CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Midweek Report
Cardinia Waters side one had a very successful day last Tuesday, accounting for Cranbourne at home.
All three rinks won giving the home side a full book of 16 points, and a handy 30 shots up.
Best performing rink on the day was John Van Vugt, Del Dance, Robert Mitchell and Peter Mitchell.
They won 13 of the 21 ends played, with five ends by three shots the main difference in the two teams.
Jim Barrie also had a handy 10-shot win, after being behind at several stages.
They grabbed a welcome five shots up on end 19 to steady the ship and win comfortably.
Jim played with John Carr, Len Judge and Cathy Swinkels.
Rounding off a good day for Cardinia Waters was the win of Ray Naylor’s rink.
They led all day, and withstood a comeback from Scott De Piazza’s Cranbourne rink.
Ray played with Dennis Stephenson, Dennis Patmore and Marion Stevens.
The top four now makes interesting reading.
On top is Pakenham on 78 points, followed by Cardinia Waters on 76, and Noble Park on 74.
These three teams have all won five games from seven.
In fourth spot is Cranbourne; one game and 16 points in arrears.
Next week side one has another home game, this time against Noble Park.
With only two points separating these two teams, it should be a cracker of a game.
Side two played Pakenham at the Lion’s den.
They lost by a tiny four shots after a close encounter.
However, Cardinia Waters did win two rinks, and received four points for their troubles.
The best winning rink for Cardinia Waters was skipped by Stuart Tokely, and included Bryan Stevens, Therese Mitchell and Jill Naylor.
The final score against Ian Kitt’s rink was 18-11.
Michele Bondfield’s rink had a last gasp win against Bill Bosch’s rink.
Scores were 16 all after 19 ends played.
The Cardinia Waters players then scored five shots on the last two ends for a nice win.
Michele played with Marie Stephenson, Terry Nye and Paul Brindle.
Next week side two play another away game against Burden Park, who are winless.
The game is on grass, a not too familiar surface for Cardinia Waters.
Side two has dropped from second to fourth on the ladder, although just a few points separate second third and fourth.
Saturday Report
Cardinia Waters played a very uncomfortable away game against Upwey Tecoma on Saturday.
Persistent rain fell on the players all day and requests to abandon play fell on the deaf ears of the home side manager.
Rubbing salt into our wounds was the abandonment of the other home game at Upwey Tecoma, without a bowl being rolled.
The irony of the game was that it was only seventh playing eighth and very little chance of either team making the finals.
After a lengthy afternoon tea break, and no change in the weather, play was resumed and Upwey Tecoma won the game, only their second win this season.
Not to be totally outdone, two Cardinia Waters rinks got up, to salvage four points.
Ray Naylor’s rink had a comfortable win 21-13.
They were in the lead all the game, although dropping four shots on the eighteenth gave them a fright.
Ray played with Bryan Stevens, Jill Naylor and Cathy Swinkels.
John Van Vugt’s rink brought large smiles from a very wet and bedraggled Cardinia Waters team, who stayed out and watched the last few ends of this epic game.
When all the other rinks were finished, John’s rink were locked in an almighty tussle at 17-all after 18 played.
Upwey-Tecoma went two up on the next end, but were outplayed on the last two ends.
This Cardinia Waters win bought up a massive smile on Van Vugt’s face, and was a highlight of a very sour day.
He played with Del Dance, Terry Nye and Ian Kennedy.
Cardinia Waters now join Upwey-Tecoma on the bottom of the ladder, both with 54 points and separated by a small percentage.
Although they won’t play each other again this season, there will be a massive battle to see who avoids relegation at the season’s end.
Next Saturday’s game is away at Cranbourne.
In round two these two teams played, which resulted in a hefty Cranbourne win.
The Cardinia Waters players will be hoping for better weather than recently and better success on the greens.
-John Moore-
