Pennant Round 4 Season 2020/2021

PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – 2020/21 PENNANT – ROUND 4

SATURDAY

Last Saturday afternoon, Pakenham One (Div 1) found themselves locked in a very close contest on a beautifully presented grass green at Berwick.  After the completion of (roughly) the first quarter of the game, the difference was only one shot (Berwick’s way) and both sides had two rinks up.  As the game progressed, the lead changed a number of times and at the half way mark it was the Lions who were in front but only by the slim margin of two shots.  However by the start of the business ends, although both sides held two rinks apiece, the Wickers had moved into the lead by three shots and they managed to hold on by the skin of their teeth until the very end.  At 79/83 the final result was four shots in Berwick’s favour and after such a close encounter the Lions returned home with just two Pennant points.

Best Pakenham rink with a very healthy 32/15 win was Brad Martin (S), Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (3), David Laird (2) and Ian (Lefty) Anderson (L).  The loss dropped the Ones to the fourth rung of the ladder, ahead of Upwey-Tecoma on percentage only and four points behind Mulgrave Country Club.  They have a home game against Mulgrave when play resumes after the Christmas break on January 9.

Although playing at home, Pakenham Two (Div 3) knew they were in for a real battle against the powerful Dandenong Club and the fact that there were three former Pakenham players in the visiting side added a little spice.  In the early stages of the game the Lions held their own and at the completion of the first 20 ends the scores were level at 19 apiece and both sides had two rinks up.  At the half way mark, despite having two rinks in front and one all square, Pakenham were behind by seven shots overall and the game gradually slipped away from them as the afternoon wore on, until at 62/84 they eventually lost by 22 shots.  With two winning rinks, the Two’s collected four Pennant points and should go into the Christmas break in fourth spot (not all results were posted at the time of writing).

Best of Pakenham’s rinks with a score of 22/19 was Ned Courtin (S), Gary (Crow) Crowley (3), Stormin’ Norm Box (2) and Ken Clifton (L).  The Two’s will be away at Mulgrave Country Club next round.

Pakenham Three joined the senior side in the short trip to Berwick but came home with a better result.  At most stages of the game the Lions lagged behind their opponents but kept their heads down and tails up, working hard to erase the deficit and prevent it from blowing out.  Nevertheless, at the start of the business ends they had only one rink in front and were 11 shots down overall.  However  bowls can be a funny game – the rink which had been in front fell at the final hurdle but two others which had been only a couple of shots behind both won four of their last five ends, with Ray Leggett’s outscoring Berwick by 11 shots to one in the process and Allister Stewart’s by six shots to two!  The final result was a 79 all draw, both sides getting two rinks up.

The Three’s best rink with a score of 27/19 was Ray Leggett (S), Alan Waterson (3), Gail Bowman (2) and John Hickman (L).  The Threes are scheduled to play Mulgrave Country Club at home in round five.

The Six-A-Side Pakenham Four had a round four bye.  Their first game after the Christmas break will be at home to Noble Park – it is therefore likely that they will create history by playing the first ever game of Pennant Bowls under Pakenham’s new roof!  Whatever happens, given that they commence play at 10:00 am, it will certainly be the first Saturday Pennant game.

MIDWEEK

Pakenham One (Div 2) expected a hard day at the office away against Keysborough last Tuesday but that was not exactly the way things panned out.  In the early stages of the game, both sides each had one dominant rink while the third was more or less even but it was the home side which had its nose in front.  However by the half way mark, with two rinks travelling very well indeed, the Lions held a handy 14 shot lead overall and that continued to be the pattern of play until it was all over.   The final score was 73/46 in Pakenham’s favour and with two of three rinks winning; they collected 14 valuable Pennant points.  The win moved them to the top of their ladder.

Both of the One’s successful rinks won by 20 shots but the best of those with 27/7 and 15 ends, was Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (S), Peter (Hacksaw) Bott (3), Sandra (Wildwoman) Wilde (2) and Lindsay Stevenson (L) – sorry Tmac, only 11 ends!  It will be one versus two in the final round before Christmas as the Lions host Cranbourne.

Pakenham Two (Div 3) had a good (68/55) home win against Dandy RSL REC, collecting 14 Pennant points in the process and moving to fifth spot on the ladder.  Best of their two winning rinks was Ken Clifton (S), Peter Wilson (3), David Moore (2) and John Barlow (L) with a score of 30/17.  They will be away at Ferntree Gully (third) next round.

Unfortunately, as they were unable to field a full side, Pakenham Three (Div 4) were obliged to forfeit to Boronia.  They have a home game against Cranbourne next round.

HI-LO

Winner of the pre-Christmas super draw was David Laird with number 26.