Pennant Report Round 6 Season 2020/2021
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT ROUND 6 – SEASON 2020/21
There was not much to brag about at Pakenham when last week’s Pennant results were in – however there was one shining beacon which stood out from the rest and that was the mighty effort put in by the Saturday Six-A-Side Fours in winning the Spring Season Section Five Semi-Final.
Pakenham’s team had a battle on their hands, playing Willow Lodge, a side which finished above them on the ladder and on the Lodge’s home turf but they rose to the occasion. Things were tight in the early stages and after each rink had completed five ends, it was the home side which held a two shot lead. With twenty of the thirty ends played, the home side still had their noses in front, with one rink up by four shots and the other all square. From that point on however, the Lions really pushed hard and in the run home outscored their opponents on both rinks to snatch victory by a single shot. Best rink with 15/14 was John Hickman (S), Ray Wood (2) and Gail Wilcock (L) while Alan Waterson (S), Alan Wilcock (2) and Judith Ferrari (L) outscored the Lodgers 6/2 over the last five ends to seal the result, forcing a12 all draw on their rink.
In another twist to what has been a somewhat disrupted season for the Fours, they will play the Grand Final against Murrumbeena Park on the grass at Murrumbeena and not, as would be the usual practice, on neutral ground. If you are not bowling on Saturday, get in to Murrumbeena from 10am to give them some support – take a picnic lunch perhaps, as the club is in a lovely parkland setting.
Pakenham’s Division One side could perhaps have done with an injection of the Fours’ spirit to give them a lift in performance in their away game against the unbeaten ladder leaders, Keysborough. The Lions started well and after twenty ends had two rinks up, one all square and a lead of seven shots overall. However by the half way mark the Kookaburras had turned the game on its head and had three up, one square and a lead of 11 shots. By the start of the business ends, two of Pakenham’s rinks had their noses in front again but the overall deficit had grown to16 shots by that stage and unfortunately it blew out to 24 by the end of the game. With a final score of 16/12, Brad Martin (S), Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (3), David Laird (2) and Ian (Lefty) Anderson (L) were Pakenham’s only winning rink.
Despite the loss, the One’s still hold fifth spot on the ladder. With a number of team changes, they have a chance for redemption next round, at home, against bottom of the ladder Burden Park.
On paper at least, Pakenham Two’s task looked straight forward – at fourth on the ladder and with the home ground advantage, dispose of bottom of the ladder Chelsea 1 and pocket the points – however Chelsea had obviously not read the script. Early on, everything seemed to be going to plan and after 20 ends the Lions had three rinks up, one square and a lead of nine shots. At the half way mark, although one rink had dropped behind by a shot, the situation looked even better as the lead had doubled to 18 shots. However by the start of the business ends the signs were ominous – the lead had dropped to seven shots and one rink was haemorraging badly. Disappointingly, the Lions were outscored in the run home and at 68/72 eventually lost a close game by four shots overall. The only winning rink with 25/10 was John Tarr (S), Bill Bosch (3), Peter McQueen (2) and Val Moore (L).
The Twos have dropped from fourth to sixth on the ladder. They will be away at Cranbourne RSL (second) next round.
For once, the Threes (Div 4) did not let one slip from their grasp – they were simply outclassed at Upwey Tecoma. Things looked good in the early stages and after twenty ends the Lions had two rinks up and a narrow two shot lead. However from that point forward the Tigers (that’s right, it was Lions v Tigers) began to score heavily and that was the pattern for the rest of the game, with the tally eventually blowing out to 68/117. Pakenham’s only winning rink with 27/19 was Sam Granieri (S), Kevin Holley (3), Kevin (Digger) Goonan (2) and Eric Peterson (L). Now with a mortgage on bottom position on the ladder, the Threes have a home game against Cranbourne RSL (sixth) next round.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 2) made the short trip across town to Cardinia Waters last Tuesday. They started in a positive fashion and after the first 15 ends had two rinks up and an eight shot lead. Things continued in that vein until the half way mark when the lead had grown to 11 shots. By the start of the business ends they had two up and one all square and although the lead had by then been reduced to five shots, they would still have been confident. However the wheels fell off soon after that and in the run home they were outscored two to one and at 51/57 eventually lost by six shots. Best rink with 16/15 was Terry (TMac) McRedmond (S), David Laird (3), Gary (Crow) Crowley (2) and Val Moore (L).
Despite the loss, the Ones have retained third spot on the ladder but now have The Dandenong Club breathing down their necks. The next round therefore, away at Dandenong, is likely to be a nailbiter.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) played host to Mulgrave Country Club under the Paky Dome. Although the game was close all day, the visitors were able to maintain the lead at all of the important milestones and although the Lions outscored them in the run home, Mulgrave held on to win by four shots, both sides finishing with one up and one all square. Best rink with 28/20 was John Tarr (S), Bill Bosch (3), Kevin Holley (2) and Kevin (Digger) Goonan (L). The Twos (fifth) will be at home (again) to the Dandenong Club (sixth) next round.
The Division Four Threes were comprehensively beaten at The Dandenong Club and collected zero Pennant points. In the absence of score cards, an analysis of this game was not possible. They will be away again next round against Ferntree Gully which sits immediately above them on the ladder.
HI-LO
The winner for round six was Lois Mashado with number 27.
Don’t forget the semi-finals of the Men’s Club Singles are to be played from 6:30pm on Wednesday 20 January.
Des Leigh