PAKENHAM BOWLS
SATURDAY
With the benefit of the home-ground advantage, Pakenham One (Div 1) was in front during the early stages of its match against third-placed Mitcham and had three rinks up and a six-shot lead at the completion of the first twenty ends.
However, by the half way mark the visitors seemed to have come to grips with the green and with two up, and one all square, the Lions’ lead had been reduced to five shots.
After the break, Mitcham’s players really lifted their game and for the remainder of the match outscored Pakenham by almost two to one to finish in front, 85 shots to 68.
The Lions only winning rink with 20 shots to 19 was Chris ‘Foxy’ Fox (S), Max Mannik (3), Gian ‘The Doctor’ Pianezolla (2) and Dave Wood (L).
There will be no play next week as the Victorian Open will be in full swing.
The Ones next opportunity will therefore be on November 26 with the ‘Battle of the Cellar Dwellers’ at St Kilda.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) made the short trip across town to Cardinia Waters for what was anticipated to be a tough encounter.
The ‘Village People’ made life difficult for the Lions from the outset and with two up and two down held a three-shot lead after the first twenty ends.
It was still two rinks apiece at the half way mark but by that stage, with one rink being badly mauled, Pakenham trailed overall by 11 shots.
As the game approached the business ends, Cardinia’s lead had been reduced to just seven shots, although one Lions rink was still being battered.
Then, in an unlikely turnaround, the rink which had been hammered all day outscored its opponent by 12 shots to three in the run home but it was not quite enough to pull off what would have been a remarkable victory.
With two up and two down and the score at 75 to 76, the Lions fell short by one shot.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks, and in control all day, was ‘Stormin’ Norm Box (S), Brian Norton (3), Michael Hahn (2) and Jan Moore (L) with a final score of 26 to 12.
Despite the loss, the Twos still hold top spot on the ladder but are now only five points clear of Mulgrave who had a huge away win this round.
The Twos next opponent on November 26 will be Upwey-Tecoma (fourth).
The venue for this game has been listed as Upwey-Tecoma as apparently it was only their front green which was flood damaged and some games will still be played on their home ground.
It was left to Pakenham Three (Div 6) to fly the flag for the Lions on the weekend, which they did with a big win against Ferntree Gully.
They were never in trouble in that game – after the first twenty ends, with three up and one all square, they held a 23 shot to 11 lead and at the half way mark, with three up and one down (but only by a single shot) they were in front by 46 to 30.
They continued to apply the pressure after the break to build a 31-shot lead by the start of the business ends and brought it home with 97 shots to 55 and three successful rinks.
The best winning rink with 32 shots to seven was Charles Harris (S), Ken Clifton (3), Trent ‘Rowdy’ Bedford (2) and Mark ‘Lumpy’ Dalton (L).
From the half way mark to the end of the game this rink outscored its opponent by 18 shots to one!
The Threes retain top spot on the ladder but are only six points clear of Narre Warren.
Their home game against Narre next round will provide them with the opportunity to widen the margin.
Pakenham Four (Div 7) were again a couple of players short for their away game at Cranbourne – however their hosts also had one empty slot.
Unfortunately, the Lions were never in the hunt and by the time they had a handle on the Cranbourne green and had begun to match it with their hosts the game was over.
Pakenham’s players were on the end of a 119 to 61 flogging and returned home with zero pennant points.
The rink of John Tarr (S), Roger Platt (3), Frank Grant (2) and John Barlow (L) fought hard all day and continued to whittle down their opponents’ lead to finish just four shots short – if Metropolitan Bowls was still played over 25 ends they probably would have won!
The Fours have an even tougher assignment next round – away (again) against ladder leaders Berwick.
MIDWEEK
The Midweek Warriors celebrated wins by all three sides again last week and each holds top spot on their respective ladders.
Pakenham One (Div 2) continued a near perfect start to the season with a huge away win at Carrum’s expense.
Neil ‘Big Dev’ Devlin’s rink, in particular, bolted out of the blocks and had a lead of 14 to nil after their first five ends, by which stage the overall score was 22 to six in Pakenham’s favour.
By the half way mark the lead was 46 to 21 and that had blown out to 75 to 24 by the start of the run home.
The final score was 95 shots to 36 with the Lions collecting maximum Pennant points.
Best rink with 37 to nine was Neil ‘Big Dev’ Devlin (S), Ned Courtin (3), ‘Stormin’ Norm Box (2) and David Saint (L).
The Ones hold top spot on the ladder, 12 points clear of The Dandenong Club.
Their round six opponents will be Berwick (sixth) at home.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) also collected 16 Pennant points from a home win against Berwick.
It would be an understatement to say that all three rinks started well as the score was already 28 shots to five after the first 15 ends.
The numbers continued to multiply as the game progressed, to be 51 to 15 at the half way point and 72 to 28 at the start of the business ends.
The game ended with the tally at 97 to 41.
Best rink with 40 shots to 11 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Paul Currie (3), Helen Wright (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
The Twos are on top of the ladder, nine points clear of Monbulk.
Their round-six game will be away at Berwick (eighth).
The Threes (Div 6) were away on the grass at Burden Park.
They started well – although not as dramatically as the Twos – and with two up and one down held a lead of 16 shots to nine after the first 15 ends.
By the half-way mark the home side had warmed up a little and were providing more resistance and although still two rinks down, trailed the Lions by only four shots.
By the start of the business ends, Pakenham’s lead had been reduced to just two shots – however they then slipped into overdrive to finish the game off with two successful rinks and a score of 66 to 42.
Best rink with 26 to 10 was Richard Burns (S), Kevin Holley (3), Roger Fraser (2) and Jan Stevenson (L).
The Threes are on top of the ladder, almost a full round ahead of Churchill Waverley Golf.
They will be home to Noble Park (third) next round.
HI-LO
Backing it up, for the second week in a row, was Keith Lewis with number 34.
-Des Leigh-
