ladder. They will host Edithvale (fifth) next Saturday.
MIDWEEK
After their stellar start to the season, the Midweek sides picked up one of each last Tuesday – a win, a loss and a draw.
Pakenham One (Div 2) produced a great result from their home game against Cranbourne Two. They bolted out of the blocks to lead 21 shots to five after the first fifteen ends. Although one rink lagged a little at first, the Lions continued to score heavily all day – they led 41 to 14 at half time and that had blown out to 56 to 22 at the start of the business ends, by which point all rinks were in front. The Lions then outscored the visitors by 38 shots to five over the last 15 ends to romp home 94 shots to 27.
The Lions’ best rink with 40 shots to five was Max Mannik (S), Steve “Krusty” Bentley (3), Brian Norton (2) and Terry “TMac” McRedmond (L).
Pakenham sits in second spot on the ladder, two points behind The Dandenong Club – both have three from three. The round four game between the two clubs at Pakenham on Wednesday 2 November (no play on Melbourne Cup Tuesday) should be a ripper!
The second side (DIV 4) were away at Monbulk. Although one of the Lions’ three rinks got away to a great start, the other two were in trouble from the outset and that, unfortunately, was the situation all day. With the one rink firing, Pakenham was only three shots behind after 15 ends and that was still the deficit at the half way mark. However after the break the locals found another gear and pushed all the way home to defeat the Lions by 22 shots.
Pakenham’s one winning rink with 21 to 15 was Ray Leggett (S), Bill Bosch (3), Ken Clifton (2) and Judith Ferrari (L). Despite the loss, the Two’s sit on top of the ladder (no club has three from three). They play away again on Wednesday against Noble Park (second) – if the greens are playable and if the weather permits.
The first draw of the season was produced by Pakenham Three (Div 6) from their game at Narre Warren. Pakenham lagged behind in the early stages of that game but drew level at the half way mark. The locals then pulled away again but the Lions stormed home over the last five ends to salvage a draw, 56 shots all.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 20 to 15 was Peter Wilson (S), Luis Aguilar (3), Derek Fenn (2) and John Barlow (L). The Three’s also hold top spot on the ladder. They will be involved in another first versus second battle next round – home to Churchill Waverley Golf.
HI-LO
This week’s lucky winner was Helen Wright with number one.
Des Leigh