CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Midweek Report
Last week I predicted a “cracker of a game” for Cardinia Waters side one against Noble Park; and that is exactly how the game played out.
After leading at lunch, Cardinia Waters scooted away and were well in command before Noble Park rallied, and just failed to win by only four shots.
This was in sharp contrast to the first game of the season when Noble Park won by 22 shots.
However, that game was on very slow grass in gale force winds at Noble Park.
The two winning rinks, both by four shots, were skipped by John Van Vugt and Ray Naylor.
John played with Del Dance, Robert Mitchell and Jill Naylor, while Ray rolled them down with John Moore, Dennis Patmore and Marion Stevens.
This win has our side one in second place, hot on the heels of the ladder-leader Pakenham.
As expected, Pakenham defeated a depleted Keysborough side this week.
After eight rounds this season only two points separate first and second, while Noble Park and Cranbourne are fourteen and sixteen points behind in third and fourth place.
This week’s game against Pakenham will be the defining game for both sides.
Cross-town games like these are usually closely fought out with bragging rights considered important to both clubs.
The game is at Pakenham, and the players will then enjoy a break over Christmas and New Year.
Side two travelled to Burden Park and lost a close game by eight shots.
They were successful on just one rink, skipped by Steve Hale; he bowled with Jenny Edmonds, Ian Kennedy and Peter Mitchell.
They were ten shots up and cruising when their Burden Park opponents took a five up on end nineteen.
This wasn’t enough, and Cardinia Waters rink eventually won by five.
Stuart Tokely’s rink lost by four shots, in stark contrast to the first game of the season on October 24.
Then, at home Cardinia Waters won by a massive 36 shots up.
On that day Stuart’s rink won 48-6.
Although they won more ends, Michele Bondfield’s rink lost by nine shots.
Their opponents eclipsed the game with two excellent ends of six and five up.
This week side two play Berwick at home in the final game before Christmas.
Despite losing two games in a row side two is still hanging on to third place on the ladder, only a minuscule amount of percentage separates them from fourth placed Mt Waverley.
Saturday Report
The last game before the Christmas/New Year break was against Cranbourne at home on Saturday.
In was a tense battle, played in good spirit with Cranbourne winning by eleven shots overall.
After leading by six shots at the afternoon tea bell, Cranbourne allowed Cardinia Waters to get close, but closed the game up late with strong play.
Cardinia Waters did win one rink, with the combination of John Moore (skip), Dennis Stephenson, Peter Mitchell and Gary Bondfield leading most of the day to win by ten shots.
Steve Hale’s rink was in front, but lost the last three ends to go down by three shots.
In similar fashion Jim Barrie’s rink were in front, but fell over losing three of the last four ends to lose by two shots.
With the holiday break now upon us, Saturday Bowls takes a short break, resuming again on January 20.
Cardinia Waters then play an away game against Narre Warren.
Unfortunately, they are still marooned on last place, just the one point in arrears of Upwey-Tecoma.
Christmas Greetings to all bowlers and readers.
-John Moore-
