PAKENHAM BOWLS
SATURDAY PENNANT
For the fourth week in a row Pakenham’s Weekend Pennant sides kept their unbeaten record intact – although the Threes came close to blotting the copybook at Berwick.
Pakenham One (Div 1) played another Friday night game under lights – on this occasion at Parkdale. The Lions got away to a positive start with two up, one level and an overall lead of 23 shots to 12 after the first twenty ends.
However, although they were always in control, they were never able to build a really comfortable lead until the start of the business ends when they had three up and were in front by 22 shots.
From that point the locals actually outscored them in the run home but it was too late by that stage and the Lions finished the night with two up, one level and a winning score of 86 to 74.
The only losing rink fell short by just one shot.
Best rink with 27 to 17 was Chris “Foxy” Fox (S), Wayne Parks (3), Joshua Kennedy (2) and Darren Webster (L).
The Ones are now second on the ladder, almost a full round (16 points) behind Mentone, but ahead of Mulgrave by the same margin.
They have the opportunity to consolidate that position with a home game against Mulgrave this week.
Round five was remarkable in that every Division One home side suffered a loss.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) had a big win at home against Cheltenham.
They bolted out of the blocks to have all four rinks up and a lead of 27 shots to six by the completion of the first twenty ends.
By the half-way point that score had blown out to 58 to 20 and the Lions continued to inflict pain on their visitors after the break.
By the start of the run home the one-sided scoreboard was lit up at 80 to 28 and at the end of the day it was showing 106 to 44 with all rinks in front (yet another Pakenham side gets the ton up in 24/25!).
Pakenham’s best rink with 31 to 10 was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (S), Peter Bott (3), Paul Currie (2) and Brian Norton (L).
The Twos are second on the ladder, 11 points behind Edithvale and eight ahead of Dandenong.
They have a crucial away game at Dandenong next round.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) was away at Berwick.
The Lions got away to a great start to lead by 28 shots to eight with all four rinks up after the first twenty ends.
However, the Wickers were stung into action from that point forward and by the half-way mark had their noses in front on two rinks, although Pakenham still held a 42 to 33 overall lead at that stage. Pakenham increased their lead by small increments after the break but was never able to establish a decisive break on their opponents.
By picking up a couple of big counts late in the piece Berwick was able to salvage a draw; the game was always there for the Lions to win but they failed to capitalise.
Best rink with 27 to 13 was Rick Burns (S), Jim Williams (3), Michael Hahn (2) and Brenda Moloney (L).
The Threes sit on top of the ladder, only two points ahead of Upwey Tecoma and 17 up on Dandenong.
Pakenham will be home to Narre Warren next round.
Pakenham Four (Div 7) was up in the hills at Upwey Tecoma.
Although they finished this game with three winning rinks and a very healthy score of 98 shots to 57, it was a hard-fought victory.
The Lions completed the first twenty ends with two up and one level but led at that stage by only four shots.
From that point forward however, they got their heads down and tails up and ground away to steadily accumulate numbers; at the half-way mark they led by 49 to 25 and by the start of the business ends the score had grown to 72 shots to 40.
The final result was a 41-shot win with 16 Pennant points.
Best rink with 35 to 11 was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Gillian Harper (3), Gary “Crow” Crowley (2) and Karen Rayner (L).
The Fours hold top spot on the ladder, 14 points up on Ferntree Gully and 15 clear of Berwick.
They have a very real chance of jumping clear in round six with an away game against Berwick, while Ferntree Gully has the bye.
MIDWEEK
The Midweek warriors posted better results last week with two of the three sides recording wins.
Pakenham One (Div 1) was home to Burden Park One for what, on paper at least, looked like a certain win – and that’s how it played out.
The Lions were in control from the outset to have all three rinks up and a lead of 21 shots to 11 after the first 15 ends.
They then put the foot down and by the half-way mark, with the score having blown out to 51 to 16, the game had just about been put to bed.
The carnage continued after the break with the Lions storming home to win by 91 shots to 31, collecting the maximum 16 Pennant points in the process.
Best rink with 36 to nine was Terry “TMac” McRedmond (S), Max Mannik (3), David Saint (2) and Paul Philip (L).
It was a timely win with a much-needed percentage boost by the Ones who now find themselves second on the ladder, almost a full round behind Dandenong but only one point ahead of Keysborough and six up on Mulgrave.
They will be away to Clayton (fifth) next round.
In contrast to the Ones, the Twos (Div 2) had a disappointing day at Edithvale.
After the completion of the first quarter of that game they trailed by 12 shots to 17 and were down on two and level on the third.
At that stage they were not out of it but unfortunately the early pattern pretty much continued for the remainder of the game; however, the rink which had been level got its nose in front on the sixth end and although challenged, was never headed from that point forward.
Pakenham eventually lost by 46 shots to 60 but with one winning rink, at least collected two Pennant points.
The only winning rink with 20 to 17 was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Bruce McGennisken (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Gayle Harkness (L).
The Twos languish at the bottom of the ladder and badly need a win.
They have a home game next round; however, it will be a tough assignment against Cranbourne One (fifth) a side which includes four former Pakenham players.
Pakenham Three (Div 4) had a very satisfying win at Monbulk.
Overall, the Lions did not get away to a positive start and at the completion of the first fifteen ends had two rinks down and trailed by three shots.
Only the eight shots to one lead on Brian Norton’s rink kept them in it at that stage.
However, with Brian’s rink continuing to fire and a big 13 to one surge by Eric Peterson’s crew, the situation was quickly reversed and Pakenham reached the half-way point three shots in front with two rinks well up.
There were more surges after the break and the Lions outscored Monbulk 39 shots to 15 in the second half to end the day winning by 76 to 49 with two up and one all square.
Best rink with 31 to 10 was Brian Norton (S), Brenda Moloney (3), Maree Taylor (2) and Bill Bosch (L). The Threes are now fourth on the ladder, almost a full round behind Churchill Waverley Golf but only four points ahead of Keysborough.
They are home to Churchill Waverley Golf next round.
HI-LO
This week’s winner with number 15 was Wendy Pownall.
-Des Leigh-
