PAKENHAM BOWLS
SATURDAY
For the third week in a row every Pakenham team which took to the field on the weekend returned with a win…however the call for free drinks all round has thus far fallen on deaf ears!
Pakenham One (Div 1) was home to Keysborough.
The home side was a little slow to get going early in this game and by the completion of the first twenty ends, with two up and two down, trailed the Kookaburras by two shots.
However, they eventually wound things up and by the half-way mark had established a modest 48 to 42 lead, still with two up and two down.
At this stage – although the other home side (the Threes) temporarily ceased hostilities for afternoon tea – in accordance with new coach “Nifty” Nev Brown’s ‘No breaks’ directive…the Ones played on. The policy appeared to have the desired effect as the Lions maintained their momentum and by the start of the business ends had two up and one level and had extended their lead to a more comfortable 15 shots.
Pakenham continued to apply pressure in the run home to record an 89 to 67 win and with two up and one level, banked 15 Pennant points.
Best rink with 33 to 14 was Tommy Lodge (S), Terry “TMac” McRedmond (3), David Laird (2) and Mathew “Moose” Coutts (L).
Tommy’s team dropped a three on the first end but returned fire with a four on the second and were never headed from that point forward.
With the ladder beginning to take shape, the Ones sit in second spot, 13 points behind Mentone and three up on Mulgrave.
Their next outing will be under lights at Parkdale: Friday at 7 pm.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) found themselves in unfamiliar territory at Hampton Bayside but they did not waste time checking out the scenery.
By the completion of the first quarter, they led 22 to 15 with two up and one level with Jen “Chookle” Bainbridge’s rink having won the first five on the trot.
Although one of the Lions’ rinks then began to fall behind, the other three continued their good work and by the afternoon tea break Pakenham had three up and a lead of 44 to 31 overall.
The game experienced a couple of wild swings after the break and by the start of the run home the visitors found themselves under pressure with the lead having been cut back to seven shots, although they still had their noses in front on three of the four rinks.
However, they responded magnificently to finish with three rinks up and a final score of 82 to 69, collecting 16 Pennant points.
Best rink with 27 to 10 was Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (S), Paul Currie (3), Brian Norton (2) and Bruce McGennisken (L).
Keith’s crew outscored their opponents by 18 shots to three in the second half.
The Twos are now third on the ladder, 10 points behind Dandenong and 16 ahead of Cheltenham. They can consolidate that position with a home win against Cheltenham in round five.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) joined the Ones under the Lions’ Dome, also against Keysborough, and were always in control of this game.
After the completion of the first twenty ends they had three up and an overall lead of 20 shots to 11 and by the half way mark the scoreboard was showing 56 to 30, with the locals still comfortably in front on three of the four rinks.
After the break (yes, the Three’s enjoyed their afternoon tea) the Lions continued to apply the pressure and by the start of the business ends, with the score at 75 to 43, a win was virtually out of reach as far as the Kookaburras were concerned.
Pakenham ended the day with the score at 94 to 65 and with three up collected 16 Pennant points. The only losing rink fell short by just one shot.
Best of the day with 26 to 13 was Des “Grizzly” Leigh (S), Wendy Pownall (3), Wayne Oosthuizen (2) and Mark “Lumpy” Dalton (L).
The game was played in great spirit with Grizzley’s direct opponent graciously conceding at the end of the day that overall, the Pakenham side had simply been a class above his team; he went on to wish all of us best wishes for the festive season.
The Threes sit on the top rung of the ladder, nine points above Upwey Tecoma and 24 clear of Dandenong.
They are away to Berwick (fifth) next round.
Pakenham Four (Div 7) had the bye and were therefore unable to collect any Pennant points. However, they have retained top spot on the ladder, now equal on points with Ferntree Gully but ahead on percentage.
As predicted, the Gully absolutely smashed Boronia on Saturday to collect 18 Pennant points and catch up.
Both Pakenham and Ferntree Gully have away games next round; the Lions against bottom of the ladder Upwey Tecoma Three (actually a danger game) and the Gully against Berwick Six (third).
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 1) almost let one get away down the highway against the “old enemy” Berwick. They got away to a slow start to be trailing 10 to 16 with two down and one level after the first fifteen ends.
From that point forward however, something sparked them up and by the half-way mark all three rinks had their noses in front and overall, they led by 31 to 24.
By the start of the business ends the Lions had increased their lead to 17 shots, still with three up and the outcome looked promising.
Inexplicably, the spark was then snuffed out and Pakenham was fortunate to hold on for a disappointing draw – nevertheless, with two rinks up they did bank nine Pennant points.
Best rink with 19 to 16 was Ron Dalton (S), Keith “Golden Arm” Archer (3), David Laird (2) and David Leitch (L).
The Ones will host Burden Park next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 2) were home to the Dandenong Club Two.
Thanks to a flying start on Rick Burns’ rink, the Lions held a slender four-shot lead after the first fifteen ends which was only marginally increased to five shots, with one up and one level, by the half-way mark.
After the break however, things slowly turned in Dandy’s favour and by the start of the run home the visitors held a two-shot lead with two up and one down.
From that point forward neither side was able to grab a decisive advantage and at 55 to 57 the Lions ended the day losing by just two shots and collected only two Pennant points.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 23 to 15 was Rick Burns (S), Michael Hahn (3), Wendy Pownall (2) and Jan Moore (L).
The Twos will play away at Edithvale in round four.
Pakenham Three (Div 4) continued the disappointing Midweek saga with a loss at Ferntree Gully. They were always playing catch up bowls in that encounter.
They were down on all rinks with the score at nine shots to 17 after the first fifteen ends but put up a fight from that point forward to be only four shots down with one up at the half-way mark.
The home side regained control of the game after the break and by the start of the business ends again had three rinks up and held a 14-shot lead.
The Gully went on to record a 66 to 49 win with two up and one level.
Pakenham’s best rink with a 17 all draw was David Moore (S), Mark “Lumpy” Dalton (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Karen Oosthuizen (L).
The Threes must regroup for another away game next Tuesday at Monbulk.
HI-LO
The winner for round four with number 14 was Peter Bott.
-Des Leigh-
