SATURDAY
Spirits were high in the Pakenham club house on Saturday night as all four weekend sides had finished the day on a winning note.
Pakenham One (Division 1) was at home for an absolute nail biter against Cheltenham.
After the first twenty ends both sides had two rinks up and with the score at 22 shots to 20, the Lions held a slender lead.
However, by the mid-way point, with only one rink in front, another dead level and the score board showing 43 to 44, the locals had relinquished the lead by a single shot.
From there-on the arm wrestle continued and by the start of the business ends it was still anyone’s game.
At that stage Pakenham had its nose in front on two rinks with another level, but with the score at 61 to 62, still trailed by that one shot.
In the end, it was the Lions who wanted the win more and with two up and two down and the final score at 82 shots to 77, they snatched a memorable five shot win.
Best rink with 32 to 23 was “Nifty” Nev Brown (S), John Parker (3), Claire Smyth (2) and Dave Leitch (L).
The Ones play round three next Friday night at Narre Warren with the game scheduled to commence at 7pm.
Pakenham Two (Division 3) also had a close game, away at Cranbourne.
The Lions struggled a little at first but by the completion of the first twenty ends, were behind by just three shots, although they had only one rink up at that stage.
From that point forward they warmed to the task and by the halfway point, had taken the lead on three of the four rinks.
But with the score at 40 to 38, they led by just two shots.
The locals pushed back hard after the break and by the start of the run home had regained the lead on two rinks, were level on a third, and were in front overall by three shots.
Again however, it was the Lions who had the greater hunger for that win, and with a creditable display of fighting spirit they stormed home to finish with three rinks up and took a 76 to 68 eight shot win.
Best rink with 24 to 15 was Ned Courtin (S), Peter Gribbin (3), Maree Taylor (2) and Wendy Pownall (L).
The Twos will host Berwick next round.
Pakenham Three (Division 5) headed down the freeway to take on the strong Dandenong Club in what developed into another remarkable thriller.
The Lions jumped away from their hosts early in the game and after the completion of the first twenty ends were in front on three of the four rinks and held a lead of 26 shots to 14.
Remarkably, Ric Burns’ rink won the first ten ends straight to lead 20 shots to nil at that stage.
By the mid-way mark the game had all but turned around and it was the locals who had their noses in front on three rinks.
But with Rick’s crew carrying the torch, Pakenham still held a four-shot lead overall.
By the start of the business ends it was two up and two down with the Lions in front by seven shots.
It became a no holds barred fight to the finish with the Lions taking the chocolates by six shots with two rinks in front.
Best rink was Allister Stewart (S), Ken “Lipton” Clifton (3), Bruce Perry (2) and Brenda Moloney (L).
This rink was down 14 to two after eight ends but incredibly, from that point forward, outscored its opponent by 31 shots to four to finish 33 to 18 in front.
Then to add a further twist, on the last end, when the other three rinks had finished and with the game seemingly in Pakenham’s grasp, Stewart found he was five shots down at the head and facing a potential overall loss.
But in no way did he feel the pressure.
The canny old Scot calmly drew the absolute shot inches from the jack, which he held, despite two desperate drives from his opponent.
The Threes will host Cockatoo One next Saturday.
Pakenham Four (Division 7) broke the pattern of close games with a thumping home win over Mulgrave.
The Lions were always in control of this encounter.
With three up and one down they led by 23 to 13 after the first twenty ends and had more than doubled that lead by the halfway mark.
The Lions were absolutely on fire after the break.
During the first twenty ends following afternoon tea they outscored Mulgrave by thirty shots to seven and by the completion of play the score had blown out to 111 to 52 with all rinks up, a great effort.
Best rink for the Fours with 40 shots to eight was Eric Peterson (S), Ray Leggett (3), Trent Bedford (2) and Graham Epps (L).
At this early stage the Fours are clear ladder leaders.
They travel to Boronia next round.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Division 1) kicked off their season with a good away win at Coatesville.
This game couldn’t have been much closer during the earlier stages, by the completion of the first 15 ends scores were dead level on two rinks and the Lions were up by three shots on the third.
However, by the halfway mark, two of Pakenham’s rinks had fallen behind but the third was well ahead which carried the team to an overall lead of 35 shots to 28 at that point.
The Lions pushed on after lunch and by the start of the business ends had two rinks up and had extended their lead to a (modest) 11 shots.
By the completion of play Pakenham won the game by 18 shots with two up and with the third rink falling agonisingly short by just one shot, after having won the last five ends on the trot.
Best rink with 29 to 12 was John Parker (S), David Saint (3), Claire Smyth (2) and Dave Leitch (L).
The Ones will be at home to the Dandenong Club for round two.
Pakenham Two (Division 2) were at home to Mulgrave Country Club.
They got away to a good start and after 15 ends had two up and a lead of 16 shots to 11.
By the half way mark they still had two up and had marginally increased their lead to seven shots.
However the wheels fell off after lunch and by the start of the business ends, all three rinks were down, their lead had evaporated and they trailed by eight shots.
By the end of play the deficit had grown to 11 shots and the Lions collected zero Pennant points.
The Twos will have to regroup for round two at Upwey-Tecoma.
Pakenham Three (Division 4) were away at Narre Warren.
As was the case with the Twos, the Threes got away to a promising start and with two rinks up were nine shots ahead after the first 15 ends.
They still had two up at the half way mark although at that stage their lead had been reduced to six shots.
The Threes also imploded after the break and ended the day with the score at 51 to 63, only collecting two Pennant points.
The only winning rink with 20 to 17 was Derek Spraggon (S), Roger Platt (3), Bruce Perry (2) and Brenda Moloney (L).
The Threes also must regroup, for their round two encounter with Berwick at Pakenham.
HI-LO
The winner for round two was John “Giovanni” Donazzan with number 28.
– Des Leigh
