PAKENHAM BOWLS
In the second double header of their home and away season, Pakenham One (Div 1) played Mitcham away on Saturday and St Kilda at home on Sunday.
The outcome of both games was two rinks up, one drawn and one down yet one resulted in a win and the other a loss.
The early signs from Saturday’s round 14 game at Mitcham were not promising– after twenty ends Pakenham was down on all four rinks and behind 10 shots to 34.
However, as they became accustomed to the conditions, the Lions began to fire and by the half-way mark had three rinks in front, although at 44 to 45 they were still just behind.
The locals then pulled away again and by the start of the business ends had opened up a 71 to 56 lead with two rinks in front and one level.
However the Lions came home strong, outscoring Mitcham by two to one over the last twenty ends to finish with two rinks up and one all square – nevertheless, at 84 to 85 they fell agonizingly short by just one shot.
Best rink with 22 shots to 16 was Glenn “Google” Bainbridge (S), Neil “Big Dev” Devlin (3), Ned Courtin (2) and David Saint (L).
Sunday’s round 15 game was vastly different.
The Lions started well on their home deck to have three rinks up and a lead of 23 to 10 after the completion of twenty ends.
They still had their noses in front on three of the four rinks at the half way mark and the lead had grown to 18.
During the middle stages of the game there was a marked shift in the contest, as three Pakenham rinks went on a scoring blitz.
Dylan Morrison’s rink outscored their opponents by 11 shots to one, John Parker’s team won seven ends in a row and Google’s crew picked up eleven ends straight!
On both Saturday and Sunday the Ones finished the day with two up and one drawn and on both days Dylan Morrison’s rink fought out an 18 all draw.
However on Sunday there was a huge difference in the final outcome, the Lions finishing with a comprehensive 112 to 67 win.
Best rink, with 16 of 21 ends and a score of 35 to 10 was John Parker (S), Brad Martin (3), Max Mannik (2) and Gian “The Doctor” Pianezzola (L).
It is not known whether the Ones have regained sixth spot on the ladder as the results of the Parkdale/Brunswick game had not yet been posted.
Their scheduled round 16 opponent is Brunswick.
Ladder-leader Pakenham Two was home to Upwey Tecoma (fourth) for the penultimate round of the season.
With two rinks dominant and a third not far behind, the locals had established a lead of 30 shots to nine by the completion of the first twenty ends which they extended to 59 to 23 by the half way mark.
That trend continued with the Lions outscoring the Tigers, leading 98 to 36 with twenty ends to play and then finished off with three rinks up and a final score of 125 shots to 53.
Best rink with an incredible 40 shots to three was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Brian Norton (3), Ash Graham (2) and Jan Moore (L).
The Twos have a mortgage on the top rung of the ladder and are guaranteed a home final.
Their last home and away game will be at Mulgrave Country Club (second).
Pakenham Three went down the highway to Narre Warren for what was an important hit out for both clubs.
The Lions didn’t take time to settle and by the completion of the first twenty ends had established a 20 to 11 lead with all four rinks in front.
By the half way mark that lead had grown to 48 to 30 although one rink had dropped behind.
By the time the game entered its final quarter, Pakenham had marginally extended its lead to 20 shots and had three up and one level.
The Lions then put the foot down to finish with a final score of 92 to 57 and four winning rinks.
Two rinks won by 12 shots each, both with 13 ends but the better on percentage was Rick Burns (S), Derek Spraggon (3), Ray Leggett (2) and Wayne Oosthuizen (L).
With finals just around the corner this was an important win for the Threes.
Under the rejigged Sectional Finals arrangements, and with first and second now set in concrete, they are guaranteed a home semi in the first round and Narre will be their opponent.
They will play Willow Lodge at home in round 14.
Pakenham Four has done it again – chalked up a win, that is.
As a further example of what might have been, had they been able to field a full side all season, the Fours racked up a good win at home against Berwick on Saturday.
Their game built slowly and after twenty ends they had two up, one level and a modest lead of 20 shots to 12.
From that point forward, things went a little pear shaped and by the half way mark they had only one rink (well) in front while the others were down and they had lost the lead by two shots.
After the break the Lions seemed to find another gear and by the start of the business ends had regained the lead (by four shots) although at that stage they only had one up and one level.
From that stage they pushed hard to the end, to finish with two up, one level and an overall score of 89 to 72.
Best rink with an impressive 34 to five was Adrian “A-Train” Wheelan (S), Kevin Holley (3), Helen Wright (2) and Derek Fenn (L).
Reg “Wombat” Mattingly’s rink staged a great fight back from 11-15 down to win by 28 to 23 while Gail Bowman’s rink clawed their way back from 2-13 down to salvage a 17-all draw.
The Fours will finish the season in sixth spot, regardless of the outcome of their final game at Carrum.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 2) made a faltering start to their round 12 home game against Carrum and it was only the 13-0 score on “Google’s” rink which gave them the lead after the first fifteen ends.
They quickly regrouped however, and by the half way mark had two rinks up and a lead of 37 to 23.
After the break they continued to apply the pressure and with fifteen ends to go had all three up and a lead of 21 shots overall.
From that point they coasted to a 70 to 40 win with all three rinks successful.
Best rink with 31 to 10 was Glen “Google” Bainbridge (S), Ned Curtain (3) “Stormin” Norm Box (2) and David Saint (L).
The Ones are still top of the ladder but are only two points ahead of Parkdale.
Their round 13 opponent is Berwick (sixth) away.
Pakenham Two experienced an unexpected loss at Cranbourne.
They started conservatively and after the first fifteen ends had two rinks up but led overall by just one shot, which increased to two shots at half way.
However the second half of the game belonged to Cranbourne.
With one of Pakenham’s rinks suffering a mini melt-down the locals surged to a 55 to 46 lead by about the three quarter mark and then went on to win by 67 to 55.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 21 to 16 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Bill Bosch (3), Ash Graham (2) and Derek Fenn (L).
As a result of the loss, the Twos have relinquished top spot to Narre Warren but are only two points behind.
At this stage it would appear that Pakenham and Narre are likely to meet in the Sectional Semi-Final. The Twos must therefore get back into the winners circle to ensure that the semi is played at Pakenham.
They are at home to Berwick (seventh) next round.
Pakenham Three continued their incredible season last Tuesday with a big win at home against Burden Park.
The Lions jumped the Dragons from the outset to lead by 23 shots to nine after fifteen ends and then 49 to 21, with three up, by the half way mark.
Although one of the Lions rinks then dropped slightly behind, the other two continued to forge ahead and by the beginning of the business ends had taken the score to 72 to 33.
There was no easing of the pressure in the run home and Pakenham eventually won by 92 shots to 41.
Best rink with 41 shots to 11 was Vince Bevilacqua (S), Eric Peterson (3), Roy Harvie (2) and Jan Stevenson (L).
The Threes are now 62 points clear of Burden Park on top of the ladder and are guaranteed a home semi-final.
They are away at Noble Park (sixth) in the penultimate round and have the bye in round 14.
HI-LO
The round 13 winner was Helen Wright with number one.
-Des Leigh-
