Round 18 Pennant Report 2018/19
PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB – PENNANT 2018/19 – ROUND 18
SATURDAY
The last round of the home and away season was played (or burned out) in extreme heat and humidity under a canopy of bushfire smoke.
Pakenham One (Div 1) hosted the once powerful Mulgrave Country Club in a game which although halted at one stage by the heat rule, eventually delivered a result. The Lions established an early lead and despite one rink struggling a little, were up by 12 shots and ahead on three rinks at the half way mark. From that point forward they never looked like losing and held on to win 91-76 with three up and one down. Best rink with 27-12 was Neil (Big Dev) Devlin (S), Chris Fox (3), Brian Norton (2) and Ian (Lefty) Anderson (L). They finished fifth on the ladder, only three points outside the four and look back on a good season marred only by losing a couple of games to lower teams which they really should have won.
Unfortunately, Pakenham Two (Div 2) was denied a result. While holding a slender lead and with only a few ends left to play, their game at Edithvale was abandoned due to the heat rule; the points were therefore shared – all that sweat for nothing! The Twos also finished in fifth spot. They too can look back with some satisfaction, particularly at the second half of the season.
The season is finally over for the long suffering Pakenham Three (Div 3). Late in their game at Burden Park, when in a position where it seemed that they were unlikely to win, they made the decision to forfeit rather than continue in the heat. They finished at the bottom of the ladder and will be relegated – hopefully to a section in Fourth Division where they will not have to face another clubs’ number one side week after week and where they will be competitive.
As they look forward to the finals, Pakenham Four (Div 6) made an emphatic, confidence boosting statement with a 136-61 win at home over Burden Park Three. The outcome of that game was never in doubt – they led by 20 shots after 20 ends and the margin had grown to 50 by half time. Although all four rinks got up, a large portion of the 75 shot win was due to the score of 41-10 from the rink of Peter (Hacksaw Man) Bott, Peter Wilson, Trent (Rowdy) Bedford and Adrian (ATrain) Wheelan – at one stage they won nine ends on the trot! By finishing second, the Fours earned a home final; their opponents should be Chelsea Two.
Unfortunately, Pakenham Five did not have the numbers to field a side and forfeited to The Dandenong Club. They finished out of the finals but would expect to be more competitive next season.
MIDWEEK
Two of Pakenham’s Midweek sides made it into the finals while the other two performed well, finishing in the middle of the field.
Pakenham One (Div 1) hosted Beaumaris (sixth) in a tight contest with one rink in control all day, one in trouble and the other close but always in front after the third end. Despite the home ground advantage, the Lions trailed early in the game – however they were only four shots in arrears at the half way mark. They dug deep after the break and with two rinks up, eventually won 60-53. Best rink with 25-11 was Ned Courtin (S), Daniel (Huddo) Hudson (3), Gary (Crow) Crowley (2) and Stormin’ Norm Box (L). They finished the season in splendid isolation at fifth spot on the ladder – more than a round behind Clayton but more than a round in front of Beaumaris.
The Div 2 side, sixth, were also at home and had their hands full against ladder leaders, The Dandenong Club. Theirs was an eventful game with large swings in both directions. After 20 ends they led 18-11 only to see that lead evaporate by the half way mark when they were down 31-38. The eventual result was close, at 56-62 but the Lions lost by six shots with one up, one down and one drawn. Best rink with 24-19 was Paul Currie (S), John Tarr (3), Graeme (Wildman) Wilde (2) and Sandra (Wildwoman) Wilde (L). This rink came from behind, winning nine of the last 10 ends and outscoring their opponents 14-2 in the second half. The Twos finished the season in a creditable sixth spot.
As clear ladder leaders, Pakenham Three (Div 5) might have expected that a win against ninth placed Mulgrave Country Club would have been a mere formality but that was not the way things panned out. Although one Lions’ rink was dominant from the outset, Mulgrave exploited their home ground advantage on the grass to establish an overall lead early in the game; however by the half way mark it was Pakenham which was in front, 33-25, with two rinks up and one down. From that point it was a hard slog for both sides but the Lions ran out winners with 61-58, one up, one down and one square. Best rink with 25-14 was Alan Waterson (S), Kevin (Digger) Goonan (3), Lindsay Stevenson (2) and Tina Courtin (L).
By finishing on top of the ladder the Threes earned a home final – their opponents will be Edithvale.
The Six-A-Side Pakenham Four were away winners at Keysborough. They got the jump on their hosts early in the game and carried that momentum forward to have both rinks up and lead 23-17 at the half way mark. Although one rink dropped a five on the second last end to be pipped at the post, the Lions went on to win 44-36 overall, retaining fourth spot and a place in the finals. The winning rink was Eric Peterson (S), Roy Harvie (2) and Helen Wright (L) with 26-14.
They have an away final at Hampton Park. Having beaten that side recently, they should approach this game with confidence.
HI-LO
At the time of writing, Bowls Victoria had not posted all results – the final winner for season 2018/19 has therefore not yet been determined.
Des Leigh
