Round 12 Pennant Report 2018/19
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT REPORT ROUND 12 – 2019
It was a case of “close, but no cigar” (or free drinks) for Pakenham’s Pennant players last Saturday. All teams won except the Div One side which wasted a golden opportunity to consolidate fourth spot on the ladder, going down by just one shot in a heart breaking finish at Warburton.
Although one rink jumped ahead from the start and quickly established a good lead, most of the Pakenham players struggled a little on what was a strange surface – a synthetic green which seemed to run at about 12 seconds in terms of weight but much faster in terms of the grass line. By the time each rink had played five ends, with the score at 14/31, the Burra’s had more than doubled the Lions’ score; nevertheless, by the half way mark Pakenham was still within striking distance, being just 10 shots down overall. After a half time rev-up by stand in manager Chris Fox (Coach Neil Devlin being one of three regulars missing from the side) the Lions fired up and by the time the business end of the game had been reached had snatched the lead and looked like powering home. However the locals were not finished and put up a spirited fight, with the game being decided on the last end, 83/82 in their favour.
The only winning rink for Pakenham with a score of 36/12 was Geoff (Voota)Van Vugt (S), Daniel (Huddo) Hudson (3), Des (Grizzly) Leigh (2) and Glenn (Google) Bainbridge (L). The loss saw the Ones drop from fourth to sixth. They have a must win game against Berwick at home next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 2) showed how it’s done, winning on all rinks in their home game against Churchill Waverley Golf. From the commencement of play they leapt from the barriers and by the time 20 ends (overall) had been played had established a lead of 29/9 which was extended to 57/27 by the half way mark. From there on, despite one rink being temporarily all square at the eighteenth end, they never gave their shell-shocked opponents a sniff and cruised to a comfortable 94/61 win. Best rink was Peter Ellis (S), Gary (Crow) Crowley (3), Charles Harris (2) and Sandra (Wildwoman) Wilde (L) with a 29/13 score card.
The win elevated the Twos from seventh to the sixth rung of the ladder. They are drawn to play Hampton Park (seventh) away next round.
In what was the battle of the “cellar dwellers”, the long suffering third division side finally had a win, at home against Mulgrave Country Club. This game started well for the Lions who established a 25/16 lead, with all rinks ahead, by the time a quarter of the game had been completed. However the situation was not as promising at the half way mark as the visitors had by then pulled ahead and with two rinks up, led overall by eight shots. The ham and pickle rolls at afternoon tea had the desired affect however, as the home side embarked on a spirited fight back after the break and despite being badly mauled on one rink eventually got the other three up for an overall 10 shot win, 93/83. Best rink with 32/13 was Terry O’Toole (S), Alan Wilcock (3), Kevin (Digger) Goonan (2) and John Seikman (L).
Unfortunately the Threes are still at the bottom of the ladder. They have an extremely tough assignment next round, away to clear ladder leaders, The Dandenong Club.
Pakenham Four (Div 6) had a very satisfying win away, picking up maximum Pennant points at Glen Waverley (away wins are always that little bit sweeter). The Lions put the foot down from the word “go,” quickly establishing an early lead and by the half way mark, at 54/29, had almost doubled their opponent’s score. From that point they kept the pressure up and by the end of play had a commanding lead of 101 shots to 60, with four winning rinks. Best rink with a huge score of 34/10 and 15 of the 21 ends, was Peter Bott (S), Gian (Cuddly Bear) Pianezzola (3), Peter Wilson (2) and Joan Montgomery (L).
The win gave the Fours a leg up to fourth rung of the ladder. They have a tough one at home against Chelsea (second) next round.
The members of Pakenham Five (Div 7) were also wearing winning (and relieved) grins on Saturday evening, despite the fact that their home game against Carrum did not start well. The visitors got the jump on them from the outset and with two of Pakenham’s rinks in trouble, quickly established an early lead. However the Lions fought back hard and by the half way mark had two rinks ahead and were down overall by just one shot. They kept that momentum going after the break and when the dust settled, despite going down on two rinks, managed to construct a reasonably comfortable 95/79 win. Best rink with a score of 26/10 was Roger Platt (S), Eric Peterson (3), John Lindley (2) and Helen Wright (L). That rink came home with a wet sail in the second half of the game, outscoring their opponents by14 shots to two.
The Fives now occupy sixth spot on the ladder. They face fifth placed Berwick, away, next round.
HI-LO
Winner of the HI-LO this week with number 49 was John Coote.
Des Leigh
