CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Midweek Pennant
Side one finished the pennant season on a high note last Saturday when it easily beat Keysborough at home.
All three rinks had satisfactory wins in their 83-35 victory over the cellar dwellers.
This win saw Cardinia Waters lift themselves off seventh place into sixth. Whether or not they stay in division two will depend on how Bowls Victoria restructures the competition.
Keith Lewis, Ray Naylor, Jim Barrie and Donny Gibson were top rink on the day, recording a 31-9 win. Next were Bryan Stevens, Ashley Graham, Del Dance and Robert Mitchell who won 29-13.
Not to be outdone, John Van Vugt, Bill Hite, Dennis Patmore and Simon Koning had a nice 23-13 victory as well.
This side won six of 14 home and away games this season, and this win was needed to maintain enthusiasm. At times Covid and other health issues impacted on team selections this season and players will enjoy the off season break to regroup for next season.
Whilst side one were enjoying their game, side two were in an epic battle against Ferntree Gully. Playing on the very slick bottom green at Ferntree Gully, in very difficult windy conditions, the visitors were never going to get the resounding victory they needed to grab a home final.
Ferntree Gully was a player short, but the home-ground advantage was a telling factor in the game, which ended in nail-biting fashion with a 60-60 shot draw.
The home side won on two rinks and Cardinia Waters on just one.
The winners for Cardinia Waters were Len Judge, Graeme Taylor, John Carr and Peter Mitchell and their score was 24/14.
Not winning this game denied Cardinia Waters a home final, and next week they play Willow Lodge away in the first final game.
This should be a crackerjack game by any means.
In their two encounters this season Cardinia Waters won both.
Away they won by nine shots, and at home the margin was five shots.
Playing at Willow Lodge shouldn’t be an issue for the village team. Their green is similar to Cardinia Waters’ home surface without the wind, and is under a roof cover which helps the surface play evenly.
Willow Lodge beat Dandenong RSL last week, and missed top spot by dropping one rink. They had a greater percentage but fell four points short of the coveted top spot.
In the other final this Tuesday Dandenong RSL plays Dandenong Club, who just snuck into the finals at the expense of Churchill Waverley Golf.
Saturday Pennant
Cardinia Waters side two’s tilt at the finals came to a calamitous end on Saturday when they were comprehensively beaten by Cranbourne 77-38 and losing on all three rinks.
Having just snuck into fourth spot they were struggling from the outset with just one rink holding their heads up early.
Stuart Tokely’s rink was in front at afternoon tea but wilted under the constant pressure applied by Cranbourne. So it’s season over for both Cardinia Waters Saturday teams now.
In the other semi-final, Mordialloc held sway over Black Rock taking them into the section grand final held at Noble Park on Sunday. In this final Cranbourne won a dour match by just two shots. Congratulations Cranbourne for a much deserved pennant.
-John Moore-
