In a move designed to beat the worst of the predicted heatwave conditions, all Saturday games were scheduled to commence at 10am rather than the usual 1pm timeslot.
However, right across the Melbourne metro area, there were still many games which were unable to be completed or were entirely abandoned.
By mutual agreement, the Ones actually kicked off their game under cover at Dandenong at 9am while the Twos home match against Frankston got under way under the Paky dome at 10am.
The full 84 ends were played in both matches.
Despite the rush to get to the venue on time, Pakenham One (Div 1) settled well and by the completion of the first 20 ends had two up and two down and were just five shots behind overall. Both sides then traded blows over the next twenty or so ends and at the half way mark the Lions had only one rink in front, with one tied and two down; however they were still well in touch as the overall deficit remained at five shots.
As the game progressed, Dandenong began to slowly draw away and by the start of the business ends had increased its lead to 13 shots, still with two up, one down and one dead level.
One of Pakenham’s rinks failed to score over the last five ends but that was balanced out by an 11 shots to two surge over the same period on “Trouty’s” rink.
In the end, at 68 to 80, the Lions went down by 12 shots with two successful rinks.
The better of those, with 24 to 15, was Paul “Trouty” Twyerould (S), Ned Courtin (3), Debbie Parker (2) and David Leitch (L).
Trouty’s crew were down two shots to seven after five ends, three behind at the half way mark, dead level at 16 ends but after a huge run home finished nine shots up… a great effort!
The Ones now sit on the seventh rung of the ladder, 20 points (more than a full round) behind Cranbourne in sixth.
With an away game against ladder leaders Mentone scheduled for round 14, it is critical that they win the next two games, both of which will be at home; one of those games is against Cranbourne.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) gave it a real crack against clear ladder leaders, Frankston One.
After the first twenty ends, both sides were two up and two down and the scores were dead level at 15 apiece.
By the half way mark Frankston had established a seven-shot lead but at that stage it was still two up and two down.
By the start of the run home it was still two up and two down, although by then the deficit had been reduced to a very manageable five shots.
At one stage, late in the game, the Lions briefly held an overall lead of three shots but unfortunately they dropped the last two ends to finish just four shots in arrears.
Needless to say, given the conditions and despite having maintained hydration, players from both sides were in desperate need of something cold and frothy at the end of play.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 24 to 15 was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Michael Hahn (3), Jan Moore (2) and Eric Peterson (L).
The Twos hold a mortgage on the seventh rung of the ladder, now almost two full rounds behind Berwick in sixth.
They will be away at Hampton Park (fifth) next round.
Play was abandoned long before a shot was even fired in Pakenham Three’s home game against Keysborough thus saving the visitors a long hot drive for nothing.
The Pennant points were therefore shared, which was unfortunate, as the Lions would have expected a win from that match and two of the teams above them on the ladder were able to complete their games; both winning and collecting valuable points, thus allowing them to draw further ahead.
The Threes are in fourth spot on the ladder, nine points clear of Dandenong but now 15 (almost a full round) behind Berwick.
They will be away at Burden Park, the ladder leader, in round 12.
Pakenham Four (Div 6) did not have the numbers to field a side and were forced yet again to forfeit their game.
The inability to score points has seen them slide down the ladder and they are now in seventh spot. If they can put a team together for their home game in round 12 they face a tough encounter against second on the ladder, Cranbourne RSL One.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 1) was two down and one up after the first fifteen ends of their home game against Keysborough One last Tuesday but thanks to Foxy’s rink picking up the first six ends on the trot, they held the overall lead at that stage by 14 shots to 12.
At the half way mark, with the score at 31 to 29, the margin was still only two shots and one of Pakenham’s rinks appeared to be in for a hiding.
However, during the following 15 ends all three Lions’ rinks outscored their opponents and although still two down, their lead had increased to a more comfortable 15 shots.
There was no change to that overall lead over the final 15 ends; however, Pakenham finished with two up and the win and pocketed 14 Pennant points.
The better of the two successful rinks, with 32-9, was Chris Fox (S), Max Mannik (3), John Hagen (2) and John Hines (L).
Foxy’s crew hit the ground running and never took the foot off the pedal for the entire game.
The Ones are now back on top of the ladder, equal on points with Mulgrave but ahead on percentage, seven up on Dandenong and 19 ahead of Berwick.
With a home game against Mulgrave next round, they have the opportunity to jump clear and cement that top spot.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) had a day they would rather forget at Cranbourne where the signs were ominous from the very outset.
After 15 ends the Lions were down on all three rinks and with the big board showing eight shots to 31; Cranbourne appeared likely to post a cricket score.
During the next passage of play Pakenham’s players did manage to stem the bleeding; however they were unable to make any real inroads into the deficit and by the half way mark their opponents’ lead had only been reduced by one shot from 23 to 22.
Cranbourne reimposed its dominance in the second half to finish with three up and a winning margin of 38 shots.
The Twos have dropped to the fifth rung of the ladder, now six points behind Cranbourne and 11 up on Dandy.
It would be expected that they would halt their downhill slide with a home win against Churchill Waverley Golf (eighth) next round (weather permitting).
HI-LO
The winner for round 11 was that ever reliable workhorse, Brian Norton, with number 31.
-Des Leigh-
