CARDINIA WATERS
Having both sides at home was a real treat for the Cardinia Waters bowlers last Tuesday for Midweek Pennant.
Added to the interest was a rink of bankers, so all seven rinks were full.
Unfortunately, only side two would record a win, and they did it in style, sending Carrum home with a 92-40 beating.
This occurred on all three rinks, which gave side two all 16 points available and punted Cardinia Waters to the top of the ladder.
They have 45 points, hotly followed by Cranbourne RSL on 44 points and Edithvale on 43.
Side two has a bye this week, which will gain them no points, so their stint at the top will be short lived.
Best winning rink was John Carr, Stuart Tokely, Frank Basso and Ron Seamer winning 34-7, hotly followed by Mick Knight, Jim Barrie, Cathy Swinkels and Donny Gibson at 35-13.
Also winning was Steve Hale, Michele Bondfield, Del Dance and Paul Mercieca at 25-20.
Side one played Upwey Tecoma who, after holding a slender two-shot lead at lunch, steadied and came home strong for a nine-shot victory.
Cardinia Waters managed a win on John Van Vugt’s rink, and a draw on Ray Naylor’s, to grab a valuable three points.
They are still in seventh position and next week play an away game at Cranbourne.
The winning rink consisted of John Van Vugt, Ashley Graham, Robert Mitchell and Bill Tippelt who won 18-15.
Interestingly they scored six shots on the thirteenth end, which helped in the close result.
Enjoying a 22-22 draw after being well beaten early was Ray Naylor, John Moore, Jill Naylor and Therese Mitchell.
SATURDAY PENNANT
A massively uncomfortable day greeted the two Cardinia Waters teams at home on Saturday.
With very high temperatures forecast, an early start was organised with Mulgrave Country Club and Willow Lodge.
Play commenced at 11:00am instead of the usual 1:00pm.
The games were just as hot as the weather, and there was little between the four sides.
Right until the very last end, the results were in doubt.
Cardinia Waters came away with one win (Side Two by three shots) and a loss (Side One by two shots).
Side Two played Willow Lodge, who were very close on the ladder.
After leading early, Cardinia Waters faced a resolute comeback from the “Lodgers” before grabbing the lead late and hanging on for a tough win.
Best winning rink was Steve Hale, Ian Kennedy, Del Dance and Lorraine Devine who won 18-13.
Also in front by just one shot was John Carr, Peter Mitchell, Jenny Cole and Therese Mitchell.
Side Two has a neat hold on first place after six rounds.
Having only lost one round they have a handy 16 points lead over Willow Lodge, with Berwick a further four points adrift.
This Saturday Side Two plays an away game at Cranbourne.
On adjoining rinks, Side One had a battle royal on their hands facing Mulgrave Country Club.
Before this game Cardinia Waters was in second place with Mulgrave snapping at their heels.
At lunch there was very little between the two teams, and by mid-afternoon Cardinia Waters had taken a handy lead.
That was all to come crashing down as Mulgrave grabbed the lead late and hung on by two shots.
Best winning rink was John Moore, Mick Knight, Dennis Patmore and Sandra Wilde who won 23-15. After dropping a five on the first end, they fought doggedly to never again be behind.
Another resolute win was conducted by the rink of John Van Vugt, Marion Stevens, Ashley Graham and Robert Mitchell.
They were always in front until the eighteenth end, when they dropped a four.
Winning the next three ends was enough however, to hold out their Mulgrave opponents.
The final score was 19-16.
It was a round of close games and upsets in Section 8 this weekend.
One game was abandoned by heat rules, and the surprising loss of top team Frankston to lowly Beaumaris who secured its first win of the season.
Also, Parkdale beat Narre Warren to replace the Panthers in fourth place.
Cardinia Waters Side One has slipped to third place, allowing Mulgrave Country Club to slide into second place.
This week we play Parkdale away, a very important game to close off the first home and away round. Parkdale is fourth, eight points and some percentage behind Cardinia Waters, but won’t be a pushover at home.
-John Moore-
