WEEKEND PENNANT ROUND 4- SEASON 2023/24
SATURDAY
Pakenham One (Div 1) were away against a very confident Cheltenham One which had won all three of its games so far this season. Although the Cockies held a slender four shot lead after the first twenty ends, there was no clear indication in the early stages of how the game might play out. However, by the half way point that lead had grown to 19 shots and the Lions were behind on all four rinks.
As the game progressed into the business ends, Cheltenham’s lead had blown out to 29 shots and the outcome was not looking good for the visitors, although at that stage one of Pakenham’s rinks did have its nose in front. With two of the Lions’ rinks winning all five ends in the run home, there was a slight glimmer of hope – however it was too little, too late and at 69 to 86 the Lions went down by 17 shots and collected just two Pennant points.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 20 to 18 was Chris “Foxy” Fox (S), Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (3), Brian Norton (2) and David Saint (L). The Ones will be home to Berwick One next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) were at home under the dome where they played Cheltenham’s second side. Things were looking good for the Lions from the outset and after the completion of the first twenty ends they had three rinks up and held a 10 shot lead. The visitors then warmed to their task and by the tea break Pakenham had only marginally increased its lead to 12 shots but at that stage had dropped behind on two of the four rinks.
However during the first twenty ends after the break, both the rinks skipped by Keith “Golden Arm” Archer and Max Mannik outscored their opponents by 11 shots to one and by the start of the run home the lead had grown to 25 shots with two up, one level and one down. The Lions finished with two up and two down and a 91 to 71 win.
Best rink, having outscored their opponents during all four quarters of the game to record a 38 to 12 win, was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (S), Terry “TMac” McRedmond (3), Jen “Chookle” Bainbridge (2) and Lindsay Stevenson (L). The Twos will travel to Narre Warren next round.
Sharing the dome with the Twos on Saturday, Pakenham Three (Div 5) took on “the old enemy” Berwick, in what proved to be a very one sided encounter. With the first twenty ends completed, the Lions had three rinks up and had already established a 32 to 12 shot lead. By the tea break the score was 61 to 34 in favour of the home side and by the start of the business ends that had blown out to 97 to 37. The Lions may have coasted a little in the run home but with the big board showing 120 to 52 at the end of play, they had more than doubled their opponent’s score.
Having won 19 of the possible 21 ends and finishing with a score of 39 to four, the outstanding rink of the day was Dave Moore (S), Ash Graham (3), Gillian Harper (2) and Mark “Lumpy” Dalton (L). The Threes will be away at Noble Park for round five.
Pakenham Four were always going to find it tough at Cranbourne RSL playing that club’s number one side but their task was made even harder with the late, Covid related withdrawal of one of their skips, the rushed replacement by a bowler who’s transfer to the club had come through at the last moment and finally, the non-attendance of one member of her rink, leaving the Lions one player short. Not surprisingly, the RSL got the jump on the Pakenham team from the word go and although the Lions were still within striking distance at the half way mark, the game steadilly slipped out of reach as the day progressed. Pakenham finished with just one rink up and a final score of 67 shots to 95.
Mick Knight’s rink fought hard all day to finish just one shot down but the best performance was by Eric Peterson’s rink which was down after the first five ends but ended the day 28 shots to 16 up! Eric was assisted by Alan Waterson (3), Kevin Holley (2) and Julian Colmegna (L). The Fours play host to Mulgrave Country Club Six next round.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 1) were on the grass at Clayton last Wednesday for a game in which they played catch up bowls for the whole day. After the first 15 ends, despite a 7 to one lead on Foxy’s rink, they were behind by seven shots overall. By lunch time that deficit had grown to 17 shots even though Foxy was still in front.
The Lions pushed back after the break and for a while made some inroads into the Cobra’s lead but in the end it wasn’t enough and eventually, at 55 to 74 they lost by 19 shots and collected zero Pennant points.
The Ones will be away again at Moorabbin on Tuesday 14 November.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) played Willow Lodge One at home. When looking at the final scores, this was a close game, yet one in which Pakenham always seemed to be in control. After the first 15 ends the home side were up on all rinks and held a handy 10 shot lead which steadilly grew to 17 shots by the half way mark.
After lunch the visitors came back hard and by the start of the business ends had reduced the Lions lead to 10 shots again but they were unable to go on with the job and Pakenham finished with an 11 shot lead and collected maximum Pennant points.
This was a well balanced result with the three Pakenham rinks winning by two, three and six shots respectively – a tick for the selectors? Best of the three with 20 to 14 was Brian Norton (S), Lynne Smith (3), Maree Taylor (2) and Gayle Harkness (L). The Twos will be home again for round four against Noble Park One, which at this stage of the season has three from three.
Unlike the match up between Pakenham Two and Willow Lodge, the contest between Pakenham Three (Div 5) and Burden Park Two, also played under the dome, was very one sided. The Lions hit the ground running in that game and with all rinks up, had established a lead of 31 to six after only fifteen ends. That lead had been slightly reduced by the lunch break but Pakenham were still dominating.
After the break the Lions applied the screws again and by the start of the business ends had increased the lead to a very comfortable 74 shots to 33. There was no easing up in the run home and Pakenham finished with a winning margin of 50 shots and collected maximum Pennant points.
Best rink with 32 to 11 was Vince Bevilacqua (S), Eric Peterson (3), Gillian Harper (2) and Shane Hamblyn (L). The Threes will be home again next round to Mt Waverley Two.
HI – LO
The round four winner with number 43 was Lindsay Stevenson.
Des Leigh