PAKENHAM BOWLS CLUB
MIDWEEK PENNANT ROUND 6
As many players were expected to be away competing in the Victorian Open, there were no Pennant games scheduled for either Saturday 19 November or Tuesday 22 November.
However round six of the Midweek competition was completed on Tuesday 15 November, while round six of the Weekend competition will be played on Saturday 26 November.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 2) were home to Berwick Three.
The locals got away to a great start and with two rinks up and the other only one shot down, had a lead of 22 shots to 11 at the completion of the first 15 ends.
The Wickers then warmed to their task but although matching the Lions during the next passage of the game they were unable to make any inroads into the deficit and at the half way mark Pakenham held a lead of 37 shots to 26, still with two up and one down.
After the lunch break, the Lions increased the pressure and gradually began to draw away from their opponents to be 16 shots clear at the start of the business ends and finally 25 in front by the end of play.
It was a game in which Pakenham was always in control.
The better of the two winning rinks, with 31 shots to 14, was Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (S), Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (3), Ash Graham (2) and Peter Bott (L).
The Ones hold top spot on the ladder with a 14-point lead (almost a full round) over Parkdale in second position.
They are to play bottom of the ladder Mentone, away, next round.
For some obscure reason, top versus bottom always seems to be a danger game – take nothing for granted.
Pakenham Two had a tight battle at Berwick from which they came home with a good win, bagging the maximum 16 Pennant points.
Perhaps surprisingly, given that they were on foreign territory, it was the Lions who grabbed the early lead in that game and after the first 15 ends they were ahead on all three rinks with a score of 16 shots to seven.
From that point, to the half-way mark, and through to the start of the business ends, both sides were quite evenly matched, the Wickers having only managed to reduce the Lions’ lead from nine shots to eight over the journey.
In the run home however, it was Pakenham which finished the stronger, rounding out the day with three rinks up and with the final score at 62 to 48, a winning margin of 14 shots.
Best rink with 23 to 14 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Paul Currie (3), Helen Wright (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
The Twos retained their position at the top of the ladder, 12 points clear of Narre Warren.
The round-seven match at home against Narre will provide an opportunity to further cement their hold on top spot.
The Division Six Thirds had a disappointing although fruitful day.
Pakenham’s players were all fired up ready to host third placed Noble Park at home but they waited in vain – it turned out to be a case of ‘No appearance, Your Honour.’
Unfortunately, Noble Park’s team members were attending a funeral and the requirement to notify Pakenham, that in the circumstances, they would be unable to play, had simply been overlooked.
The forfeit therefore resulted in the Lions being awarded the maximum 16 points and they are now almost two full rounds clear of Churchill Waverley Golf at the top of the ladder.
Given that they have a bye in round seven and cannot earn any points, that lead is likely to be reduced – however they cannot lose top spot.
With only one round left to finish off the first half of the home and away season, Pakenham finds itself in an enviable position with all three Midweek sides sitting on top of their respective ladders. With the strength and depth that they have at their disposal, there is no reason why they should not perform as well in the second half of the season.
-Des Leigh-
