PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB
There were smiles and high fives all round at Pakenham last week…and for good reason too!
Six of the seven Pennant teams recorded wins in the final games for 2022 and as the competition enters the Christmas recess, five of those teams are sitting on top of their respective ladders.
SATURDAY
For Pakenham One (Div 1) the task of beating the strong Berwick side on their home turf last Saturday was always going to be a challenge – nevertheless, they rose to the occasion.
Initially, Pakenham’s players may have been surprised at Berwick’s decision to play on synthetic under their new roof as it possibly negated the Wickers’ (perceived) home ground advantage on grass.
Regardless of the surface however, the Lions had come to play and the game was extremely close for most of the day, particularly in the earlier stages.
The score was level at 16 apiece after the first twenty ends and at the half-way mark both sides had two rinks up although Pakenham was just behind, with the score at 39 to 41.
However, from that point forward, the Lions began to pull away.
There was a big surge in particular on the rinks of Big Dev and Voota, where over the five ends prior to the run home the locals were outscored by a combined 14 shots to one.
Google’s rink also chipped in, outscoring their opponents by seven shots to two over the last five ends to fall short by just three shots, while Brad Martin’s rink held on for a hard-fought draw.
At the cessation of hostilities, Pakenham won with two up and one all square and an overall score of 79 to 61.
Best rink, with 28 to 10, was Neil “Big Dev” Devlin (S), John Parker (3), Terry “TMac” McRedmond (2) and Gian “The Doctor” Pianezzola (L).
The Ones continue their slow climb up the ladder and are now in seventh spot, 12 points clear of Parkdale.
Their next outing will be a home game against Whittlesea (fifth) on 14 January 2023.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) was away at Cranbourne, another opponent from the old West Gippsland days.
When these two sides met in round two, Pakenham won fairly comfortably.
But on their home grass the locals were determined to make it anything but easy for their visitors and after the completion of the first twenty ends had three rinks up, one even and a lead of 20 shots to Pakenham’s 14.
However, as the game progressed and the Lions became more accustomed to the playing surface, (which was drying out in the strong, gusting breeze), the tide turned and by the half way mark Pakenham had an 11-shot lead with two rinks up and the others trailing by just one and two shots respectively.
At the start of the business ends the lead was still 11 shots but by that stage three of the Lions’ rinks had their noses in front.
Little changed in the run home and with a final score of 74 to 58 Pakenham ran out winners by 16 shots with three rinks up and the fourth losing by just three shots.
Best rink with 23 to 12 was Keith Lewis (S), Kerry Lewis (3), Darren Webster (2) and Kevin “Murph” Murphy (L).
The Twos are clear ladder leaders, 28 points ahead of Berwick and 35 clear of Mulgrave.
They will kick off the New Year with a home game against Hampton Park (seventh).
The only team to fly the flag at home on Saturday was the Threes (Div 6) and they flew it with distinction, collecting the maximum 18 Pennant points at Dandy RSL REC’s expense.
This game, which featured number one on the ladder against seventh, went pretty much according to script.
After the first twenty ends the Lions led 35 to 10 and were up on all four rinks and at the mid-way mark Pakenham was still travelling well with the score at 54 to 33, although by then the visitors seemed to be getting their act together.
By the start of the business ends the Lions’ lead had been marginally reduced to 20 shots – however despite taking the foot off the gas a little over the last twenty ends, they virtually coasted home to a 96 to 71 victory with all rinks up, thanks to a late surge by Ray Leggett’s rink.
Best rink with 22 to 14 was Vince Bevilacqua (S), Alister Stewart (3), Ian McKenzie (2) and Alan Waterson (L).
With nine wins from nine starts, the Threes hold top spot on the ladder, 14 points clear of Narre Warren and 34 clear of Monbulk.
They will be away at Monbulk when the competition resumes in 2023.
For once, Pakenham Four was blessed with a full complement of players but they were up against it at the Dandy Club, which is the clear ladder leader.
The game did not start well for the visitors, although Gail Bowman’s rink was in front for the first five ends.
From that point, however, the situation quickly deteriorated for the Lions and with the final score at 55 shots to 113, they were soundly beaten.
However, there were a couple of redeeming features in that loss which demonstrated the spirit which is evident in this team.
The rink of Adrian “A-Train” Wheelan (S), Gillian Harper (3) Trent Beveridge (2) and Judith Ferrari (L) staged an amazing fightback, outscoring their opponents ten shots to one over the last five ends of their game, while John Tarr (S), Roger Platt (3), Ryan “Grill” McGill (2) and Richard Grace (L) outscored Dandenong by 12 shots to 9 in the second half of the game.
Unfortunately, however, it was too little too late.
The Fours remain on the seventh rung of the ladder, 18 points clear of Carrum and four behind Burden Park.
They have a home game scheduled against Burden Park after the Christmas break.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 2) was at home to Edithvale – always a tough nut to crack.
The game started slowly for both sides and after the first fifteen ends the locals had one up, one down and one all square and a lead of 15 shots to nine.
By the half-way mark that lead had only grown to eight shots; however, by then the Lions had two rinks up.
Pakenham’s players pushed hard in the second half of the game, outscoring their opponents across the board and eventually winning on all rinks with a final score of 66 shots to 38.
Best rink with 27 shots to 11 was Ned Courtin (S), “Stormin” Norm Box (3), Roger Fraser (2) and Brian Norton (L).
The Ones are still on top of the ladder, 15 points ahead of the Dandenong Club.
They have an away game on 17 January 2023 against Cranbourne (fifth).
The Midweek Twos (Div 4) had a relatively easy game at Mulgrave Country Club, winning overall by 30 shots and collecting 14 Pennant points.
With the exception of one rink, which stumbled at the final hurdle after having led for most of the day, the Twos dominated this contest having grabbed an early lead which they steadily built on as the day progressed.
Best rink with 32 to 12 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Bill Bosch (3), Derek Fenn (2) and Wayne Oosthuizen (L).
The Twos also sit on top of their ladder, nine points clear of Monbulk.
They will play Monbulk at home, first up after the Christmas break.
The Division 6 Threes, top of the ladder, had what, on paper, looked like a relatively easy game at Glen Waverley (seventh) but that did not prove to be the case.
Although the Lions grabbed an early lead – 22 shots to six after the first 15 ends – their hosts challenged for the remainder of the game and even though Pakenham returned home with maximum points, the overall winning margin was just 12 shots.
Best rink with 21 shots to 14 was Peter Wilson (S), Luis Aguilar (3), Frank Grant (2) and Jan Stevenson (L).
The Threes also head their section, 18 points (more than a full round) ahead of Burden Park.
Their round 10 encounter will be with sixth-placed Narre Warren (sixth) at home.
HI-LO
The winner this (bonus) round was David Saint with number 12.
-Des Leigh-
