Mixed results for the mighty Lions

Chris Fox gets set to roll one down for the Lions. 257763 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

PAKENHAM BOWLS

SATURDAY PENNANT – ROUND 3

• DIVISION 1

Pakenham One travelled to Keysborough on Saturday expecting a tough contest but quietly confident that they could repeat last year’s semi-final win.

However their hosts had other ideas – they were up and about early and were hungry for revenge.

After the completion of the first 20 ends the home side had a lead of 20 shots to seven and two of Pakenham’s rinks had not registered a score at that stage.

By the midway point of the game the shell-shocked visitors had recovered somewhat but the locals were still in front by 12 shots and held the lead on three of the four rinks. The situation did not improve in the second half of the game with the Lions being outscored in the run home to lose overall by 55 to 81 and collect zero Pennant points.

The Ones have a chance of redemption in the next round against Berwick, to be played at home, under lights, on Friday night. Be there – the bar will be open and sausages will be sizzled.

• DIVISION 3

The second side went across to Cranbourne for a windswept encounter on grass, a surface now unfamiliar to many Pakenham players.

The game was close at first and even at the afternoon tea break, both sides had two rinks up, although the locals led by nine shots. When play resumed however, Cranbourne seemed to find a higher gear and eventually cruised home to win on all four rinks with an overall score of 89 shots to 60 and in the process collected maximum Pennant points.

The Twos will be on the road again next round, this time on sand filled synthetic at Chelsea.

• DIVISION 5

Pakenham Three had the home greens to themselves on Saturday and they certainly made the most of it.

They bolted to an early lead against (then) ladder leaders Willow Lodge and after 20 ends with three rinks up and one all square held an incredible lead of 32 shots to six!

They continued to apply the pressure and by the half way mark all four rinks were in front and the electronic scoreboard was showing 55 shots to 20. The Lions’ dominance continued for the remainder of the game and despite a remarkable turn around by one of the visiting rinks, they roared home to win by 100 shots to 60 and collected 16 of the available 18 Pennant points.

The best of the three winning rinks with 26 shots to four was Alan Wilcock (S), Eric Peterson (3), Bill Bosch (2) and Peter Wilson (L). The Threes will be at home again next week against Monbulk.

MIDWEEK

• DIVISION 2

Pakenham One had a hard fought win at home against Edithvale, a club which always fields a strong side.

The Lions started well and after the first 15 ends had two rinks up and a handy lead of 20 shots to 13.

Something then fired up one of the visiting rinks, which in winning eight ends straight and scoring 12 shots to nil, put Edithvale in front by four shots overall at the lunch break.

To their credit, the locals dug deep when play resumed and by the end of play had wrested back the lead and with one up, one down and one all square, fell over the line to win by just four shots.

Best rink with 28 to 12 was Paul Currie (S), Ned Courtin (3), ‘Stormin’ Norm Box (2) and Graeme ‘Wildman’ Wilde (L). This rink demonstrated how to bring a game home, scoring eight shots to one over the last five ends.

The Ones will need to take their ‘A game’ to The Dandenong Club next round.

• DIVISION 3

Playing The Dandenong Club on their home dung hill is generally a difficult task – consequently, the second side expected a hard day at the office last Tuesday.

Surprisingly however, after the first 15 ends had been played, it was the Lions who had established the early lead and with two rinks up and the score at 19 shots to eight had more than doubled their host’s tally.

By the half way mark Pakenham still had two rinks up and their lead was a handy 33 shots to 20.

However during the second half of the game the wheels started to wobble and they eventually fell off – they were heavilly outscored over the last 15 ends and went down overall by 44 shots to 66.

Best rink with 18 to 14 was Ken Clifton (S), Derek Spraggon (3), Alan Waterson (2) and John Barlow (L). The Twos will be at home to Hampton Park for round three.

-Des Leigh