Pakenham Bowls Club – 2021/2022 – RD 5

ROUND 5 – SATURDAY 11th DECEMBER 2021
Winners are grinners and fortunately, the majority of Pakenham’s Pennant bowlers were all smiles last week.

DIVISION ONE

A change of circumstances resulted in the selection of three fresh players for last week’s Pennant side, one of whom was untried at the level, while the other two had previously, “been there and done that.”

Conditions at Mordialloc were fine but there was a strong, gusty wind blowing off the sea which proved to be quite tricky. Predictably, the home team started well and after 20 ends held a four shot lead, although both sides had one up at that stage while the other two rinks were level pegging. By the half way mark, both sides had two rinks up but by then it was Pakenham which held a four shot lead.

As the game progressed, the Lions continued to add to their margin and by the start of the business ends they were 14 shots in front with three rinks up. They then did their best to let the game slip from their grasp and were heavily outscored in the run home – fortunately however, they were able to hang on for a two up, two down draw with 80 shots apiece.

Best rink with 25 to 10 was Chris “Foxy” Fox (S), Steve “Krusty” Bentley (3), Des “Grizzly” Leigh (2) and Graeme “Wildman” Wilde (L). Now eighth, the Ones will be home to Clayton (ninth) for the last round before Christmas.

DIVISION THREE
Having lost three members to the top side (including two Skips) and another who had withdrawn, even with the home ground advantage Pakenham 2 faced a tough assignment against ladder leaders Cranbourne RSL 1. The visitors seemed to enjoy playing under the roof and were the early front runners, with three rinks up and a five shot lead after the first 20 ends. However by the half way mark that situation had been completely reversed – by then the Lions held a six shot lead and were ahead on three rinks.

The game ebbed and flowed from that point but remained tight, with scores level at 61 all at the start of the last twenty ends. Pakenham’s team dug deep in the final stages, outscoring their opponents by almost two to one in the home straight to record their first win of the season, 85 shots to 75 and with three rinks up, collected 16 Pennant points.

Recovering magnificently from their last minute disruptions, the best rink with 30 to 13 was Rick Burns (S), Trent “Rowdy” Bedford (3), John Ewe (2) and Val Moore (L). Still in eighth position despite the win, the Twos will travel to Narre Warren (fifth) next round.

DIVISION FIVE
Pakenham Three put up a remarkable performance on the grass at Mulgrave Country Club. They attacked from the outset and after the first twenty ends led 27 shots to six and had three rinks up! They maintained that pressure throughout the game and by the half way mark, with 43 shots to 22 had almost doubled Mulgrave’s score and still had three rinks in front. With twenty ends to play overall, the score had blown out to 67 to 31 and the Thirds then showed how to bring a game home, outscoring their opponents by 31 shots to 11 in the final stages and collecting maximum points in the process.

Best rink with 29/6 and 16 of 21 ends, was Dave Wood (S), Judith Ferrari (3), Ian Kitt (2) and John Barlow (L). The other rinks also deserve a mention: Roger Platt (S), Sam Granieri, Eric Peterson and Gail Wilcock won the last seven ends straight to win by 26/8; Ray Illing (S), Ken Clifton, Vince Bevilacqua and Helen Wright won eight ends in a row at one stage to get up 21/14; and after lagging for much of the day, Peter Wilson (S), Gail Bowman, Kevin Holley and Alan Wilcock stormed home to win the last seven straight and got up 22/14.

The Threes are now third on the ladder. They will host Dandy RSL Rec (eighth) next round.

MIDWEEK – ROUND FOUR

DIVISION TWO
Pakenham 1 performed a demolition job on Cranbourne 1 under the dome last Tuesday. The Lions were always in control in that game – by the completion of the first 15 ends, with all rinks up, they had skipped away to a handy 23 to seven lead which was extended to 43/16 by the half way mark. By the start of the business ends the score had blown out to 68/20 and the Lions were in cruise control. Remarkably, in the home run, both sides scored an equal number of points (15 each) with scores also identical on each of the rinks, however with 83/35 overall it was Pakenham which pocketed maximum Pennant points.

Best rink with 31/8 was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (S), Steve “Krusty” Bentley (3), Ray Aylen (2) and Gary “Crow” Crowley (L). The Ones now hold fifth spot on the ladder. They will be away at Keysborough (eighth) next round.

DIVISION THREE
Over at Cranbourne, unfortunately, Pakenham 2 was on the receiving end of the sort of hiding meted out to Cranbourne 1 by the senior Lions’ side. The game began ugly and that situation did not improve at any stage – the visitors were simply never allowed to get into the game and came back to Pakenham pointless. Now in seventh position, the Lions must regroup before their next game, at home, to ladder leaders Ferntree Gully.

Des Leigh