Tuesday Pennant
The Midweek Pennant competition got underway this week with Monbulk firing out of the blocks at home in round 1 in very impressive manner with wins from all three teams leaving their opponents shell shocked.
Team 1 played Heathmont and set the tone with a monster win, with 3 winning rinks collecting all 16 points on offer as well as banking an early percentage builder of 57 shots up.
Skip Brian Smith (22-11) played a top game, and after an early tussle in the first 5 ends his rink motored home to a solid win. Jim Bras rinks (25 -11) match was highlighted by winning 10 out of their last 11 ends shutting down resistance by their opponents early.
Eric Markham and Rob Espenburger played well and were great support to their skipper.
Rob Wilson rink (40 – 6) turned in the biggest win of the day with Heathmont only able to win 4 ends for the whole game, a terrific win with Craig Ward, Irma Turner and Karen Wilson dominating their opponents with near flawless performances.
Team 2 hosted Vermont South and like the first team delivered a big win in favour of the Hawks. Andy Smith (39 – 13 ) has been in terrific form and brought that once again to the contest in his rinks big 26 shot win. Louise Thomas in her first ever club pennant game produced a fantastic game in her debut and along with Jimmy Anderson and Peter Lee they handed a miserable day out to their opposition. The big numbers rolled on with Ray Pike rink (25 – 13) also having their way with the visitors, the whole rink having good games and enjoying the 12 shot win. The 3rd rink in the team Don Barnetson (13 – 19 ) found the going a bit tougher against a very strong opposition skipper and despite the rink fighting hard they had to be content with an honourable loss. 14 Points and 32 shots up is a great round 1 result.
Team 3 played Heathmont, with the Monbulk side taking the points to complete the clean sweep but had to fight hard for the win. Mike Harris (25 – 13 ) produced a tidy win with the game being fairly close throughout there was only 5 shots the difference with a handful of ends to go but a 5 shot haul on end 18 made sure the game was secured. The rink of Graeme Seymour (22 – 13 ), Ann Philpott, Pat Ray and Brian Henderson produced a solid game with few alarm bells ringing during the contest. The only rink to go down in a low scoring affair led by Bruce Cockerill ( 14 – 19 ) did their job by minimizing the damage and assisting with the overall team win. In the end 14 points and 16 shots up will reflect nicely on the score sheet. The after-game celebrations were very much earned and very much enjoyed by all 3 Monbulk sides.
Saturday Pennant
Unfortunately although there was much to celebrate by the midweek Pennant teams the picture was not so festive for the Saturday Crew, the clean sweep was happening in reverse with all 3 sides failing to pass the post first.
Team 1 after just falling short last week was inflicted with another last end heartbreaker loss.
Playing Lilydale at home the team that beat Monbulk in the elimination final last season the Hawks were motivated for revenge however it was not to be. Jim Bras rink ( 27 – 17 ) well aided by his 3rd Rob Espenburger did all they could to help get the team over the line.
Rob Wilson (18 – 14 ) at times threatened to break the game apart for a bigger win however were thoughted by a determined opposition and had to be content with just the 4 shot win in a high quality contest, Karen Wilson produced some quality in the win. Eric Markham ( 16 – 24 ) and Brian Smith ( 9 – 18 ) both had to accept rinks defeats in a game that will further fuel the motivation for the next contest.
Team 2 ventured to play on the grass against Mooroolbark and came away with just the one rink win.
Graeme Goller ( 22-11), Norma Clerke, Ron Bishop and Peter Koomen would be rightly proud of that performance away from home and congratulations to them.
The other rinks of Don Barnetson (10 – 25), Ivan Baric (11 – 27), Andy Smith ( 18 – 24 ) couldn’t get the job done this week but with the teams standing at 1 – 1 after round 2 the team has got off to an acceptable start.
Team 3 after having the bye in round 1 got their campaign into action by visiting Healesville, and despite not winning their back story is the headline act for the Monbulk Bowling Club.
This newly formed 3rd pennant team this season is made up of newer bowlers some from social Sunday bowls, and the club is thrilled to have this team onboard.
All the rinks did very well in their first game away from home to lose by small margins Darren Ward ( 21 – 27 ), Mike Harris ( 15 – 22 ), Brendan Griffith ( 15 – 20 ) should be pleased. Welcome Tristan Berry, and Kelly Mackin new members playing their first pennant games.
