PAKENHAM BOWLS
SATURDAY
Pakenham One (Div 1) played its final game of the 2022-23 season while the Twos (Div 4) and Threes (Div 6) played out their respective Sectional Grand Finals.
The Ones were away at Parkdale where they finished a disappointing season with a loss.
They were never in the hunt in that game and were behind at all the significant milestones, eventually going down 58 shots to 83.
The Lions’ only winning rink with 21 shots to 19 was Glenn ‘Google’ Bainbridge (S), Ned Courtin (3), Roger Fraser (2) and David Saint (L).
The Ones finished the season on the seventh rung of the Pennant Ladder.
GRAND FINALS
Both the Twos (Div 4) and Threes (Div 6) played their grand finals on neutral territory at Berwick – the Twos on grass and the Threes, unexpectedly, under the dome on synthetic.
Pakenham Two got away to a slow start against Mulgrave and after the first twenty ends only one rink had its nose in front and they trailed by 16 shots to 21 overall.
However, the Lions got their act together during the next twenty or so ends and by the half way mark they led by 50 shots to 38 with two up and one level.
That was still the situation at the start of the business ends, although by then the lead had increased from 12 to 13 shots.
In the run home, Mulgrave was able to grab a small lead on two of the four rinks but were outscored overall and Pakenham Two capped off a great season by winning the Division Four, Section Eight Flag.
Best rink with 24 to 10 was ‘Stormin’ Norm Box (S), Brian Norton (3) Ash Graham (2) and Jan Moore (L).
The other members of the winning team were Keith Lewis, Keith ‘Golden Arm’ Archer, Darren Webster, Val Moore, Des ‘Grizzly’ Leigh, Paul Currie, Dave Wood, Lindsay Stevenson, Jen Bainbridge, Jim Williams, Peter Bott, Gary ‘Crow’ Crowley and Frank Grant.
Next season, the Twos will be promoted to Division Three.
Pakenham Three was never really troubled in their match against Narre Warren.
A lead of 17 to 13 – with three up after the first twenty ends – grew to 54 to 31 by the half-way mark and 78 to 40 at the start of the business ends, at which point all four Lions’ rinks were in front.
They then took the foot off slightly to coast home to a 96 to 61 victory with four winning rinks.
Best rink with 33 shots to 12 was Rick Burns (S), Derek Spraggon (3), Ray Leggett (2) and Wayne Oosthuizen (L).
The rink of Charles Harris (S), Luis Aguilar(3), Michael Hahn (2) and Sandra Wilde (L) finished with 22 to 10, including an elusive eight – unusual in any game but extremely rare in a final.
Members of the other two rinks were Peter Wilson, Bill Bosch, Eric Peterson, Mark Dalton, Vince Bevilacqua, Allister Stewart, Ken Clifton and Ian McKenzie with Judith Ferrari as emergency.
The Threes will be promoted to Division Five next season.
MIDWEEK
All three Midweek sides finished the season on top of their respective Pennant ladders, earning the right to a home semi-final – and the second chance if required.
Pakenham One (Div 2) lined up against The Dandenong Club on the faster Crowley Green.
Early on in that game, there was little indication of the supposed home ground advantage as it was the visitors who held the lead after the first 15 ends, with two rinks up.
By the half way mark, however, that situation had been reversed and the Lions then held a 29 to 24 lead with two rinks in front.
Although they were unable to make a significant break, Pakenham then held onto the lead for the remainder of the game, eventually winning with two rinks up and an overall lead of nine shots.
Best rink with 23 shots to 12 and winning the last seven ends on the trot, was Glenn ‘Google’ Bainbridge (S), Ned Courtin (3), ‘Stormin’ Norm Box (2) and David Saint (L).
Dandy then recovered to defeat Parkdale in the Preliminary Final and will be the Lions’ opponent in the grand final to be played at Burden Park.
Pakenham Two (Div 4) were not gifted an easy win by Narre Warren who led for more than half the game and challenged the Lions all the way to the finish.
The Panthers had two up and a 17 to 14 lead after the first 15 ends and had extended their lead to seven shots, still with two up, by the half-way mark.
By the start of the business ends, Pakenham still trailed on two rinks but by that stage the score was level at 47 all.
The Lions then outscored their opponents over the last fifteen ends to finish with 63 to 57, although still down on two rinks.
Best rink with 31 to 17 was Jim Williams (S), Brian Norton (3), Gary ‘Crow’ Crowley (2) and Sandra ‘Wildwoman’ Wilde (L).
Narre was then defeated by Monbulk in the preliminary final on Thursday.
Monbulk will therefore be Pakenham’s opponent in the grand final, to be played at Berwick.
Pakenham Three (Div 6) were also made to earn their semi-final win as Burden Park held the lead on two rinks and pushed them all day.
At the completion of the first fifteen ends, the Lions led by just two shots – by the half way mark however, that lead had vanished and they trailed by nine shots and were looking vulnerable.
They regrouped after the break and by the start of the business ends had snatched the lead back, albeit by just three shots and eventually won by just six shots with only one winning rink.
The winning rink with a 30 to nine scorecard was Rick Burns (S), Kevin Holley (3), Ray Illing (2) and Ian Kitt (L).
Burden Park rebounded on Thursday to defeat Narre and therefore will again be the Lions opponent in the grand final to be played at Noble Park.
-Des Leigh-
