CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Midweek Pennant
Since Christmas there has been more bad news than good for Cardinia Waters Bowls Club.
Only one of the villager’s team can expect to play finals this season, however much good news emanated from side two’s superb victory over Dandenong RSL last Tuesday.
Dandy RSL are on top by a considerable margin – winning eight out of their 12 contested games – and they went down in a toughly fought game on the Cardinia Waters green.
Dandenong RSL Rec are one of the few homeless clubs still playing in Victoria.
Fortunately, they have an arrangement to play their home games at Keysborough, and this year are unbeaten at home, including one drawn game. Given that the top two sides get a home final, Cardinia Waters may just grab second spot from Willow Lodge, as the the villagers play both bottom sides in the last two games.
In the 59/47 win, Cardinia Waters had two winning rinks.
The best was Len Judge (skip), John Carr, Peter Mitchell and Ian Kennedy who won 26/18. Also victorious was Stuart Tokely, Marie Stephenson, Gary Bondfield and Jenny Cole who won 15/11.
Next week side two welcomes Edithvale to their Racecourse Road green, and will be primed to continue their winning ways.
While side two was winning at home, side one was doing battle with Narre Warren on their new Fountain Gate greens. Cardinia Waters had a rather mixed day, recording one rink up and two down to lose the day.
Keith Lewis played with Ray Naylor, Jim Barrie and Donny Gibson, and they won their game 26/18. After 18 ends the scores were level 18 apiece. Keith’s rink then stitched up the result winning all three of the last ends.
Unlucky perhaps was John Van Vugt’s rink, who lost by just three shots, after leading most of the day. The third rink got an absolute thumping going down by 27 shots.
Next week Cardinia Waters side one plays arch rival Pakenham side one under the dome at the Lions den. On their last encounter earlier in the season Pakenham were easy winners, however the Village bowlers badly need a win to avoid relegation, and a good game should ensure.
Saturday Pennant
Again, there was little joy for both Cardinia Waters Saturday Pennant sides last weekend.
Both sides played Cranbourne, with side one at home and side two away.
In windy conditions side one went down, but managed to extract four points by winning on two rinks. Both sides lost by the same margin 11 points. The second side playing on grass at Cranbourne did manage to win one rink.
Best winners for side one was Bryan Steven’s rink. He played with Tom Gogan, Mick Knight and Robert Mitchell, and the score was a comfortable 20/13.
Just sneaking over the line with a one-shot victory was Keith Lewis (skip), Jim Barrie, Del Dance and Bill Tippelt.
Next week is the last of the season’s home and away games before the finals commence.
Side one, who are in seventh spot, play at Chelsea who are sixth. A win for the Villagers just may help them avoid relegation.
Pakenham who are currently holding the wooden spoon play top of the ladder Hampton Park. It’s unlikely they would win and gain sufficient points to lift off the bottom of the ladder and hand Cardinia Waters the prize for being last. It’s expected the two cellar dwellers will be relegated to division four next season.
In the away game at Cranbourne side two didn’t relish the conditions but fought hard in their 11-shot defeat. Micki Horton’s rink led all day and hung on to win 15/13. She played with Graeme Taylor, Ian Smith and Ian Kennedy.
Down by 15 shots at afternoon tea Cardinia Waters got within seven shots of Cranbourne late in the game before the final score being called as 65/54.
Next week marks the last round before the finals and for Cardinia Waters side two the last game gives them a last gasp chance of playing finals. Currently in fifth place and 10 points behind Highett the village side must beat Black Rock at home.
In a major surprise this week league leaders Black Rock drew with Clayton who are on the bottom. Quite an unexpected result. At their last encounter Cardinia Waters easily beat Clayton, so if the wheels have fallen off at Black Rock and Cardinia Waters win, they could slip into fourth spot if Highett lose to Mordialloc.
Read this column next week for the interesting results.
Farewell Jim Smith.
After Saturday’s game Cardinia Waters held a small social function to farewell one of the club’s staunchest bowlers, Jim Smith and his wife Lyn, who are relocating to live closer to their family. Among the first residents to live in Cardinia Waters Jim and Lyn will be missed by their friends and neighbours.
Jim was very good bowler, and also played successfully in many other sports including football and cricket. He even had a crack at umpiring. Known for his forthright opinions and dry sense of humour the club were pleased to honour Jim at the conclusion of his last competitive bowls game.
Recently Jim will be remembered for leaving his sick bed to help out Cardinia Waters Bowls Club through a player shortage.
-John Moore-
