Pennant Report Round 5 Season 2020/2021
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT RND 5 – SEASON 2020-21
After a shorter than usual Christmas break, the 2020-21 Weekend Pennant competition kicked off again on Friday, with the First Division side playing an evening/night game under the new “Paky Dome” against Mulgrave Country Club. A good sized crowd of supporters was in attendance.
The home side started well and after the first 20 ends with the score at 20/10, had doubled Mulgrave’s tally and held a handy buffer, with three rinks up and one all square. By the half way mark the lead had been reduced to seven shots and by that stage both sides had two rinks up. That was also the situation at the commencement of the business ends and the Lions were looking good for the win. However with the exception of big Voota’s rink, in what was a worrying development for a side playing on its home turf, the visitors outscored the locals in the run home to force a 73 all draw overall. Pakenham’s best rink with 26/10 was Geoff (Voota) Van Vugt (S), Glenn (Google) Bainbridge (3), David Wood (2) and Peter (Hacksaw) Bott (L).
Although they did not lose, by collecting only half the available Pennant points the Ones have dropped to fifth spot on the ladder. They face a real test next round, away against ladder leaders Keysborough.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) also played Mulgrave Country Club but they were away and therefore out in the sun. Their game was evenly poised in the early stages and was 21 all, with two rinks apiece, after the first twenty ends. It was still close at the half way mark but by then Pakenham held a narrow three shot lead. From that point to the start of the business ends the Lions were able to extend their lead to 10 shots overall, mainly due to the efforts of Paul Currie and his crew who really had their tails up! Again, with the marked exception of Paul’s rink, Pakenham was outscored over the final twenty ends but held on to win overall by a margin of just two shots. Best rink with 38/15 was Paul Currie (S), Reg (Wombat) Mattingly (3), Lindsay Stevenson (2) and Sandra (Wildwoman) Wilde (L).
Now fourth on the ladder, the Twos face bottom of the list Chelsea 1, at home, in round six.
Just for something different, Pakenham Three (Div 4) also played Mulgrave but they were at home in the shade of the Paky Dome. Unfortunately, not for the first time this season, they let one get away which was winnable. This game was also close at the start and after the completion of the first twenty ends the score was 13 all and both sides had two rinks up. By the half way point, with the score fluctuating, each team still had two up and two down but the Lions trailled by six shots overall. Early in the second half the home side pushed hard and by the start of the business ends had regained the lead by five shots – however one rink was haemorraging badly. In the end, the Lions had three rinks up by narrow margins but the fourth fell well short and the overall result was a nine shot loss. Best rink with 20/16 was Sam Granieri (S), David Moore (3), Kevin Holley (2) and Eric Peterson (L).
The Threes will be away to top of the ladder Upwey Tecoma next round.
The Six-A-Side Fours had a bye. In what has been a strangely truncated (Spring) season they play the first round of finals next weekend. Logically, the Summer rounds commence after the Spring finals.
HI-LO
The winner for round five was Peter Wilson with number seven.
Special Mention
Thanks to Sharon Devlin and Jacqui Martin for taking over camera duties on Friday night. What a way to spend your anniversary Jacqui – that’s one to remember!
Great effort also by Adrian Wheelan (ATrain) who took on bar duties for the night.
Des Leigh
