PAKENHAM BOWLS
Pakenham One (Div 1) were bayside against Beaumaris 1 on Saturday where they got away to a promising start to hold an early lead of 24 shots to 18, with three up, after the first twenty ends.
In what was developing into a tight contest, the Lions still had their noses in front at the half way mark where they had marginally increased their lead to seven shots, although at that stage both sides had two up and two down.
Unfortunately, at about that stage, one of Pakenham’s rinks hit a brick wall and stopped scoring with the result that by the start of the business ends the locals had snatched a two-shot overall lead. However, at that stage the Lions still had two up and one level.
It was then neck and neck down the home straight but with two up and two down, the locals took the win by a margin of just four shots.
The better of Pakenham’s two winning rinks with 26 to 17 was Paul “Trouty” Twyerould (S), Ned Courtin (3), Darren Webster (2) and Debbie Parker (L).
With five rounds completed, the ladder is now starting to take some meaningful shape.
Pakenham sits in fourth spot, 10 points behind Mentone but only three ahead of Dandenong with Narre Warren, unbeaten at this stage, holding top spot.
The Ones will be away again next weekend at Cranbourne.
Playing on their home deck, Pakenham Two (Div 3) had a long overdue win at the expense of Hampton Park’s number one side.
The visitors made themselves right at home from the start and after completion of the first twenty ends held a 28-21 lead with two up and two down.
The Lions then kicked into gear and outscored the Redbacks by 36 shots to 13 over the next twenty or so ends to establish a game-high margin of 16 shots, with three up, at the half way mark.
The Parkers then came back hard and by the start of the business ends they had reduced Pakenham’s lead to just three shots, although at that stage the home side still had three up.
The Lions then had the better of the final arm wrestle to take the win by 91 shots to 82 and with three up, collected 16 valuable pennant points.
The best rink with 29 shots to 15 was Des “Grizzly” Leigh (S), Ian McKenzie (3), “Stormin” Norm Box (2) and Karen Oosthuizen (L).
Grizzly’s rink grabbed a four on the first end and was never headed for the remainder of the game.
The Twos now have a tenuous hold on the seventh rung of the ladder.
They will be home again next round against ladder leaders, Narre Warren 3.
Pakenham Three (Div 5) shared the dome with the Two’s and their opponent was Burden Park 2.
In this game the visitors were denied the best of the early running.
After the first twenty ends, with two up and two down, the Lions held a lead of 26 shots to 17 but from that point on it was a bit of a rollercoaster, particularly on Dave Moore’s rink.
By the midway mark, Pakenham’s lead had been reduced to five shots although they were still well in front on two of the four rinks.
By the start of the business ends, thanks mainly to a nine to one scoring surge on Dave Moore’s rink, the lead had blown out to 15 shots, although it was still two up and two down at that stage.
Overall, the Dragons then outscored the Lions in the home straight but with two up and one drawn and a final tally of 80 to 72, Pakenham took the win and banked 15 pennant points.
Best rink with 24 to 12 was Allister Stewart (S), Philip Cairns (3), Brenda Moloney (2) and Derek Spraggon (L).
Allister’s rink held 13 shots to three after the first five ends and dominated all afternoon.
The Threes now hold second spot on the ladder, four points behind Berwick 4 and three ahead of Carrum 1.
They will be away at Berwick next round.
Pakenham Four (Div 6) did not have a day they would wish to remember at Cranbourne RSL.
Early indications were that it would be a reasonably close contest; after twenty ends, although Pakenham was down three and level on the fourth, with the score at 16 shots to 22 the game was certainly not getting out of hand.
Even at the half-way mark, the margin was still a manageable eight shots but the score did not tell the true story.
From end six to end 11, Alan Waterson’s rink had picked up 13 shots to six while Bill Bosch’s rink had scored 13 to two; however, during that period the other two rinks went backwards at a greater rate.
With only twenty ends left to play, although still two up, the Lions were trailing by 49 shots to 76 and falling behind across the board.
The final result was a 101 to 66 win to the RSL.
On the bright side, Pakenham was at least able to salvage four pennant points.
The Fours’ best rink with 25 to 21 was Alan Waterson (S), Darrell Falls (3), Frank Webber (2) and Lloyd Mathers (L).
The Fours hold fifth spot on the ladder, only one point out of the four.
They will be home to Berwick 6 (third) next weekend.
MIDWEEK
Both Midweek sides played away with Pakenham 1 (Div 1) heading to Mulgrave 1.
The Lions were missing two of their senior skips but in no way were they undermanned, in fact after the first fifteen ends Pakenham held an overall lead of three shots – but that was due mainly to a blistering start by “Nifty” Nev Brown’s rink which picked up 12 shots to one over the first five ends.
Unfortunately, the visitors were unable to maintain the pace and by the half-way mark they were trailing by 29 shots to 35 with only one rink in front.
As the game progressed, the situation slowly deteriorated further and with only the business ends left to play the Lions found themselves down 42 to 53.
Although there was a mini revival over the last 15 ends it was never enough and the Lions were beaten by 62 shots to 54 and collected just two pennant points.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 25 to 16 was “Nifty” Nev Brown (S), Claire Smyth (3), David Laird (2) and Fernando Aguanta (L).
The Ones have a home game next round against ladder leaders, Dandenong One.
Pakenham 2 (Div 3) was away against Churchill Waverley Golf at Endeavour Hills.
This game started well for the visitors with two up and a lead of 25 shots to 14 after the first 15 ends. At approximately the midway point with the score at 38 to 27, the lead remained at 11 shots and the Lions still had two up (but only just).
By the start of the business ends, the lead had marginally increased to 12 shots but at that stage Pakenham had only one rink in front; with a big enough lead, fortunately, to cover the other two. From that point, the Lions did their best to throw the game away and were outscored by 17 shots to eight over the last 15 ends to scrape home by only three shots with just one winning rink.
The winning rink with 30 to 14 was Bruce McGennisken (S), Simon Mallia (3), Richard Grace (2) and Karen Rayner (L).
The Twos will also be at home next round and their opponent will also be Dandenong 3.
HI-LO
The winner for round five was Peter Bott with number 22.
-Des Leigh-
