Pennant Report Round 7 Season 2020/2021

PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT ROUND SEVEN – 2020/21 SEASON

For most teams competing in the 2020/21 Weekend Pennant Season, last Saturday marked the completion of the first half of the home and away rounds.  However for the Six-A-Side Pakenham Fours it was the end of the Spring Competition and the game played on Saturday was actually a Grand Final.

After a disrupted and frustrating season the Fours arrived at the finals as rank underdogs but last week went on to win a cut throat Semi Final by a single shot and found that they were to feature in a Grand Final.  At first, the Grand Final against Murrumbeena Park was listed to be played at Murrumbeena rather than at a neutral venue (the usual practice) but fortunately, at the last minute, Bowls Vic rescheduled the game to Mulgrave Country Club.

As expected, the match was very close early on and after completion of the first 10 ends the score was tied up at nine all.  The Lions then cut loose during the middle stages of the game, particularly on Alan Waterson’s rink which outscored its opponents by 14 shots to nil during that period and after 20 ends Pakenham had established an overall lead of 11 shots.  Murrumbeena managed to claw back some of that lead in the run home but the Lions hung on to win by five shots.  The players who contributed to the Grand Final triumph were Alan Waterson (S), Alan Wilcock (2) and Judith Ferrari (L) with a score of 22/11 and John Hickman (S), Ray Wood (2) and Gail Wilcock (L) with 10/16.  The Fours won’t get much of a break as they saddle up again for the Summer Season next Saturday.

Pakenham One (Div 1) returned to the winners circle with a good home win against Burden Park.  Despite the home ground advantage, the Lions started sluggishly and after the first 20 ends were one shot in arrears, although they had two rinks up and one all square.  By the half way mark that situation had improved considerably as Pakenham had three rinks up and an overall lead of 14 shots. By the start of the business ends the lead remained at 14 shots but although three rinks still had their noses in front, one led by only a single shot.  The final result was a nine shot, 15 point win to the Lions with two rinks up and one all square.  Best rink with 25/15 was Geoff (Voota) Van Vugt (S), Glenn (Google) Bainbridge (3), Des (Grizzly) Leigh (2) and Peter (Hacksaw) Bott (L).

The Ones remain on the fifth rung of the ladder, now more than a round clear of Mordialloc and only five points behind Mulgrave Country Club. They will be away at Upwey-Tecoma (second) next round.

At fifth on the ladder, Pakenham Two (Div 3) expected a battle at Cranbourne RSL (second) and they weren’t disappointed.  Their hosts got away to an early lead and after 20 ends, with three rinks up and a seven shot lead, were looking ominous.  However the Lions dug deep and by the half way mark had two up, one sqare and a lead of 10 shots.   In what has become a familiar pattern however, things started to go pear shaped after the break and by the start of the business ends the lead had been reduced to one shot.  It wasn’t much, but by outscoring Pakenham by just six shots in the home straight the RSL went on to win by five.  In contrast to the general trend, the Lions only winning rink with 26/18 was Peter Ellis (S), Brian Norton (3), Lois Mashado (2) and Graeme (Wildman) Wilde (L).  The Twos have dropped to seventh on the ladder – they take on Hampton Park (fifth) at home next round.

Another good news story was provided this week by the long suffering Threes (Div 4).  Playing host to Cranbourne RSL, they made the most of their opportunity under the Paky Dome.  The first half of the game was remarkably even with the scores level at 18 all after the first twenty ends and all square again, 42 all, at the half way mark.  However after the break the Lions came out firing and by the start of the business ends had built a 25 shot lead.  Peter Wilson’s rink in particular exemplified the spirit displayed by the Lions – they were 8/15 down at the half way mark but outscored their opponents 22/2 over the last 10 ends to win by 30/17!  When the dust settled, Pakenham had won on three rinks with an overall score of 88/68.  Best rink with 26/8 was Sam Granieri (S), Kevin Holley (3), Adrian (ATrain) Wheelan (2) and Kevin (Digger) Goonan (L).

Hopefully the Threes can carry this new found momentum forward and make a regular habit out of winning in the second half of the season.  Their next opponent will be Carrum Two (second) away.

MIDWEEK

Any game at the Dandenong Club is generally a tough assignment and Pakenham One (Div 2) expected no less last Tuesday.  They were up against it from the outset and trailled at all the major milestones, although they did put up a fight to outscore their hosts in the home straight – however it was too little too late and they eventually went down 57/74.  The one winning rink with 24/18 was Paul Currie (S), Ned Courtin (3), Stormin’ Norm Box (2) and Graeme (Wildman) Wilde (L). The Ones have dropped from third to fifth on the ladder – they will be home to Narre Warren (second) next round.

Pakenham Two (Div 3) also made the most of their opportunity under the Paky Dome where they were somewhat less than hospitable to the Dandenong Club, a side who are more than accustomed to playing under a roof.  The Lions put the hammer down from the outset and after the first 15 ends were in front on all rinks and had a handy lead of 20/9.  They continued the good work to be 41/19 at the half way mark and 58/25 as they commenced the business ends.  By the completion of play, with the score at 76/38, they had doubled their opponents’ score and collected maximum Pennant points.  Best rink with 27/11 was John Tarr (S), Bill Bosch (3), Kevin Holley (2) and Kevin (Digger) Goonan (L).

Despite their excellent win, the Twos remain in fifth spot but are now more than a full round clear of the Dandenong Club and only one point behind Mulgrave.  They face top of the ladder Narre Warren away next round.

Pakenham Three (Div 4) made the trip to Ferntree Gully where they received a hostile reception from the moment they set foot on the green.  The Gully side quickly established a good lead and forced the Lions to play catch-up bowls for the rest of the game.  Although Pakenham outscored their hosts in the run home, the horse had already bolted by then and they were beaten overall by 10 shots, 50/60.  Best rink with 20/13 was Richard Burns (S), Vince Bevilaqua (3), Helen Wright (2) and Judith Ferrari (L).

Now in eighth spot, the Threes will host Cardinia Waters (fifth) next round

HI-LO

The round seven winner was John (Giovanni) Donazzan with number 24.

 Des Leigh