PAKENHAM BOWLS
Pakenham One (Div 1) continued its disappointing year with a loss at home to Cranbourne One on Saturday.
The Lions never seriously challenged the visitors at any stage of that game and were well behind at all the major milestones.
After the first twenty ends both sides had two up and two down but at that stage Pakenham trailed by 17 shots to 26.
During the next twenty or so ends, the visitors outscored the home side at the rate of two shots to one to arrive at the half way mark with three up, one level and a commanding lead of 52 shots to 30. Although the tempo dropped off a little from that point forward, by the start of the business ends, Cranbourne led on all four rinks and by then had increased their lead to an even thirty shots.
The Lions held their own during the run home but were eventually beaten by 90 shots to 61, with only one winning rink.
The only successful rink, with 17 shots to 14, was “Nifty” Nev Brown (S), David Saint (3), Claire Smyth (2) and Mark Ryan (L).
At seventh on the ladder, the Ones face a formidable task if they are to avoid relegation.
They must defeat ladder leaders Mentone, away, in the final round (14) and Dandenong (sixth) must lose its home game to Mulgrave (fourth).
Pakenham Two (Div 3) continued down the path of what the late Queen would have referred to as an “Annus Horribilis.”
The Lions were forced to play “catch-up” bowls from go to whoa in that encounter.
After the first twenty ends they had three down and one up and were behind by 12 shots to 19.
At the midway point they still had only one rink in front but at that stage, the Panthers’ lead was just nine shots and therefore not insurmountable.
After the break, there was a shift in momentum on three of Pakenham’s rinks but the fourth continued to be challenged and by the time there were just twenty ends left to play, Narre’s lead had been extended to 16 shots.
The game finished with Pakenham losing by 25 shots with three down and one up.
Pakenham’s winning rink with 19 to 17 was “Stormin” Norm Box (S), Bruce Perry (3), Luis Aguilar (2) and Jane Ryan (L).
Norm’s crew held the lead for the entire game but on the second last end, at 17 shots apiece, the Panthers drew level.
However, the Lions then picked up two shots on the last end to finish with their noses in front.
The Twos sit on the seventh rung of the ladder and regardless of the outcome of the final game of the season, cannot move up out of the dreaded relegation zone.
Their home game against Beaumaris (fourth) in round 14 is therefore simply an opportunity to salvage a little pride.
In contrast to the two more senior sides, Pakenham three (Div 5) is travelling very well on its way to the finals.
After knocking off ladder leaders Burden Park at Burden Park last week, they accounted for another team above them on the ladder on Saturday, clean sheeting Berwick Four at home.
They started that game at a sedate but steady pace and had three up and one level with a modest five shot lead after twenty ends.
However, by the midway mark, although one rink had dropped behind (by a single shot) that lead had grown to 18 shots.
By the start of the business ends the Lions were well in control with all four rinks in front and at 75 to 39 had all but doubled the Wickers’ score.
They then cruised home to win by 40 shots with all four up.
The best rink, with 32 shots to 12, was Peter Wilson (S), Ray Leggett (3), Maree Taylor (2) and Eric Peterson (L).
The Threes currently hold fourth place, nine points behind Berwick and 33 up on Mulgrave in fifth. They cannot drop out of the four and could finish the home and away rounds in third spot.
They play Chelsea, away, in the final round.
The long suffering Pakenham Four (Div 6) was one player short on Saturday and accepted the offer of a sub from their opponents, Berwick Six.
Their game, unfortunately, was almost a mirror image of the Threes’ tussle with Berwick Four.
After the first twenty ends the Lions had only one rink in front and were down by 10 shots.
At the midway mark they were three down and one level and at 23 to 51 their opponents had more than doubled their score.
It was still one up and three down at the top of the home straight but by then the deficit had grown to 34 shots.
The Wickers inflicted more pain in the run home and at 51 to 92 the Lions were soundly defeated by 41 shots with all four rinks losing.
The Fours are scheduled (given the numbers) to end their season with a home game against ladder leader, Narre Five, next Saturday.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Div 1) had a close loss away at Dandenong.
They led that game by six shots after fifteen ends, with one up, one down and one level.
However, by the midway mark they were down by one shot overall with one up and two down.
By the start of the business ends, at 43 to 45, the scoreboard was showing an overall difference of just two shots with one of the Lions’ rinks well in front while the other two were lagging behind. Although the scores had progressed, that was still the situation at the completion of play; at 56 to 58 Pakenham lost by two shots with one up and two down.
The winning rink, with 26 to 11 was John Parker (S), “Rockit” Rod Lewis (3), John Hagen (2) and Mark Ryan (L).
The Ones have dropped to third spot on the ladder, now five points behind Dandy and 14 behind Mulgrave.
They will be away to Clayton Two (sixth) next round and home to Cranbourne (eighth) for round 14. Mulgrave has a similar run home, away to Cranbourne for round 13 and home to Clayton in the final home and away round.
Dandy play Narre (fourth) at home followed by Keysborough (seventh) away.
Pakenham Two (Div 3) had a relatively easy away win at Dandy Three’s expense.
They jumped out of the blocks to be 21 to 11 up after fifteen ends, although at that stage Stevo’s rink was down eight shots to one.
Over the next five ends however, that rink got its act into gear, scoring 13 shots to two and at the midway mark the Lions had three up and led by 41 shots to 21.
The foot was kept firmly on the pedal over the subsequent 15 ends and the Lions arrived at the top of the home straight with all three up and a lead of 61 shots to 30; they then coasted home to win by 76 shots to 43.
The best rink with 27 to 12 was David Laird (S), Wendy Pownall (3), Joe Van Zuylen (2) and Jane Ryan (L).
The Twos now sit on the fourth rung of the ladder, seven points behind Narre but only two ahead of Cranbourne.
They face a tough assignment, away at Ferntree Gully (second) next round while Cranbourne are also away against ladder leaders, Mulgrave.
HI-LO
The winner for round 13 was Simon Mallia with number five.
-Des Leigh-
