PAKENHAM BOWLS
Despite the rain and widespread flooding last week, three of Pakenham’s Weekend Pennant Bowls sides were able to complete their games on Saturday.
The unlucky First Division side was the only one washed out – fortunately however, their game at Whittlesea was called off early and they were saved what could have been a long and pointless trip to an unplayable green.
The Ones are scheduled to play Heathmont at home in round three.
SATURDAY
As it turned out, rain was not a problem at Pakenham and in any case the Two’s (Div 4) were under the shelter of the dome for their game against Cranbourne.
The Lions got away well in that game and although they didn’t set the world on fire, with three rinks up and one all square, they held a lead of 16 shots to eight after the first 20 ends.
From that point forward, Cranbourne kept pace with the locals but at the half way mark Pakenham still had three rinks in front and a lead of 34 to 25 – Jen “Chookle” Bainbridge’s rink in particular, appeared to be building towards a good win.
As the game progressed, up to and through the business ends, the Lion’s steadily continued to build their lead and by maintaining the pressure finished off with three rinks up and a healthy overall score of 82 shots to 58, collecting 16 pennant points in the process.
Best rink with 24 shots to 10 and 15 ends was Jen “Chookle” Bainbridge (S), Jim Williams (3), Peter Bott (2) and Sandra “Wildwoman” Wilde (L).
The Two’s are to play Hampton Park, away, next round.
Pakenham Three (Div 6) played the number one side from Dandenong RSL/REC at Keysborough.
This match started slowly and after the completion of the first twenty ends there were only three shots in it – however it was the Lions who had their noses in front.
As the game progressed Pakenham continued to build on its score – a lead of three after 20 ends became 15 at the half way mark then 22 by the commencement of the business ends.
From that point they coasted home to win by 81 shots to 61 and with three rinks up collected 16 pennant points.
Best rink with a very healthy 24 shots to eight and 16 ends was Vince Bevilacqua (S), Alan Waterson (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Ian McKenzie (L).
The Three’s will be at home to Monbulk Two next round.
Pakenham Four (Div 7) were also at home under the dome on Saturday – their opponent was the strong Dandenong Club, a club also accustomed to playing under a roof.
Both sides started the game with one player short – Pakenham did not have enough available players and a member of Dandenong’s squad simply failed to appear.
However while the Lions played the entire game one short, a replacement Dandenong player turned up later in the game and he apparently hit the ground running – in a close finish, that may have made all the difference.
Pakenham got away to an early three-shot lead in this game and were still in front by seven shots at the half way mark.
However from that point forward Dandenong began to grind away at the lead which was reduced to just four shots by the start of the business ends.
The Lions continued to fight hard but with the final score at 76 to 83 they eventually lost by just seven shots; however with two winning rinks they did collect four pennant points.
Best rink with 25 to 15 and in control all day, was Gail Bowman (S), Gian Pianezolla (3), Derek Fenn (2) and Richard Grace L).
The Fours are drawn to play away against Burden Park Three next round.
It is hoped that the Parkers are able to field a side as they forfeited to Berwick in round two.
MIDWEEK
Having kicked off round one of the season with wins by all three sides, Pakenham’s Midweek teams may have set the bar high but they backed those results up with another three victories last Tuesday.
Pakenham One (Div 2) were away at Edithvale where it was a hard slog all day.
At the completion of the first 15 ends, with one rink up and the other two down by just a shot apiece, Pakenham held a narrow three shot lead.
After 33 ends (approximately half way) the score was (incredibly) dead level at 33 shots apiece – however the Lions had only one rink up.
However by the start of the business ends that situation had changed and it was Pakenham with two rinks in front and a narrow four-shot lead.
Then, in the run home, with the final score at 62 to 58, the Lions held on to finish the day winning by four shots and with two successful rinks collected 14 pennant points.
Best rink with 27 to 12 was Max Mannik (S), Steve “Krusty” Bentley (3), Jen “Chookle” Bainbridge (2) and Ross Pitama (L).
The Ones will host Cranbourne Two in round three.
Although playing on their home ground, Pakenham Two allowed the visitors to get the jump on them in their match against Mulgrave Country Club and after the first 15 ends were two rinks down and trailled by 12 shots to 18 overall.
However by the time it reached the half way point, the locals had turned the game on its head and at that stage, with two rinks up and the score at 41 shots to 30, it was the Lions who were in front and travelling well.
As the game progressed, the lead continued to grow – it was 18 shots at the start of the run home and 23 shots at the final siren, with 14 pennant points in the locker.
Best rink with 35 shots to 10 was Jim Williams (S), Ray Leggett (3), Gary Crowley (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
The Two’s are away to Monbulk Two next round.
Pakenham Three (Div 6) were the story of the week with a resounding home win, collecting the maximum of 16 pennant points at the expense of a hapless Glen Waverley Three.
Pakenham dominated from the outset – after the first 15 ends all three rinks were ahead and the lead was 26 shots to six.
By the halfway mark the score had grown to 48 to 16 and by the start of the business ends it had ballooned out to 82 to 23 – by the end of play it had finally stopped expanding and finished at 102 to 33.
Best rink with an incredible 50 shots to six was Peter Wilson (S), Luis Aguilar (3), Derek Fenn (2) and Steve Rayner (L).
Lock that one in the memory banks boys – you may never see the likes of it again!
The Threes are away to Narre Warren Five next round.
HI-LO
The winner for Round Two with number 37 was Dave Moore.
-Des Leigh-
