Pennant Report Round 11 Season 2020/2021
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT REPORT – ROUND 11 – SEASON 2020/21
SATURDAY
After missing the opportunity to pick up Pennant points last round because of the Covid lock down, Pakenham One (Div 1) were in a “must win” situation if they were to stay in touch with the top four. However even with the home ground advantage, a win against Saturday’s opponent, the “Old Enemy” Berwick, was going to be a difficult task – and in recent encounters they had the wood over the Lions.
After the first twenty ends it was obvious that both sides had come to play but it was the home team with two rinks up, one all square and one down by a single shot, which held a slender four shot lead. However by the half way mark the “Wickers” had snatched the lead, albeit by just the one shot and both sides had two up and two down. After the break, despite the heat and humidity (the Ones have elected to play home games on the faster Crowley Green rather than in the shade of the McRedmond Laird Dome) it was apparent that the Lions wanted it more and by the start of the business ends they had three rinks up and an overall lead of 12 shots. The final result was a great 16 point, eight shot win to Pakenham with the one losing rink, which was in “damage limitation,” falling short by just two shots.
However the win was not without drama. With three rinks finished and the big scoreboard showing Pakenham leading by seven shots, Keith Archer found himself under enormous pressure as he prepared to deliver the final bowl of the day – he was six or seven down at the head and if he failed to change that, Berwick may have been able to salvage a draw. However Keith demonstrated yet again why he earned the nickname, “Golden Arm” – he didn’t just cut down the count but drew the absolute to give his rink a one shot win and guarantee Pakenham victory overall – “Cometh the hour, cometh the man!”
Best rink with 19/14 was Brad Martin (S), Dave “Pickles?”Wood (3), David Laird (2) and Ian “Lefty/Ando”Anderson (L). The Lions are still in fifth spot but are now less than a round behind Upwey-Tecoma and almost two full rounds ahead of Mordialloc. They will be away at Mulgrave (second) next Saturday.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) faced a difficult assignment against ladder leaders The Dandenong Club on their home turf. Nevertheless, the Lions held their own during the early stages of the game and after the completion of the first twenty ends held a one shot lead, despite having only one rink in front – however the three rinks which were down each trailled by only one shot. With two rinks in front and the score virtually level at 36/37, they were still in the hunt at the half way mark – however the home side put the foot down after the break and by the start of the business ends held a 20 shot lead. Dandenong continued to apply the pressure as the game wound down to its conclusion and with a final score of 62/90 sent the Lions home pointless. Beaten but not disgraced, Pakenham’s best rink with 18/21was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Allister Stewart (3), Peter Ellis (2) and Gary “Crow” Crowley (L) (looks like the juggling of positions worked).
Next round will see the battle of the cellar dwellers with the Two’s (seventh) hosting Mulgrave (eighth).
In the hot and humid conditions, Pakenham Three (Div 4) enjoyed the relative comfort of playing their game against Berwick Five in the shade of the McRedmond Laird Dome (even the breeze was cooler there). They started slowly and in the early stages of the match lagged behind the visitors but dug deep leading up to the half way mark when both sides had two rinks up and the score was level at 42 all. The Lions maintained the pressure and slowly pulled away from their opponents to have three rinks up and a slender five shot lead by the start of the business ends. When the dust settled, at 89/76 they won by 13 shots and had three winning rinks. Two of those rinks won by 10 shots, both with a score line of 25/15 – Alan Waterson (S), Ray Leggett (3), Adrian “ATrain” Wheelan (2), Lois Mashado (L) and also Ken Clifton (S), Ray Illing (3), Jan Moore (2) and Kevin “Digger” Goonan (L).
Despite their good win, the Thirds languish at the bottom of the ladder, equal on points with Mulgrave but behind on percentage. They have the opportunity to reverse that situation next round, away at Mulgrave.
The Six-A-Side Pakenham Four collected maximum Pennant points after having been given a walkover by Warburton – not a very satisfying way of getting a result but the points count, neverthless. The Fours are now in fourth position. They face ladder leaders Monbulk, at Monbulk, in the final home and away round of the Summer Series next weekend.
MIDWEEK
Due to the Covid Lockdown, there were no games played in Victoria last Tuesday and points for round 10 were shared as they would have been in the case of a washout.
For round 11, Pakenham One (fourth) is drawn to play Cranbourne (second) away. A win could see them advance to third position on the ladder.
Pakenham Two, also fourth, will be home to Ferntree Gully, third. The Twos are a full round behind the Gully and would need both a win and a big score to have any chance of taking third position from them. A loss could see them displaced from fourth position by Mulgrave which is currently only one point behind in fifth.
Hopefully Pakenham Three have not forgotten how to win since their last outing in round nine. They will need to take their “A game” to Cranbourne to beat the current ladder leaders.
HI-LO
The winner for round 11(including the jackpot from round 10) was Roger Platt with number 1.
Des Leigh
