PAKENHAM BOWLS
Play in the Weekend Pennant season resumed on Saturday following the Christmas break with Pakenham looking to secure some big wins in the run home to finals.
Pakenham One (Div 1) opened their account last Friday night with a good home win under lights against Narre Warren.
The home side started well and after the first twenty ends had two rinks up and one level, with the score at 21 shots to 17.
In what is probably a first for the club for the season, Foxy’s rink had a rare tied end on the third.
As the game approached the midway mark, the Panthers really warmed to the task and at what would normally have been time for the break, the Lions were in front by just one shot with two up and two down.
The arm-wrestle continued from there until the start of the business ends when Pakenham’s lead had marginally increased to a slender three shots, still with two up and two down and at that stage the game could have gone either way.
However, the home side wanted it more and pushed on to win by 15 shots, with two up and two down.
When these sides met previously in the first half of the home and away season, their encounter was also a close thing with the Lions winning by just eight shots with two and a half up.
The better of the two winning rinks with 25 to 12 was Chris “Foxy” Fox (S), Wayne Parker (3), Max Mannik (2) and Joshua Kennedy (L).
The win elevated the Ones to the second rung of the ladder, now 27 points behind Mentone, four up on Mulgrave and 10 head of Keysborough.
Their next outing will be away at Keysborough.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) were down the highway against the “old enemy,” Berwick.
The Lions got an early jump on the Wickers to be three up and 25 to 18 after the first twenty ends but even at that stage there was cause for concern, as one Pakenham rink had yet to register a score and went on to drop the first six ends on the trot.
The locals continued to apply pressure and by the half way mark they were only one shot behind, although at that point Pakenham still had two up and one level.
It was a dour struggle after the break with a couple of big swings each way but overall, the Wickers outscored the Lions during the second half to snatch the win by seven shots with two up and two down.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks with 26 to 12 was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (S), Gian “The Doctor” Pianezzola (3), David Leitch (2) and Debbie Parker (L).
The Twos have dropped from second to third spot on the ladder, 11 points behind Edithvale and only one in front of Dandy.
They will be home to Hampton Bayside Two (sixth) for round 11.
After their third trip into the hills this season, Pakenham Three (Div 5) finally registered a win, with Cockatoo One being their unfortunate victim.
As was the case with their trip to Monbulk, a number of Pakenham’s players had not played at Cockatoo before (amazing, given that they are near neighbours) and for some of the less experienced players it was their first game on sand filled synthetic.
Nevertheless, the Lions got down to business from the word go.
After the first twenty ends they had three up and one level and had established a handy 24 to 10 lead.
By the half way mark the locals had made some inroads into the deficit and by that stage the visitors’ lead had been reduced to just six shots with two up and two down.
After the break (the fresh ham and salad rolls provided by the host club were superb) it was more of the same despite the fact the wind had changed, and at the start of the business ends Pakenham still held a far from comfortable six shot lead, with two up and two down.
However, the Lions were the better finishers and ended the game with a 19 shot win, still two up and two down.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks with 27 shots to eight was Des “Grizzly” Leigh (S), Peter Wilson (3), David Moore (2) and Julian Colmegna (L), and what were the odds, “Grizzly’s” direct opponent was “Grumpy” (Martin Williams) again!
The Threes have now retaken top spot on the ladder, 12 points ahead of Dandy, 13 up on Berwick and 14 on Upwey Tecoma, with Narre 36 points (two full rounds) further back in fifth.
They will be away again next round at Keysborough.
Pakenham Four (Div 7) were the only home side on Saturday and their opponent was Boronia Three.
With both Bruce Perry’s and “Stormin” Norm Box’s rinks bolting out of the blocks, the Lions had already established a 37 to 10 lead after the first twenty ends and there was no let up for the remainder of the game.
At one stage Norm’s crew won nine ends on the trot and by the half way mark, the score had blown out to 81 to 21 and all four of the home side’s rinks were in front.
The pressure was maintained after the break and by the start of the business ends, with the score at 105 to 35, the Lions had already cracked the ton.
They then cruised home to register a huge 124 to 53 win.
The last time these two sides met, Pakenham won by 115 to 48 but that was against a depleted Boronia team.
This was an even better win against a full strength Boronia.
The best winning rink with 41 to 10 was Bruce Perry (S), Ray Illing (3), Ian McKenzie (2) and Brenda Moloney (L).
Despite the huge win, the Fours are still second on the ladder, now only three points behind Berwick (but with a better percentage) and 33 (almost two full rounds) ahead of Narre.
It is as well that they have that buffer as they cannot collect any Pennant points next weekend as they have the bye.
They will host seventh place Upwey Tecoma in round 12.
MIDWEEK
The Midweek competition resumed on Tuesday 21 January.
HI-LO
The winner for round 10 was “Foxy” with number 48.
-Des Leigh-
