CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Cardinia Waters midweek teams have now reached the halfway mark of the season and both sides celebrated the milestone with solid wins.
Side one travelled to Cheltenham, a club many bowlers had never seen before, and it took time for Cardinia Waters to settle in on a different surface to what they are used to.
Slow away, side one had got the hang of the wind and the turf green by lunchtime, with scores being level when the bell rang.
After lunch the rink of Keith Lewis, Cathy Swinkels, Kerry Lewis and Paul Brindle gathered a handy lead to dominate their opponents with a final score of 25-11.
It was a score of six up on end 15 that set the win up.
John Van Vugt skipped a rink including Kel Smith, Ashley Graham and Jill Naylor.
They had a purple patch in the middle of the game but needed to win the last two ends to nail the result of 26-24.
Ray Naylor’s rink came from behind late to grab the lead on the last end to make it three rinks up.
He played with John Moore, Dennis Patmore and Ron Seamer; their score was 21-20.
Side one leads the division two section eight ladder undefeated, which is a wonderful effort for a side that was promoted at the beginning of the season.
This week they play away at Dandenong Club.
Meanwhile side two was having a field day at home against Parkdale.
The visitors were short of players and it showed on the final score of 84-33.
Best win was the rink of Marie Stephenson, Robert Mitchell, Peter Mitchell and Steve Hale; with their massive score of 35-5 headlined the sides big win.
Mick Knight skipped a winning rink with an eleven-shot victory, playing with Ian Kennedy, Terry Nye and Therese Mitchell.
Winning by ten shots was the rink of Michele Bondfield, Len Judge, Jenny Edmonds and Lorraine Devine.
Side two moved up one position on the ladder grabbing second place.
This week they play Cranbourne at home.
SATURDAY PENNANT
Side one travelled to Mulgrave Country Club to play the third placed side.
In a tough relentless game Cardinia Waters came out on top, mainly due to two rinks winning very well.
Keith Lewis was in charge of the best winning rink having a field day and winning comprehensively 35-12.
After leading easily all day, they iced the cake with a six on the second last end.
Keith played with Cathy Swinkels, Kerry Lewis and Bill Hite.
Also winning well was the rink of John Van Vugt, Kel Smith, Robert Mitchell and Dennis Patmore. Down early they fought back in the middle of the game to gain the ascendancy and fight on to a five-shot win.
After eight rounds this side is undefeated and safely on top of the ladder, 30 points and a hefty percentage ahead of second place Narre Warren.
This Saturday, in the last game before the Christmas break, Cardinia Waters side one play bottom team Cranbourne at home.
Side two was at home to Mentone Edge.
Not enjoying a very successful year the Mentone team forfeited last week.
This week they fielded a complete side but were defeated by the stronger Cardinia Waters outfit.
On top all day, and winning handsomely were the rink of Marie Stephenson, Stuart Tokely, Therese and Peter Mitchell.
They scored many multiples including two fives in their 37-9 thrashing.
Also winning by five shots was the rink of Michele Bondfield, Steve Hale, Frank Basso and Terry Nye. They won fourteen ends; however, it was a five late in the game that saw them victorious.
Winning by just two shots was the rink of Mick Knight, Ian Kennedy, Lorraine Devine and Jim Barrie. They were behind until end 13, before winning an end by six.
From then on, they steadied the ship to win the game.
Side two play Narre Warren away this Saturday and remain second on the ladder.
They have a hefty percentage of 152.69 in the favour.
THURSDAY NIGHT TRIPLES
The top four is getting clearer in this intriguing game of fourteen sides.
Team Birnie, clear leaders early, are being pursued eagerly by teams Moore, Smith and Lewis.
Not much separates them at the halfway point of the competition.
Winners of the money this week were team Knight first and team Smith second.
One more round is to be played then a break of several weeks over Christmas.
-John Moore-
