Pennant Report Round 13 2024-2025

PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT REPORT –

WEEK ENDED 8 FEBRUARY 2025, SATURDAY

Pakenham One (Div 1) had a battle on its hands at Mulgrave but came away with the win. The game was evenly poised in its early stages and although Pakenham had only one rink up and one level after the completion of the first twenty ends, there were only two shots in it at that point. By the half way mark, despite leading on three of the four rinks, the Lions still trailed by two shots as “Nifty” Nev Brown’s rink was going backwards.
However from that point forward, “Nifty’s” rink began to fightback and actually outscored its opponent by 15 shots to seven over the second half of the game to fall short by just one shot. In the end, there was only one shot in it on each of three rinks but the fourth got up by 10 shots in the Lions’ favour. Members of that rink were Tommy Lodge (S), “Rotten” Ronnie Dalton (3), Janis Parks (2) and Terry “TMac” McRedmond (L).
The Ones have retained second spot, now only nine points behind Mentone, 16 up (almost a full round) on Cheltenham but with a better percentage and 24 ahead of Mulgrave. They will be home to Cranbourne (fifth) for the last gameof the home and away rounds.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) top of the ladder, had a shock home loss to Dandenong on Saturday. With Peter Bott’s rink having won the first five on the trot, the Lions held a lead of 23 shots to 17 with two up after the first twenty ends. Then, inexplicably, in the period leading up to the half way mark, the wheels fell off and they were outscored across the board by 40 shots to nine and arrived at the break with only one rink in front and trailing by 32 shots to 57.
There was more pain inflicted over the next twenty ends or so and when the fight back came in the run home it was simply too late and with three down and one level, Pakenham lost by 64 shots to 99. The one unbeaten rink was Ned Courtin (S), Darren Webster (3), Debbie Parker (2) and Gary “Crow” Crowley (L).
It is now very crowded at the top of the Div 3 ladder – Pakenham has dropped to third but is only five points behind Narre on top, equal with Dandy in second but behind on percentage and equal with Edithvale in fourth but ahead on percentage. The Twos have a real danger game for round 14, away at Edithvale.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) were down the highway at Narre Warren. The Lions were never in any danger in that game. After the first twenty ends they were comfortably in front on three of the four rinks and held a lead of 24 shots to 15. By about the tea break, at 62 to 29, the Lions had more than doubled the Panthers’ score, still with three up and one down. Over the following 20 ends or so, the home side managed to slow the rate at which the visitors were scoring but with the tally at 80 to 44 and with three rinks up, Pakenham arrived at the start of the business ends with a commanding lead. They then coasted home to win by 91 shots to 70 with three rinks up.
Best rink with 27 to 10 was Des “Grizzly” Leigh (S), Wendy Pownall (3), Wayne Oosthuizen (2) and Julian
Colmegna (L). The Threes are still top of the ladder, 14 points ahead of Upwey Tecoma and 19 in front of
Dandy. Their opponent for round 14 will be Upwey Tecoma at home; a win or a draw means they will hold top spot but whatever happens they cannot finish worse than second. However it is important that they win and carry that momentum into the finals.
Having been stripped by Bowls Vic of the points gained from its huge win in the previous round and
consequently dropping from first to second on the ladder, Pakenham Four (Div 7) needed to bounce back with another big win last Saturday. Unfortunately, however, that was not what transpired.
Playing Berwick Five at home, they were jumped in the early stages and after the first quarter of the game had been completed, found with two up and two down that they trailed by 16 shots to 25. From that point the situation slowly deteriorated and by the half way mark the Wickers’ lead had been extended to 13 shots, still with two up and two down. By the start of the business ends the Lions had only one rink in front and the deficit had grown to 23 shots. Although they then held their own during the run home, the Fours were unable to make any inroads into Berwick’s lead and in the end went down by 23 shots with only one winning rink.
The winning rink was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Judith Ferrari (3), Maree Taylor (2) and Brenda Moloney (L).
The Fours are still in second spot but are 23 points behind Berwick and therefore cannot regain top spot.
However they are only five points ahead of Narre, 12 ahead of Mulgrave and 17 up on Ferntree Gully. They will play the final round away at Narre. With Mulgrave playing Ferntree Gully next round it is most unlikely that Pakenham will drop out of the four. However the requirement is simple: win the final round and lock in second position.
MIDWEEK ROUND 12
Pakenham One (Div 1) collected a mixed bag from their home game against Clayton last Tuesday with a win, a loss and a draw across the three rinks – however the overall result was a win. By mutual agreement, the game commenced an hour earlier than usual to avoid the worst of the expected heat. The locals had the better of the early stages to be ahead by 17 shots to eight after the first 15 ends with two up and one down (but only by a shot).
By the half way point little had changed – Pakenham’s lead had increased by just one shot and it still had two up and one down, still by one shot. At about that time, unfortunately, David Laird became ill and was forced to retire – however he was ably replaced by Brian Norton.
As the game progressed towards the business ends, the Cobras staged a fight back and with 15 ends to play they had hit the front on two of the three rinks and had reduced the Lions’ overall lead to five shots. However the home side outscored them by 21 shots to 12 over those final ends to take the overall winning score to 66 to 52 and a game high margin of 14 shots.
Best rink with 33 to 13 was Terry “TMac” McRedmond (S), David Laird/Brian Norton (3), Max Mannik (2) and Paul Philip (L). The Ones remain in second spot, now 15 points behind Mulgrave, one in front of Dandy and 26 up on Keysborough. They will be home again next round to Mulgrave for what might prove to be a rehearsal for the grand final.
Although always playing catch up bowls, Pakenham Two (Div 2) were in the game for three quarters of their match at Cranbourne but then, when a win was still possible , they were outscored over the last 15 ends to fall short by 23 runs and return home with zero Pennant points.
The Twos have another tough assignment next round, away against ladder leader, Narre Warren.
Pakenham Three (Div 4) were out in the heat at Churchill Waverley Golf. The Lions got an early jump on their hosts to lead 18 shots to 12 with two up after the completion of the first fifteen ends. However by the lunch break that situation had been reversed and CWG had hit the lead with two up and the score at 28 shots to 33. By the start of the run home Pakenham’s winning rink was only one shot in front and overall it trailed by 46 shots to 54.

Then, with the game approaching its finishing stages, the heat rule was invoked and play was halted. It was not possible to resume hostilities so the game was called off with about six ends to play, however there had been enough ends completed for a result to be declared and Pakenham returned home with zero Pennant points.
The Threes are now in fifth position, 28 points behind Keysborough in fourth. They still have a remote chance of making the four but would have to beat Mulgrave (top) at home in round thirteen and then beat Keysborough away in round 14 – Keysborough would also have to be badly beaten in round 13.
HI-LO
The winner of the penultimate round was “Giovanni” with number 28.

Des Leigh