PAKENHAM BOWLS
WITH all of the home-and-away rounds having been played, the business end of the lawn bowls season has now been reached and Pakenham has four of its six teams into the finals.
MIDWEEK
Pakenham One (Division 3) finished the season with a home game against Waverley Golf Three, adding to their impressive record of wins with a comprehensive 77/41 victory, cementing second place on the ladder and earning a home-ground semi-final. Best rink with a score of 37/9 was again Paul Currie (s) with Sue Hudson, Phyllis Watt and Ian ‘Lefty’ Anderson.
The One’s will already have played their semi-final as the Gazette went to press, and it is a game they would be expected to win. If that was the case they will be travelling to Clayton on Thursday, 26 February for the grand-final against the winner of the other semi between Mulgrave Country Club and Narre Warren.
Pakenham Two (Division 4) played away against Waverley Golf Four, winning on two rinks and drawing on the third for an overall winning score of 62/49. The Two’s also finished in second position on the ladder although there was absolute daylight between them and Vermont South in third. Best rink was Leon Brown (s), Alan Wilcock, Joy Tomlin and Gail Wilcock with a score of 22/11.
Again the semi against Vermont South, also a home game, will already have been decided by the time of publication, and is another game Pakenham would be expected to win, having beaten their opponents twice during the home and away season. The grand final against the winner of the Cranbourne RSL versus Burden Park semi is scheduled for Thursday 26, February at Waverley Golf.
All finals will attract supporters in large numbers.
SATURDAY
A depleted Pakenham One (Division 1) played away at Cranbourne in what was very much a no-win situation for both teams. In the final wash up it was a disappointing season with an 11-shot loss and tenth position on the ladder. Best rink with a score of 21/17 was Chris Fox (s), Graeme Wilde, Barry Johnson and Trent Bedford. The One’s are left to rue the number of games which got away from them by fewer than ten shots – if only half of those close games had been wins, they may well have been competing in the finals.
Pakenham Two (Division 2) were at home against the strong Narre Warren One, and again showed the late season form which escaped them in earlier rounds, easily accounting for their opponents 107/58 and retaining sixth spot on the ladder. The positive spirit generated by this end of season win was so strong that an independent observer arriving after the game might well have assumed that the Two’s had just won a flag. Best winning rink with a score of 35/9 was Des ‘Grizzly’ Leigh (s), ‘Stormin’’ Norm Box, Dave Wood and Dave McIlfatrick.
Pakenham Three (Division 6) know what that winning feeling is all about – playing on unfamiliar grass at Burden Park they won on all rinks to the tune of 95/57 to finish clear leaders on top of the ladder booking themselves a home final in the semi’s. Best of the winners with a 24/10 scorecard were Paul Currie (s), Ray Illing, Jack Hammond and John (Watere) Ewe. The Three’s opponent in the semi-final at Pakenham on Saturday, 28 February will be Mulgrave Country Club. The venue for the grand final to be played on Sunday, 1 March is yet to be determined by Bowls Victoria.
In what developed into a sometimes spiteful match requiring the umpire’s intervention, Pakenham Four (Division 7) were at home to Mooroolbark, winning on two rinks, losing one and drawing the other for a clear 93/71 victory to end the home and away season. The win saw the Fours comfortably retain fourth position and earned them a place in the finals. Best winning rink with a score of 29/10 was Sam Granieri (s), Ray Leggett, John Hickman and Roger Platt. The Four’s opponent in the semi-final will be Narre Warren at Narre. The venue for the grand final on 1 March is also yet to be advised.
Members not playing in finals and other supporters are encouraged to attend as many of the finals as possible to barrack for Pakenham as they fight to bring home those all important flags.
