PAKENHAM BOWLS
Pakenham Bowls Club has just had the sort of week that is best written off to experience in order to move forward to the next round.
SATURDAY – ROUND 2
DIVISION 1
Pakenham One was up in the hills at Upwey-Tecoma, a small club which tends to punch above its weight level – reminiscent of Garfield in the old West Gippsland days.
The game was tight from the word go and after 20 ends both sides had two rinks up but it was the Lions who had their noses in front, 22 to 21. By the midway mark the score board showed one up, one down and two all square but by then the Tigers held a two shot lead.
It was neck and neck from there to the finish but, despite outscoring their opponents over the business ends, the Lions fell at the final hurdle and with the score at 67 to 72 were just five shots short.
Best rink with 20 to 16 was Geoff ‘Voota’ Van Vugt (S), Steve ‘Krusty’ Bentley (3), Peter Bott (2) and Jen Bainbridge (L).
The Ones will be away again next round at Keysborough where they would hope to repeat their semi-final win of last season.
DIVISION 3
Pakenham Two did not make the best of their home-ground advantage on Saturday against a team from Cardinia Waters which included six former Pakenham members.
In the early stages of the game Pakenham held a narrow lead but were unable to maintain the ascendancy and by the half way mark, the visitors were up on three of the four rinks and were 10 shots in front.
After the break, the deficit continued to grow and with three quarters of the game completed, it had blown out to 27 shots.
To their credit, the Lions fought back hard on the way home and were making inroads into Cardinia Waters’ lead but they ran out of ends and with only one successful rink, were beaten by 14 shots overall, 68 to 82.
Best rink with 25/17 was ‘Stormin’ Norm Box (S), Allister Stewart (3), Gary ‘Crow’ Crowley (2) and David Saint (L). This team put in a herculean effort – they were behind for three quarters of the game but in a spirited fight back outscored their opponents nine zip over the last five ends to win by eight shots – and Norm really was ‘storming’ – he could have been heard all the way over at Cardinia Waters!
The Twos will be away at Cranbourne next round.
DIVISION 5
The Third side grabbed an early lead in their game at Narre Warren and were in front by four shots, with two rinks up, after the first 20 ends. However from there on, things turned pear shaped and the game began to slide down hill. By the half way mark the Lions had only one winning rink and had fallen behind by eight shots – not unmanageable but nevertheless concerning.
But there was to be no happy ending – the home side put the foot down and eventually ran out comprehensive winners by 100 shots to 64. Pakenham’s only winning rink, with a healthy score of 26 to 14, was Ken Clifton (S), Vince Bevilaqua (3), Ray Illing (2) and Alan Waterson (L).
The Threes will host top of the ladder Willow Lodge in round three.
MIDWEEK – ROUND 1
DIVISION 2
Pakenham-1 kicked off the season down the road at Narre Warren.
They matched it with their hosts early in the game and with five ends played on each rink had two up and one down and the overall score level at 11 all.
However at about that stage, something apparently woke the Narre players from their slumber – they fired up and by the half way point had taken the lead on two of the three rinks and had the Lions trailling by seven shots. From that point there was little difference between the two sides and Narre Warren ran out winners with the score at 46 to 55.
Pakenham’s best rink, which salvaged a 17 all draw, was Keith ‘Golden Arm’ Archer (S), Steve ‘Krusty’ Bentley (3), Gary ,Crow’ Crowley (2) and Terry ‘TMac’ McRedmond (L).
The Ones will be home to Edithvale next round.
DIVISION 3
The Twos had a tight battle at home to Monbulk in a game which either team could have won right up to the last bowl.
After a quarter of the game had been played the Lions led by a single shot but at that stage had only one rink up. By the half way mark both sides had one rink up while the third was all square – however by then the visitors had taken a two shot lead.
There was almost nothing between the two sides from that point forward but it was Monbulk, unfortunately, which took the winning points with two rinks up and a score of 56 to 53.
Pakenham’s only winning rink, with 22 to 18, was Lindsay Stevenson (S), Ray Illing (3), Vince Bevilaqua (2) and Dave Moore (L).
The Twos have a tough assignment next round, away at the Dandenong Club.
-Des Leigh-
