Pakenham Bowls Club – 2021/2022 – RD 14 & 15
Pennant Report – Week Ending 27th FEBRUARY 2022
DIVISION ONE – Rounds 14 & 15
Pakenham One played another double header last weekend – Round 14 against Mordialloc under lights on Friday night and Round 15, on the grass at Clayton on Sunday afternoon.
There were periods during the Friday night match when Mordialloc really challenged the Lions (particularly in the twenty ends following the break where they outscored the locals by 28 shots to 11) but Pakenham always seemed to be in control. With two up and two down they held a six shot lead after the first twenty ends and by the half way mark with three up and one down (but only by one shot) and the score at 58 to 27, they had more than doubled their opponent’s tally. From that point Mordialloc surged and by the start of the business ends the margin had been reduced to 14 shots but the Lions outscored the visitors in the run home to win comfortably by twenty shots with three rinks up and with the one losing rink falling short by just two shots.
Best rink with 29/14 was Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (S), Jack MacNab (3), Kevin (Smurf) Murphy (2) and Gian Pianezzola (L). The win did not alter Pakenham’s position at sixth on the ladder.
Given their respective positions on the ladder (sixth and ninth), Pakenham might have expected a similar outcome on Sunday to what was achieved on Friday night. However the Cobras had come to play and were not about to make it easy for them. At the completion of the first twenty ends both sides had two rinks up but it was Clayton which held an 18 to 12 shot lead. At the half way mark, with (only) one rink up and another all square, Pakenham trailed by twenty shots and that situation had deteriorated further by the start of the business ends when the Lions were down on three, all square on the fourth and behind by 21 shots overall.
In the all important run home however, Pakenham outscored the host team by 35 shots to 14, to salvage a draw on the very last end. Best rink with 26/16 was Chris “Foxy” Fox (S), Steve “Krusty” Bently (3), David Laird (2) and Ross Pitama (L) – this rink outscored its opposition by 13 shots to three over the last five ends.
The Ones remain anchored to sixth spot on the ladder, now 21 points ahead of Upwey-Tecoma but still a full round behind Parkdale – draws against two sides which they should have beaten have cost them dearly. They are scheduled to play another double header next weekend, with Cheltenham (second) at home on Saturday and Parkdale (fifth) away on Sunday.
DIVISION THREE – Round 13
Pakenham Two began well at home against Narre Warren and after the first twenty ends, with three rinks in front, held a slender three shot lead. Shortly after that however, the wheels fell off big time – by the half way mark all four rinks lagged behind and the overall score stood at 33 shots to 51. By the start of the last twenty ends, although Roger Platt’s rink had fought back to be level at 16 shots apiece, the overall deficit had grown to 25 shots. At the end of the day, the Lions lost by 28 shots with only one winning rink.
The one winning rink with 25 shots to 16 was Roger Platt (S), Richard Burns (3), Val Moore (2) and Sandra “Wildwoman” Wilde (L). Roger’s crew outscored their opponents by nine shots to nil in the home straight. The Two’s remain in eighth spot – next Saturday they play top of the ladder Hampton Park, away, in the final round of a very disappointing season.
DIVISION FIVE – Round 13
Pakenham Three played Dandenong RSL Rec in a hard fought game at Keysborough. Although the Lions virtually led this match from start to finish, at no stage were they allowed to feel comfortable. Even with three rinks up, the score after the first twenty ends was close, at 23 shots to 20. By the half way mark, with three up and a 14 shot lead, they began to feel confident but by the start of the business ends that lead had been whittled down to just six shots. The Lions were then marginally outscored in the run home but hung on to claim victory by only four shots but with three rinks up, collected 16 Pennant points.
Best rink with 22 shots to 17 was Ray Legget (S), Adrian “A-Train” Wheelan (3), Ray Illing (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
The Threes have retained fourth spot on the ladder, nine points behind Monbulk and now 21 clear of Willow Lodge. They will be home to Hampton Park (second) for round 14. Whatever happens next week, they can’t finish the season worse than in fourth position and will feature in the finals.
MIDWEEK – ROUND Twelve
DIVISION TWO
Pakenham One started their home game against Keysborough on a very positive note – after the first fifteen ends all three rinks had their noses in front and at 18 to nine they had doubled the visitors’ score. However some of the team apparently dropped off to sleep for a while after that and by the half way mark two rinks had fallen behind and the overall lead had been reduced to just four shots. Whatever was in the lunch box worked though, as they fired up again after the break and by the time the game entered the business ends they had re-established an 18 shot lead and had two rinks up and one all square. Then, although marginally outscored in the final leg, the Lions brought the game home to win by 15 shots and with all three rinks up, scored maximum Pennant points.
Best rink with 22 shots to 14 was Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (S), Steve “Krusty” Bentley (3), Peter Bott (2) and Gary “Crow” Crowley (L). The win elevated the Ones from fourth to third, eight points ahead of Cranbourne but 25 behind Narre Warren. Next round they will be home again to Cardinia Waters, sixth.
DIVISION THREE
Pakenham Two (fifth) played ladder leaders Ferntree Gully at the Gully. With one rink being severely mauled from the outset, the Lions never looked like winning this game and were behind at all the milestones, eventually losing across the board by 49 shots to 78 and collecting zero Pennant points. They did manage to hold onto fifth spot on the ladder but are now 23 points behind Berwick and only 10 up on Cranbourne. They play Cranbourne RSL 1 (third) away next round.
Des Leigh