Pennant Season 2019-2020 Round 14

PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT REPORT – ROUND 14 – 8 FEB 2020

SATURDAY

Pakenham One (Div 1) had a pleasant drive in the country to Warburton where they fully expected to regain second position on the ladder, taken from them in round 13 by a cruel fluke of the weather – however the game did not play out according to the script.  From the outset it was obvious that the Burras had come to play and in the early stages the game was evenly poised with both sides having two rinks up and two down.  By the half way mark the Lions had established a five shot lead but by the start of the business ends that situation had been reversed and it was Warburton which held a narrow lead of three shots, still with two up and two down.  The locals powered home from that point and eventually won comfortably by 24 shots, 93/69.  Pakenham’s “best” rink with an 18 all draw was Neil (Big Dev) Devlin (S), Des (Grizzly) Leigh (3), Gian (Bug G)Pianezzola (2) and Graeme (Wildman) Wilde (L).

The Ones still hold third spot on the ladder but are now only 10 points ahead of Beaumaris.  They play Mulgrave Country Club (fifth) at home in round 15.  With only four games left in the home and away season, they must make every post a winner if they are to have any chance of a home final.

Pakenham Two (Div 2) had a close one at home against Mulgrave Country Club.  Unfortunately, the visitors grabbed an early lead and the Lions were forced to play a “catch up” game all afternoon, eventually falling short by just seven shots with one winning rink and one drawn.  Best rink with 23/16 was Jim Barrie (S), (Stormin’) Norm Box (3), Ken Clifton (2) and (Razor) Ray Pigdon (L).  Ned Courtin’s rink staged a spirited fight back to salvage a draw.

Now in ninth spot, the Twos have a tough away game against Cranbourne One (second) next round.

Pakenham Three (Div 4) had a bizarre win at home against Cranbourne RSL.  Their game was a little more than half completed when it was brought to the umpire’s attention that the visitors had employed two substitutes in a manner not in accordance with the rules – they therfore forfeited the game and Pakenham was awarded maximum points.   Although winning a game in this manner may have left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth, the Lions should take satisfaction from the fact that when the game was stopped they were well in control, with a lead of 54 shots to 28.  Best rink at that stage was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Sam Granieri (3), Roger Platt (2) and Janet Stevenson (L).

The Threes are now in fifth spot; however one could throw a blanket over that section of the ladder with only five points separating fourth to seventh.  They play Berwick (fourth) away next round.

Pakenham Four (div 5) had a day from hell at Willow Lodge.  The locals were far from hospitable and sent the Lions home severely bruised with zero Pennant points.  The Fours now languish at the bottom of the ladder – hopefully they can find some home ground advantage against Narre Warren (third) in round 15.

MIDWEEK

The highlight of the round was provided by the Div 1 side with a great win at home, taking maximum points from Keysborough.  The Ones snatched an early break in that game and by the time the lunch break was taken had a handy lead, with all three rinks in front.  By the start of the business ends thay had more than doubled the visitors’ score and maintained that ascendancy until the completion of the game, winning overall by 66 shots to 32.  Best rink with a very dominant 31/9 was Keith (Golden Arm) Archer (S), Terry (Tmac) McRedmond (3), Val Moore (2) and Graeme (Wildman) Wilde (L).

Despite the win, the Ones are still in eighth spot on the ladder.  They have a tough away game against competition leaders Clayton, next round.

In contrast to the senior team, Pakenham Two (Div 2) had a day to forget at Churchhill Waverley Golf, returning home with zero Pennant points and a very sorry looking score card.  Now on the tenth rung of the ladder, they have a hard game at home against Burden Park (fifth) next round.

Pakenham Three (Div 4) were away at Cranbourne RSL where they also looked like copping a belting – at the half way mark their score was less than half that of their opponents and the one rink which was struggling had dropped an eight.  However they dug deep from that point forward and although eventually beaten, only went down by 12 shots.  Best rink with 36/26 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Kevin Holley (3), Roy Harvie (2) and Luis Aguilar (L).  Now in eighth spot, the Threes are away to Willow Lodge (ninth) next round.

The Six-A-Side Pakenham Four had a loss at home to the strong Willow Lodge Two.  The Fours had a real crack at this game and at the half way mark the game was equally balanced at 19 all, both sides having one rink up and one down.  However it was the Lions who blinked first and they eventually lost on both rinks with an overall deficit of 16 shots.  Still ninth on the ladder, they face Clayton (third) at home next round.

HI-LO

The winner for round 14 (including the jackpot from the washed out round 13) was Big Dev with number 43.

Des Leigh (Grizzly)