PAKENHAM BOWLS
Pakenham’s Weekend Pennant teams returned a very mixed bag on Saturday.
Pakenham One (Div 1) was always in control of its home game against Beaumaris One, despite a minor hiccup in the latter stages.
The home side got away to a good but unspectacular start and by the completion of the first twenty ends had three up and led by 20 shots to 16 overall.
By the midway mark the Lions had their noses in front on all four rinks and had extended their overall lead to 14 shots, with one rink dominant at 15 to six.
However, from that point forward, two Beaumaris rinks began to push back hard and during the remainder of the match actually outscored their Pakenham counterparts; this included the rink where the Lions had previously held a significant lead.
The impact of the Beaumaris resurgence was more than neutralised however, by a combined surge of 17 shots to two by the other two home side rinks and by the start of the business ends, Pakenham was 21 shots in front overall.
That trend continued for the remainder of the game and the Lions finished with two up and a winning score of 85-67.
Best rink with 28 to 10 was “Nifty” Nev Brown (S), David Saint (3), Claire Smyth (2) and John Hines (L).
That rink steamed home, scoring 20 shots to four in the second half.
Despite the win, the Ones are still seventh on the ladder, now only six points behind Cranbourne in sixth and nine short of Dandenong in fifth.
A win from their home game against Cranbourne this week would see them move up into sixth place and if Narre Warren beat Dandenong as expected, they could even jump into fifth.
However, they have a huge task in round 14, away to ladder leaders Mentone Edge.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) was absolutely hammered at Hampton Park by a side which they had beaten earlier in the season.
The final score was 49 shots to 116; that says it all, nothing more to add.
The only positives were that the Redbacks were good company; they provided tasty snacks at the completion of play and their beer is cheap.
The Twos have now slipped to the very bottom of the ladder.
While it is still mathematically possible with two home and away games to go for them to finish in sixth spot and avoid relegation, the grim reality is that it is not going to happen.
They have another away game on Saturday against second-placed Narre Warren.
Now for some good news…Pakenham Three (Div 5) had a great win away, on grass, against the ladder leaders, Burden Park.
The Lions hit the ground running in that game and by the completion of the first twenty ends the shocked Dragons found themselves down on all four rinks with Pakenham holding a lead of 28 shots to 13.
From that point the home side put up more of the fight which had been expected and for the remainder of the game gradually chipped away at Pakenham’s lead.
By the half way mark both sides had two up and two down but Pakenham still held an overall lead of 10 shots at that stage.
The battle continued and by the start of the run home the Dragons thought they had a bit of a sniff as the Lions’ lead had by then been reduced to single digits, although they were back to three up at that stage.
The competition heated up even more during the run home and the locals ramped up the pressure but Pakenham held on for a magnificent 83-80 win with three up.
Burden Park has only been beaten twice during Season 2025/26, both times by Pakenham!
Needless to say, there were huge grins on the faces of the Third’s team members when they arrived back at the Lions’ Den.
Pakenham’s best rink with 24 to 18 was Bruce McGennisken (S), Philip Cairns (3), Gayle Harkness (2) and Julian Colmegna (L).
They led at all stages of the contest, despite losing six ends in a row, mid-game.
The Threes remain in fourth spot, now 21 points (more than a full round) clear of Mulgrave.
It is welcome that they have that buffer as Mulgrave has an easier run home, playing the two bottom teams in the final two rounds.
The Threes will be home to Berwick (second) in round 13.
Fortunately, Pakenham Four (Div 6) was able to make up the numbers and field a team on Saturday. However, although playing at home, they faced a formidable task against Cranbourne RSL One, second on the ladder.
The Lions were up to the task during the earlier stages of the match and by the completion of the first twenty ends the scores were dead level at 19 apiece, with the home side up on three rinks. However, during the following twenty ends or so, the visitors warmed to the Pakenham green and began to score heavily and at the half way mark it was the RSL with three up and a lead at that stage, of 50 shots to 28.
There was to be no stemming of the tide from that point forward as the RSL continued to add to their score while the Lions desperately tried to catch up.
By the start of the business ends the home side trailed by 47 shots to 76 and the downhill slide continued from there until the inevitable conclusion, with Pakenham losing by 57 shots to 103.
Pakenham’s only winning rink with 18 to 17 was Brian Norton (S), Denis Southern (3), Helen Klimak (2) and Gary “Crow” Crowley (L).
The Fours now find themselves on the bottom of the ladder.
However, when able to field a team, they have often been competitive (if not on this occasion) and have had a few wins; where might they have been if not for those forfeits?
They will be away at Berwick (third) next round.
MIDWEEK
Due to the expected 40+ temperatures, all play scheduled for last Tuesday was abandoned at the direction of Bowls Victoria under its heat rule.
Pakenham One (Div 1) therefore remain on top of the ladder, equal on points with Mulgrave but ahead on percentage, seven points up on Dandenong and 19 ahead of Berwick.
This was an opportunity lost as Pakenham was to play Mulgrave at Pakenham which would have given the Lions the opportunity to move clear in top position.
As it is, they will play Dandenong away this week while Mulgrave has a home game against Berwick.
The heat rule also robbed Pakenham Four (Div 3) of a golden opportunity.
They might have expected a win from their scheduled home game against bottom of the ladder Churchill Waverley Golf which could have lifted them from fifth spot to fourth.
However, they remain in fifth place, now nine behind Narre, 12 behind Cranbourne but 11 up on Dandenong.
They play Dandy at Dandy this week.
There was an interesting and unusual twist to that heat rule decision.
Cranbourne actually played and won their round 11 game against Noble Park on the Wednesday and as a result picked up 14 points rather than the nine they would have collected from the “unplayed” draw.
It is assumed that the decision to play that game on Wednesday must have been arranged between the two clubs and sanctioned by BV before their decision to abandon play on the Tuesday.
As a result, Cranbourne moved up one spot on the ladder to third place and are now 12 points (they were only six) ahead of Pakenham.
HI-LO
The winner for round 12 was Lindsay Stevenson with number 42.
-Des Leigh-
