Pennant Report Round 14 Season 2020/2021
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT ROUND 14 – SEASON 2020/21
SATURDAY
The final home and away games of the 2020/21 Weekend season were played (or not) last Saturday. Unfortunately, the away game between Pakenham One (Div 1) and Burden Park was washed out – the Lions therefore missed a very real opportunity to round out the season in third position. Nevertheless, by finishing fourth they have made the finals again and will line up against top of the ladder Keysborough, at Keysborough, for a Semi-Final next Saturday – roll up, provide your support and make some noise!
Pakenham Two (Div 3) seventh on the ladder, ended their season with a convincing win at home against second placed Cranbourne RSL and there was no danger of being washed out under the Paky Dome which coped superbly with the afternoon downpour. The Twos have struggled at times this season (hence their ladder position) but there were no signs of weakness last Saturday – they were well in front at all the important milestones and finished the game with three rinks up and a whopping score of 100 shots to 68! Best rink with 32/10 was Peter Ellis (S), Brian Norton (3), Vince Bevilacqua (2) and Michael Hahn (L). The Twos might not have made the finals but they did finish the season on a high – well done.
Pakenham Three (Div 4) also played Cranbourne RSL but without the protection of a roof their game at Cranbourne wound up early because of the rain, although sufficient ends had been completed for a result to be declared. However it was not a happy outcome for Pakenham’s players who came home damp and a little downcast– not the most pleasant way to finish the season. The only winning rink with 14/9 after 16 ends was Peter Wilson (S), “Razor” Ray Pigdon (3), Roger Platt (2) and David Moore (L). Although this season was not without its highlights, it is hoped that the Threes can look forward to a more consistent and competitive performance at Div 5 level in 2021/22.
Having already triumphed in the Spring Series, the Six-A-Side Pakenham Fours might well have approached the Summer Series Grand Final against Monbulk with confidence – after all, they had demolished Monbulk on their home turf as recently as the last home and away game of the short summer season.
In the early stages of the game everything appeared to be progressing in accordance with the script and after the completion of the first 10 ends, with the score at 13/6, the Lions had more than doubled their opponent’s score. That trend continued to the point where with only a third of the game still to play, Pakenham had both rinks in front and an overall lead of nine shots – a position which in this cut-throat, low scoring form of the game, would appear to be a commanding one. However Monbulk’s hunger was greater than that of the Lions – they pushed hard and Pakenham ran out of puff in the run home and they saw the Pennant slip from their grasp by a single shot!
John Hickman (S), John Lindley (2) and Judith Ferrari (L) ended the game with an 11 all draw while Eric Peterson (S), Helen Wright (2) and John Barlow (L) finished with 13/14. It has been a great effort by the players involved in both the Spring and Summer mini series – they have all done the Lions proud.
MIDWEEK
Last Tuesday, in a first for this season, all three Midweek teams “saluted the judge”. Pakenham One (Div 2) were at home to the strong Dandenong Club (second on the ladder) for what was expected to be a tough game. As anticipated, the visitors started strongly and after 15 ends had two rinks in front and led overall by five shots. However the locals did not make it easy for them and by the half way mark, although Dandy had extended their lead to sixteen shots, each side had a rink up and it was all square on the third. From that point forward, the Lions shifted into top gear and began to eat away at the deficit which by the start of the business ends was reduced to just five shots (yet Dandy still had two rinks in front). Pakenham’s players continued to push hard and by the end of the game had converted the 16 shot half time deficit to a five shot overall win, with two rinks finishing in front – a great fight back in the second half, outscoring their opponents by two to one!
Best rink with 27/15 was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (S), Clenn “Google” Bainbridge (3), Peter Bott (2) and Sandra “Wildwoman” Wilde (L). The win elevated the Ones from sixth to fifth on the ladder – however with only one game remaining it is no longer possible for them to make the four. They will be away at Narre Warren (third) for the final round.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) made the trip to Heatherton Road to challenge the Dandenong Club on their home ground. They also expected a battle and weren’t disappointed in that respect. Nevertheless, with one Lions rink scoring heavilly they managed to keep their noses in front by small margins at all of the milestones and that was the story until the completion of play – despite having just one rink up, Pakenham ran out winners by four shots. Carrying the day and best rink with 24/11, was Peter Wilson (S), Gary “Crow” Crowley (3), David Laird (2) and Jan Moore (L).
The Twos are still fourth on the ladder and will finish in that position regardless of the outcome of final round matches – they are therefore guaranteed a finals berth. They will have a good hitout prior to the finals, home to Narre Warren (top of the ladder) in the final round.
In the battle of the cellar dwellers, Pakenham Three (eighth) were at home to Ferntree Gully (seventh) for what promised to be a dour encounter. The visitors jumped away to lead 23/8 by the completion of the first 15 ends and Pakenham was in more strife than the early settlers – however it didn’t take long for the Lions spirit to kick in and by the half way mark that fifteen shot deficit had been reduced to a more manageable eight and although one Pakenham rink was still being mauled, the other two were in front. The Lions kept plugging away and by the start of the business ends the overall margin had been reduced to just one shot, despite again having only one rink in front – however the others weren’t far behind. At the end of the day, Pakenham won overall by five shots and had two rinks in front. Best rink with 24/15 was Eric Peterson (S), Ray Illing (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Jan Stevenson (L).
It is a big task but a good win away at Cardinia Waters (second) in the final round could lift the Threes to seventh spot on the ladder and help them avoid relegation.
HI-LO
The winner for round 14 with number five was “Tmac”. Pakenham players are asked to keep an eye out for information on the annual HI-LO Day (or perhaps an evening event under the Paky Dome) – details to be determined after the finals.
Des Leigh
