Pakenham Bowls Club – Pennant Season 2022/23 – Round 7
SATURDAY
It has been a long time coming but finally, all four Weekend Pennant sides recorded wins on Saturday – a great way to round out what (for all but Division One) was the final round of the first half of the season.
After breaking the ice last week, Pakenham One (Div 1) was looking to back it up with another win from their home game against Brunswick (yet another new opponent for this season). The Lions grabbed an early 20 shots to 10 lead in this game, apparently surprising the visitors with the decision to play out in the hot sun, rather than under the cover of the dome (with three teams at home, somebody had to play on the Crowley Green). The game then developed into a dour struggle and by the half way mark both sides had two up and two down – however at that stage Pakenham still held an overall lead of seven shots.
After the break, it was more of the same, although by the start of the business ends the Lions had extended their lead to 12 shots – however they were far from comfortable. In the run home both sides threw everything into it and the Lions saw their lead being whittled away – nevertheless they hung on to win by just four shots and with two winning rinks collected 14 Pennant points.
The better of Pakenham’s winning rinks with 24 shots to 10 was John Parker (S), Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (3), Ned Courtin (2) and Kevin “Murph” Murphy (L). The win elevated the Ones to eighth position on the ladder but they had little time to enjoy their victory as they had to saddle up again on Sunday for the toughest match of the season, away against clear ladder leaders, Flemington Kensington.
Sunday produced the highest temperatures since Australia Day but that wasn’t the only shock awaiting the Lions at Flem-Ken. With the notable exception of Big Dev’s rink which held its own, the locals were dominant from the outset and after the first twenty ends had three rinks up and a lead of 30 shots to 11. Unfortunately, as the game progressed, it was evident that the Lions were being outclassed by a stronger unit overall and after the dust finally settled they came home on the end of a 60 to 99 defeat but did salvage two valuable Pennant Points.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 21 shots to 12 was Neil “Big Dev” Devlin (S), Dylan Morrison (3), Terry “TMac” McRedmond (2) and David Saint (L). Despite the loss, the Ones retained eighth spot on the ladder. They are to play Parkville at home next Saturday.
Looking back again to Saturday, the Twos (Div 4) played host to Mulgrave Country Club, a team which was only five points behind them on the ladder and hungry to snatch that top spot – but that was never going to happen. The Lions hit the deck running and after the first twenty ends had all four rinks up and a handy lead of 33 shots to 12. As the game developed, the visitors began to fight back and by the half way mark had one rink in front (by one shot) but Pakenham’s overall lead had grown marginally to 26 shots.
The Lions put the foot down after the break and by the start of the business ends had extended their lead to 42 shots. There was no easing of the pressure in the run home and the Lions ran out winners by 104 shots to 50 with three rinks up and the other down by a single shot. Any win is a good win but to beat the team in second spot by over 50 shots is special!
Best rink (in absolute terms) with 34 shots to 12 was Des “Grizzly” Leigh (S), Paul Currie (3), Lindsay Stevenson (2) and Ross Pitama (L). The Twos remain on top of the ladder, 12 points clear of Berwick and 19 ahead of Mulgrave. They play Noble Park (eighth) at home next Saturday.
Pakenham Three (Div 6) were away against Willow Lodge One. Details on how this game played out were not available at the time of writing – what is known however is that the Lions won by 13 shots and with two up and one drawn, came home with 15 Pennant Points and are still on top of the ladder, 13 points ahead of Narre Warren.
Best rink with 26 shots to 15 was John Tarr (S), Ray Leggett (3), Derek Fenn (2) and Wayne Oosthuizen (L). They play Vermont South (sixth) away, next round.
For once, Pakenham Four (Div 7) had the luxury of taking to the field with a full complement of players and it was their opponents, Carrum, who were a couple short. The game was close in the early stages and after the first twenty ends both sides had two rinks up but Pakenham held a narrow four shot lead. By the half way mark however, the Lions had three rinks up and with the score at 61 to 34 had almost doubled their opponent’s tally.
After the break, there was a brief fight back by Carrum and the game enterred the business ends with a slight reduction in the Lions’ lead – however they still had three rinks in front. In the run home, Pakenham outscored the visitors across the board to finish with three up and a score of 102 shots to 63 – a victory to be savoured!
Pakenham’s best rink with 38 to 11 was Reg “Wombat” Mattingly (S), Ryan “Grill” McGill (3), Helen Wright (2) and Ian Kitt (L). The Fours are still on the seventh rung of the ladder. They play Cranbourne RSL (fifth) at home next round.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 2) were away at Mentone for a good win, made reasonably easy by the dominance of one rink. It was a game in which the Lions were always in control. Despite being on foreign turf, they had all three rinks up and a lead of 27 shots to seven after the first 15 ends and were still 16 in front at the half way mark. From that point forward little changed, although the locals did get their noses in front on one rink. The game finished with two up for the Lions and a comfortable overall lead of 71 shots to 51.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks with 36 to 16 was Steve “Krusty” Bentley (S), Max Mannix (3), Keith Lewis (2) and Terry “TMac” McRedmond (L). The Ones have cleared out on top of the ladder, 24 points ahead of both the Dandy Club and Parkdale who are separated only by percentage. They play Parkdale, away, next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) were beaten narrowly at home by Narre Warren. The Lions started slowly and trailed the visitors by a few shots in the early stages but by the half way mark, they had ground out a four shot lead. As the game entered the business ends that margin remained but the visitors came home the stronger and snatched back the lead in the dying stages to win by five shots.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks with 23 to 13 was Jim Williams (S), Richard Burns (3), Luis Aguilar (2) and Sandra “Wildwoman” Wilde (L).
Despite the loss, the Twos have kept top spot on the ladder but are now only four points ahead of Narre Warren. They play Hampton Park One (fifth) at home next round.
Pakenham Three had a bye this round and therefore did not have the opportunity to earn Pennant points. However they still hold top spot on the ladder, just over a full round clear of Churchill Waverley Golf. They have a home game against Cheltenham (fifth) next round.
HI-LO
The winner this round was Gary “Crow” Crowley with number 10.
Des Leigh