PAKENHAM BOWLS
MIDWEEK PENNANT – ROUND 9
In what was round nine of the Midweek Pennant season the final games for 2024 were played last Tuesday 17 December before play resumes on Tuesday 21 January 2025.
Pakenham One (Div 1) were involved in a very tight contest at Dandenong which could have gone either way, with the lead swinging from one side to the other on multiple occasions.
There was only one occasion during the entire match when either side led by more than single digits and that was just before the half-way mark, when Pakenham was up by 11 shots.
By the following end that advantage had been reduced to six shots and by the start of the business ends the home side had regained a narrow two-shot lead.
With both sides scoring 12 shots apiece over the last 15 ends, Dandenong was able to hold onto that two-shot margin for a 63 to 51 shot win.
The Lions only winning rink with 16 to 14 was “Nifty” Nev Brown (S), Claire Smyth (3), Vince Bevilacqua (2) and David Saint (L).
Pakenham dropped from second to third on the ladder, now 11 points behind Dandenong and 13 ahead of Keysborough.
They will be home to Berwick One (5th) for the first round of the New Year.
Pakenham Two (Div 2) held a narrow lead for more than half the match in their home game against Upwey Tecoma One but they too were on the wrong end of a close loss.
After the first 15 ends the Lions were one up and two down but thanks to an (elusive) “eight” scored by Rick Burns’ rink they led overall by 17 shots to 13.
However, by the half-way mark that margin had been eroded and at that stage Pakenham trailed by four shots, still with one up and two down.
During the first 15 ends after the break the Lions were able to wrest back the lead on two occasions but arrived at the start of the business ends two shots in arrears; it was still anyone’s game.
During the final 15 ends Pakenham hit the lead again but thanks to both good bowling by their opponents and a dose of bad luck they dropped 10 shots at the death knell and at 61 to 67 went down by six shots overall.
Best rink with a 25 all draw (just as well they picked up that “eight”) was Rick Burns (S), Judith Ferrari (3), Gayle Harkness (2) and Luis Aguilar (L).
The Twos hold a mortgage on the bottom rung of the ladder and need to convert those close losses into wins.
They will be away to Dandenong Two (3rd) in round 10.
Pakenham Three (Div 4) unfortunately ended the year with a comprehensive loss at Dandenong.
The home side got away to a good start in that game and by the completion of the first 15 ends had two up and led by 15 shots to eight.
By the half-way mark Dandy’s lead had more than doubled to 22 shots, although at that stage Eric Peterson’s crew was still flying the flag for the Lions with a one-shot advantage on their rink.
After lunch the situation slowly drifted out of Pakenham’s reach and by the completion of the day they were down on all three rinks and with the score at 38 to 70, they lost by 32 shots.
Despite the loss, the Threes still hold fifth spot, now 11 points behind Keysborough but 12 up on Churchill Waverley Golf.
Their next outing will be a home game against Ferntree Gully Three (8th).
Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for the New Year; stay safe and well.
-Des Leigh-
