After a refreshing Christmas break, the New Year and restart of Pennant bowls started off well for Cardinia Waters as they picked up two wins on Saturday.
Both sides played Noble Park, but it was side two who got a massive percentage boost from their big win at home.
Side two had big wins on all three rinks, keeping them on top of the ladder, ahead of Dandenong Club by fourteen points and a hefty amount of percentage.
Ironically they play Dandenong Club at home next Saturday, and a win in that matchup could cement their top spot and result in a home final.
Against Noble Park, the best winning rink was John Carr, Peter Mitchell, Jenny Cole and Therese Mitchell who won 38-6.
They were only eight shots up at afternoon tea, but then powered on to completely overwhelm their opponents, dropping only one end for the rest of the game and scoring mainly multiples.
Mick Knight’s rink won 16 of their 21 ends to smash their opponents out of the game.
They came home strongly, scoring 14 shots on the last five ends.
Mick played with Robert Mitchell and Michele and Gary Bondfield.
Rounding off a good day was Marie Stephenson’s rink, which won their game 26-11.
Marie played with Frank Basso, Cathy Swinkels and Lorraine Devine.
They led by ten shots at the break, and controlled the game thereafter to win easily at the end.
Meanwhile, side one had no cake walk on the turf at Noble Park.
The Bulls were winless after nine games and seemed determined to break their duck, so they started strongly.
At the afternoon tea bell, Cardinia Waters had wrestled back the lead by just five shots.
From then on, Cardinia Waters came home strongly, mainly through the efforts of Keith Lewis’ rink.
After being 12 shots up at the break, they totally controlled the game from then on, dropping only one more end and finishing with an outstanding score of 43-3.
Keith was all smiles along with Ashley Graham, Jim Barrie and Val Moore.
Ray Naylor’s rink had a gritty and tough win by three shots.
Ahead at the break, they had an almighty battle but tenaciously hung on for a final score of 16-13.
Ray played with Stuart Tokely, Jill Naylor and Ron Seamer.
This win saw side one leapfrog Parkdale into third spot on their division four ladder.
In top spot is the powerful Frankston team, who ironically are our opponents next week at home.
With only four rounds left before the finals, every shot now will count.
-John Moore
