WEEKEND PENNANT ROUND 14 – SEASON 2023/24
SATURDAY
Pakenham One (Div 1) were up against it at Beaumaris on Saturday, tackling the ladder leaders on their home ground in the last game of the home and away season – and the game developed pretty much as might have been predicted.
After the first twenty ends, with 26 shots to 11, the Sharks held a comfortable lead and had their noses in front on all four rinks. By the half way mark that lead had blown out to 29 to 53 and Pakenham was still behind on every rink. From that point forward, until the start of the business ends, the Lions fought back hard – however they failed to make any inroads into the deficit, although they did prevented it from growing larger and by that stage they finally had one rink in front.
As a team, Pakenham then marginally outscored Beaumaris in the run home but by far, it was too little, too late and with only one rink in front, at 63 to 85 they went down by 22 shots. The winning rink was “Nifty” Nev Brown (S), Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (3), Claire Smythe (2), and Terry “TMac” McRedmond (L) – they fought back from eight to one down after five ends to win by 18 shots to 15.
After an up and down year, the Ones finished on the sixth rung of the ladder and must now regroup for season 2024/25 – fortunately, still in Div One.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) also clashed with Beaumaris (Two) but the outcome of that game in Pakenham was somewhat different to what the Ones were able to produce. Although Beaumaris arrived with a side strengthened by the addition of a couple of Div One players, they were playing catch up bowls from the word go, although they were never quite out of the hunt until the last few ends.
After twenty ends, Pakenham had three rinks in front and held the lead by 23 shots to 15. At the half way mark the Lions were still in front on three rinks but their lead had only increased to nine shots. Then, after the break, during the twenty ends leading up to the start of the business ends, the rink which was being beaten picked up six shots to one and with the others also contributing, the Lions’ lead pushed out to 24 shots.
The Sharks tried hard in the run home but the locals held on to post a very satisfying 85 to 69 win with three rinks up. Best rink with 28 to 17 was Jim Williams (S), Darren Webster (3), Gian “The Doctor” Pianezzola (2) and Michael Hahn (L).
By collecting 16 Pennant points, Pakenham took Beaumaris’ spot on the sixth rung of the ladder.
The Two’s were promoted from Div Four at the end of last season. Even though they will not participate in the finals this year, they did hold their place in the tougher Div Three competition. They also had the satisfaction of ending the season with a good win.
Pakenham Three were also promoted at the end of season 2022/23 and despite finishing the home and away season with a loss on Saturday, have proven to be more than competitive in Div Five. They had a tough final round, away against clear ladder leaders, Mulgrave Country Club.
Pakenham started well in that game and with two up and one all square, held a one shot lead at the completion of the first twenty ends, despite the fact that one Lions’ rink had not at that stage registered a score. From that point forward however, things gradually went pear shaped – by the half way mark Pakenham had only one rink in front and it was Mulgrave, with 40 shots to 31, which held the lead.
After the break, the Lions fell away badly on three of the four rinks and at the start of the business ends Mulgrave had increased its lead to 30 shots. That lead grew to 33 shots by the end of play, despite a limited fight back by the visitors. Pakenham’s only winning rink with 31 to 19 was Charles Harris (S), Ken Clifton (3), Ray Leggett (2) and Trent “Rowdy” Bedford (L).
The Threes finished the home and away season in third place. Next Saturday, they will play an elimination final at home against fourth placed Narre Warren Five – obviously they need to address that second half drop off. Mulgrave will play the semi final against Burden Park at Mulgrave with the loser of that game to play the winner of the elimination final.
Despite struggling early in the season, Pakenham Four have been building up a head of steam lately and have had a couple of huge wins – last Saturday they had an absolute field day at the expense of Mulgrave Country Club Seven.
The Lions dominated play from the outset – by the completion of the first twenty ends, with three up and one down (but only by one shot) they led by 30 shots to 13; by afternoon tea that score had blown out to 71 to 25 and Pakenham had four up. After the break, the Lions were relentless – the score was 102 to 37 at the start of the run home and 128 to 45 by the end of play.
The best of four winning rinks with a score of 37 to six was Dave Wood (S), Gary “Crow” Crowley (3), Karen Oosthuizen (2) and Sandra Mueller (L).
The big win elevated the Fours to the third rung of the ladder, earning them the right to host the elimination final against Mulgrave Country Club Six (let’s hope they can also do a number on them). The Dandenong Club Five play Keysborough Four in the semi final at Dandenong with the loser of that match to play the winner of the elimination final.
Pakenham have two teams playing finals at home next Saturday – get down to support them and be loud!
MIDWEEK
The Midweek sides pulled off another clean sweep in the penultimate home and away rounds last Tuesday.
Pakenham One (Div 1) played Keysborough, away, in a game that was close all day. After fifteen ends there was only one shot in it with Pakenham leading by 19 shots to 18 with two rinks up. By about lunch time the Lions had increased their lead to five shots, still with two up and by the start of the business ends it had crept out to seven shots – far from comfortable. At the completion of play the Lions were still seven shots in front with two up.
The better of the two winning rinks with 25 to 15 was Neil “Big Dev” Devlin (S), Ned Courtin (3), Keith Lewis (2) and Kerry Lewis (L).
The Ones retained second spot on the ladder – with Clayton out of reach 20 points in front and Berwick, 33, behind in third and only one game remaining, that is where they will finish the season. They will meet Clayton at Clayton in the semi final. They have a home game against Cheltenham in round 14.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) had a big win at home against Berwick Three. There was not much in it in the early stages of that game and after fifteen ends Pakenham led by 19 shots to 14 with two up and one down. However, by lunch time the overall lead had grown to 25 shots and the rink which was behind was drawing closer.
After the break the Lions continued to apply pressure and by the start of the business ends their lead had marginally increased to 29 shots and the trailing rink was only one shot in arrears. The floodgates then opened and by the completion of play, with two up and one all square the Lions won by 52 shots.
Best rink with 37 to eight was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Jim Williams (3), Rick Burns (2) and Michael Hahn (L).
The Twos retained top spot on the ladder, 16 points (a full round) ahead of Cardinia Waters One and with a healthier percentage –with only one round to go therefore, it is virtually impossible for them to lose that position and they should have a home semi final. They will be away at Carrum for round 14.
Pakenham Three had a good win at home against Mulgrave Country Club Six.
The Lions were in control of that game from the word go and after the first fifteen ends when Pakenham held a lead of 17 to six with two and a half rinks up, it was fairly predictable how it would end. There were no dramatic surges – the Lions just slowly built on their lead – at the half way mark it was 35 to 20 and by the start of the business ends it had grown to 53 to 32. It was then an easy canter home to finish with two up and an overall score of 68 shots to 42 – job done.
The better of two winning rinks was Eric Peterson (S), Peter Wilson (3), Gary “Crow” Crowley (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
The Threes also retained top spot and will finish in that position regardless of what happens in their round 14 match at Cardinia Waters (fourth) – they will also host a home semi.
HI-LO
The winner of the final (bonus) round for season 2023/24 was Ian Kitt with number 44.
Des Leigh