PAKENHAM BOWLS
SATURDAY
Pakenham One (Div 1) was at home to Mulgrave, the side immediately below them on the ladder. The Lions did not get away to an ideal start; at the completion of the first twenty ends they had only one rink in front and trailed by nine shots to 23.
However, by the half-way mark both sides had two rinks up and the deficit had been reduced to a manageable six shots.
As the game developed further, Pakenham continued to push hard and at the commencement of the business ends trailed overall by just two shots and were really in the game, although they only had one rink in front at that stage.
Unfortunately, Mulgrave proved to be hungrier for the win in the long run and at 74 to 81 the Lions eventually went down by seven shots.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 26 to 14 was Tommy Lodge (S), Wayne Parks (3), Wayne Lynch (2) and Janis Parks (L).
Despite the loss, the Ones retained second spot on the ladder but are now 30 points behind Mentone and only two clear of Mulgrave.
They will be away at Cranbourne next round.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) was scheduled to play at Dandenong but that game was called off under the heat rule – the points were therefore shared.
Although two games in the section were played, with points being awarded to the winners, the Twos retained second spot on the ladder, eight points ahead of Dandenong and 11 behind Edithvale.
They will be home to Edithvale next round.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) played a home game under the shelter of the dome against Narre Warren. Despite the heat, the Lions took a while to warm up and after the completion of the first twenty ends, with only one rink up, trailed by 15 shots to 25.
At that stage one previously well-performed rink was yet to score a shot.
Although sluggish at the start, Pakenham slowly wound up and got going and by the half-way mark, with the score at 42 to 36, had their noses in front, although they had only one up and one level at that stage.
After the break the Lions began to dominate proceedings and by the start of the business ends, they held a 15-shot lead, with two up and one level.
They then outscored the visitors by 26 shots to 12 in the run home to win by 93 shots to 64 and with four winning rinks collected the maximum 18 Pennant points available.
Best rink with 25 to 12 was John Hines (S), Paul Philip (3), Maree Taylor (2) and Ray Leggett (L).
The Threes sit on top of the ladder, only three points ahead of Upwey Tecoma but 19 (more than a full round) ahead of Dandenong.
They play Upwey Tecoma, away, next round; this crucial match will determine the ladder leader at the half-way point of the home and away rounds.
Disaster struck Pakenham Four (Div 7).
With a number of players unavailable due to illness, they were already struggling to make up a team; then at the last minute two of their skippers pulled out because of medical episodes and they were forced to forfeit their game against Berwick who collected 15 shots and 18 Pennant points as a result.
The Fours were on top of the ladder and had the opportunity to jump well clear of the opposition. However, as a result of the forfeit they have dropped to second spot, now three points behind Berwick, 13 up on Narre Warren and 14 ahead of Ferntree Gully.
They will be home to Narre next round.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (DIV 1) got away to a steady start on the grass at Clayton to be only four shots down but with two rinks level after the first fifteen ends.
That situation had marginally improved by the half-way mark where the deficit was three shots, with one up, one down and one level.
The Lions then put in a big effort during the first fifteen ends after the break, outscoring the Cobras over that period by 22 shots to eight, to arrive at the start of the business ends with two up and a lead of 46 shots to 35.
Although they were then slightly outscored in the run home, the Lions finished the game with two up and an overall winning margin of seven shots, collecting 14 Pennant points in the process.
Best rink with 24 to 12 was Terry “TMac” McRedmond (S), Max Mannik (3), David Saint (2) and Paul Philip (L).
The Ones hold second spot on the ladder, 14 points behind Dandenong but only four ahead of Mulgrave.
They have the opportunity to improve on that situation at Mulgrave in round six.
Pakenham Two (Div 2) was always behind, yet never out of the game at home against Cranbourne One.
The biggest margin of the game was probably at the completion of the first fifteen ends when the Lions trailed by eight shots to 17 with one up and two down.
By the half-way mark, it was one up, one down and one level but the home side still trailed by (a very manageable) five shots.
Even by the start of the run home, a win was still within reach, although the deficit had grown to eight shots.
Both sides then scored 13 shots apiece over the final leg with Cranbourne taking the chocolates by 61 shots to 53.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 19 to 15 was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Bruce McGennisken (3), Judith Ferrari (2) and Gayle Harkness (L).
The Twos hold a mortgage on the bottom rung of the ladder and to say that they desperately need a win is a major understatement; nevertheless, although they have the home game advantage next week, they face a tough assignment against ladder leaders, Narre Warren.
Pakenham Three (Div 4) was also at home last Tuesday, their opponent being Churchill Waverley Golf, the club which sat almost a clear round above them on the ladder.
Pakenham started confidently and at the completion of the first quarter of the game had a lead of 22 shots to10 with two up.
They continued to apply the pressure and by the half-way mark led by 46 to 22 with all three in front. The Lions really came out firing after the break and by the start of the business ends had increased their lead to 40 shots.
It was as well that they had established that buffer as they completely and inexplicably took the foot off during the last fifteen ends and were outscored by 28 shots to three in the run home.
Nevertheless, they held on to win overall by 75 shots to 60 with two up and one level and collected 15 of the available 16 Pennant points.
Best rink with 25 to 17 was Eric Peterson (S), Gillian Harper (3), Helen Wright (2) and Wayne Oosthuizen (L).
In a remarkable turnaround, Eric’s crew started the game by winning the first seven ends on the trot but then finished by dropping the last six!
Fortunately, all that shows up on the scoreboard is that all-important win.
The Threes have now displaced Churchill Waverley Golf at third place on the ladder, but are in front by percentage only.
They face clear ladder leaders Mulgrave, away, next round, while Churchill Waverley Golf have an easier (on paper) assignment at Keysborough, fifth.
HI-LO
The winner for round six was Allister Stewart with number seven.
-Des Leigh-
