Round 17 Pennant Report 2018/19
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT ROUND 17
SATURDAY
Pakenham almost got the clean sweep last Saturday – however to quote Maxwell Smart they, “missed by that much!”
Buoyed by their success at Ringwood in round 16, Pakenham One (Div 1) took on second on the ladder Croydon, at Croydon, with a degree of confidence. It was a close match from the word go but after a quarter of the game had been played, it was the Lions who held a small lead. Afternoon tea came at exactly the half way mark (42 ends) and still Pakenham was in front, with three rinks up and the score at 47-34. As expected, the Pirates (Aaaarrrggghhh, Shipmates!) came out full of fight after the break and began to make inroads into Pakenham’s lead but the Lions held on for an overall four shot win, 76-72 and picked up 14 Pennant points. Two rinks won by five shots – the best of these was Josh McQueen (S), Trent Gribbin (3), Dave Wood (2) and Stephen (Krusty) Bentley (L).
The Ones are still in fifth spot, now only five points behind Heathmont but with a better percentage. They play Mulgrave Country Club (eighth) at home in the final round; weather permitting, (there are predictions of 39 degrees) they have a real chance of finishing fourth and featuring in the finals. Heathmont play Warburton (sixth) at home.
Pakenham Two (Div 2) were at home again for a convincing win against Glen Waverley. They started slowly and with three rinks down were dragging the chain in the early stages but hit top gear prior to the half way mark to have three rinks in front and an overall lead of 15 shots at that point. It was more of the same after the break and the Lions powered home to collect maximum points with a score of 108-65. Best rink with 38-12 was Keith Lewis (S), Kerry Lewis (3), Wally Noy (2) and Val Moore (L).
As is the case with the First side, the Twos remain in fifth spot but still have an outside chance of making the four. They are only seven points behind Berwick (fourth) but have a tough one, away against Edithvale (third) next round. Berwick have an easier match at home against Mulgrave, eighth.
The long suffering Threes chalked up a home win at the expense of Cranbourne RSL. Despite a sluggish start, with two rinks pushing ahead they established a small lead early in the game and still with two up, clung to an overall lead of seven shots at the half way mark. The match remained tight for the rest of the afternoon but it was the Lions who prevailed with three rinks up and a final score of 90-77. Best of the winners with 32-14 was Gary Pincott (S), Reg (Wombat) Mattingly (3), Trent (Rowdy) Bedford (2) and Razor Ray Pigdon (L). They will be away at Burden Park (fifth) next round.
Pakenham Four (Div 6) made the trip to Ferntree Gully and came home grinning after a close win (All away wins are good but wins at the Gully are especially sweet). Most of the Lions’ team found the woven carpet to their liking and a lead was quickly established with three rinks getting their noses in front. However by half way they had only two rinks in front and the lead was a solitary shot. An arm wrestle ensued after the break with neither side giving an inch but it was the Lions who came out on top, still with two rinks up and two down but with an overall lead of four shots. Best with 30-16 was David Moore (S), Lindsay Stevenson (3), Darren Webster (2) and Ray Leggett (L).
The Fours remain in second position on the ladder; a full round behind Carrum but 16 points ahead of Chelsea and with a better percentage. They are unlikely to finish other than in second and should earn a home final. They are at home to Burden Park (sixth) for round 18.
Pakenham Five (Div 7) made the best of the home ground advantage to grab an early lead against the visitors from Cranbourne. However the situation was reversed by the half way point where they had only one rink in front and trailed 36-52. They fought hard for the remainder of the game but despite getting two rinks up and drawing a third, only managed to reduce the deficit by four shots, eventually losing 81-93. Best rink with 29-22 was Peter Powney (S), Eric Peterson (3), Gail Wilcock (2) and John Barlow (L). Now in eighth spot, they are away to The Dandenong Club (sixth) for the final round.
MIDWEEK
The First Division side travelled to Ferntree Gully for a fruit salad result – one rink up, one drawn and one down. Fortunately the winning rink did enough to get Pakenham home in a close 56-50 finish (although the losers only went down by a shot). The Lions lagged behind at the beginning but came back to be all square at the half way mark. From then on they ground out a tight but satisfying win (It seems that the “Gully” is no longer the graveyard that it used to be as it is not unusual for Pakenham teams to win there now). Best rink with 25-18 was Keith Lewis (S), Jim Williams (3), Ken Clifton (2) and Val Moore (L). They are still in fifth spot but at 23 points behind Clayton cannot make it into the four. They must defend fifth position at home in the final round against Beaumaris who are 10 points behind in sixth.
Pakenham Two were belted down the road at Narre Warren and came home with zero points and slumped from fifth to sixth spot. They have no chance of making the finals and despite the home ground advantage will have their hands full in the final round against ladder leaders, The Dandenong Club.
In the battle for top spot, Pakenham Three (Div 5) hosted Berwick. With one rink clearly dominant and the others playing close, the Lions never really let the Wickers into this game. Their early lead grew to 36-25 at the half way point and was 80-56 by the completion of play. Best rink at 34-14 was John Moore (S), Ray Illing (3), Peter Powney (2), and Josie Mazzarella (L) – and by the way, in case you hadn’t already heard – Jan Moore, Kevin Goonan, Alan Waterson and Tina Courtin scored an elusive eight!
Now top of the ladder, the Threes have earned a home final – a win next week at Mulgrave Country Club will guarantee top spot but whatever the outcome they cannot finish worse than second.
Hosting clear ladder leaders Hampton Park, the Six-A-Side team put in a mighty effort to win on both rinks and hold onto fourth spot. In the early stages the game could have gone either way but they kept their noses down and tails up to lead 22-14 at the half way point and 35-23 at the business end. They were slightly outscored in the run home but still got both rinks up for a final score of 39-30. Best rink with 20-12 was Ray Leggett (S), Faye Osborne (2) and John Barlow (L).
They retained fourth spot, nine points ahead of Narre Warren in fifth. A win at Keysborough (seventh) next round ensures a place in the finals. Narre have a tough one away at Cardinia Waters (second).
HI-LO
The winner this round with number two was Keith Lewis.
Des Leigh
