PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB
This season, in a bid to ensure that as many players as possible are given the opportunity to play Pennant, Pakenham Bowls Club has committed to fielding four Saturday and three Midweek Pennant teams. Given the recent increase in membership, this should be achievable – however it remains to be seen whether it will always be possible, depending on the number of players who are unavailable from time to time due to illness and other reasons.
SATURDAY
Pakenham One (Div 1) opened the season with a home game against the old enemy, Berwick. Unfortunately, the decision to play the match on the faster Crowley Green backfired and by the completion of the first 20 ends the visitors held a comfortable, early lead of 22 shots.
From that point forward the Lions were forced to play “catch up” bowls and although they made some inroads into the deficit they eventually went down overall by 15 shots.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 31 shots to nine was Neil “Big Dev” Devlin (S), John Parker (3), Roger Fraser (2) and Ross Pitama (L).
The Ones face a tough task next Saturday, away against former Premier Division club, Whittlesea.
They will have to get up early for the long trek north.
Pakenham Two (now Div 4) were in unfamiliar territory at Noble Park where they were presented with a grass deck made very heavy by the recent rains.
Despite having an early roll up, it took Pakenham’s players a while to get the hang of the green and as a result, after the completion of the first twenty ends, the locals had established a narrow lead.
However from that point forward the Lions simply outclassed their opponents (e.g. Grizzly’s rink at one stage won 11 ends on the trot) to win overall by 24 shots, with three successful rinks.
Best rink with 33 shots to 16 was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Brian Norton (3), Allister Stewart (2) and Jan Moore (L).
The Two’s will be at home to Cranbourne (Three) next round.
The Third side (Div 6) played Vermont South under the dome on the Banks green.
This game had two distinct halves – after the first twenty ends Pakenham was ahead on all four rinks and held a handy 17-shot lead which they built up to 36 shots by the half way mark.
However a surge by Vermont South saw that lead reduced to 18 shots by the start of the business ends but from that point on, although the Lions fell marginally behind on two of the four rinks they held on to win by 13 shots overall.
Best rink with a huge score of 29 shots to nine was Charles Harris (S), Eric Peterson (3), Bill Bosch (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
The Threes have a tough match against Dandenong RSL/REC (One) at Keysborough next round.
Cranbourne RSL has not been a happy hunting ground for the Lions over recent years and that proved to be the case again last Saturday for Pakenham Four (Div 7).
The two teams seemed fairly evenly matched in the earlier stages of the game and even by the half way mark, the locals were in front by only six shots.
However from that point forward they put the foot down to run out overall winners by 19 shots with three rinks up.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 25 shots to 19 was Kevin Holley (S), Derek Fenn (3), Ryan “Grill” McGill (2) and Brenda Moloney (L).
The Fours will be at home to the Dandenong Club 5 for round two.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham’s midweek sides kicked off the new season with a near perfect result – all three recorded wins, with two of those resulting from away games.
Pakenham One (Div 2) were at home to Parkdale.
With John Parker’s rink leading the charge on the fast Crowley Green, the Lions bolted to a 21 to eight lead after the first 15 ends and that score had blown out to 47 to 20 by the half way mark.
From that point the Parkers came back at them but the home side still won comfortably, with two rinks up and an overall score of 69 to 52.
Best rink with 31/8 and 16 of the 21 ends was John Parker (S), Steve “Krusty” Bentley (3), David Laird (2) and Terry “Tmac” McRedmond (L).
The One’s play Edithvale (One), away, in round two.
The Div 4 second side was away against Hampton Park 1.
Despite one Pakenham rink finishing the day six shots in arrears, the Lions were in control of this match from the outset.
By the completion of the first 15 ends, they had established a 23 to 12 lead which they continued to build and with the final tally at 82 to 40 had more than doubled their opponents’ score.
Best rink with a crushing score of 34/5, and winning the last eight ends straight, was Jim Williams (S), Ray Leggett (3), Gary “Crow” Crowley (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
They will be at home to Mulgrave Country Club in round two.
Pakenham Three (Div 6) had a much closer encounter at Cheltenham.
The Lions led by just three shots after the first fifteen ends and at the half way mark it was all square at 31 shots apiece.
By the start of the business ends Pakenham had two rinks in front and had ground out a five-shot lead. By continuing to apply the pressure, that margin was extended to 13 shots by the end of play.
Best rink with 24 to 18 was Richard Burns (S), Michael Hahn (3), John Barlow (2) and Judith Ferrari (L). The Three’s have a home game against Glen Waverley next round.
HI-LO
The winner for round one with number three was “Stormin” Norm Box.
-Des Leigh-
