HAMPTON PARK BOWLS
HAMPTON Park started the week badly being beaten by Cranbourne in both midweek Divisions.
Luck continues to be on the side of Division 1 though after the three-shot loss to Cranbourne – in second place only one-point ahead of Clayton – as Clayton was also beaten, so the Parkers still hold their position with two rounds to go.
Jim Westwell, Shane Collins, Peter Hayden and Neville Hendrie won by 18 shots (32-14) but could not cover the other rinks losses. Geoff Ladner, Chris Hendrie, Andrew Brandolin and Ellen Smith fought hard to just go down 15-17, but Geoff Ampt, Ann Westwell, Helen Lambert and Denise Eastick could not find any momentum and lost 11-30.
Cranbourne (2) 14-61 d Hampton Park (1) 2-58.
DIVISION 2
DIVISION 2 at home were outplayed, losing by 33 shots. Margaret Baker, June Damon, Marion Battaglia and Ray Wood lost 16-24. Heather Naismith, Geri Graafsma, Keith Damon and Rob Woff lost 13-26 while Brian Diaper, Jen Sherry, Gwen Clough and Bob Nicol lost 14-26.
Cranbourne (3) 16-76 d Hampton Park (2) 0-43.
Saturday’s Division 2 team received a wakeup call from a spirited Berwick at Edwin Flack Reserve. Looking to consolidate their top-of-the-ladder status, the Parkers won only one rink.
Steve Barnes, Chris Hendrie, Andrew Brandolin and Warwick Hardy won eight of their last nine ends for a 27-12 win. Their 15 shot win covered the three losing rinks. Geoff Ampt, John Nunan, Shannon Micallef and Shane Collins lost by four (20-24). Shane Hardy, Mark Paton, Ian Bartlett and Zak Storm by three (19-22) and Neville Hendrie, Larry Simpson, Seam McDonald and Ken Cobden by six (14-20). Hampton Park’s ladder position was helped when second placed Mulgrave Country Club was beaten by Pakenham.
Hampton Park (1) 12-80 d Berwick (3) 6-78.
DIVISION 4
Division 4 at home had a good win over Burden Park. They also received help when second placed Keysborough was beaten. Biggest winning rink was Chris Barnes, Jen Sherry, Stan Hatch and Peter Hayden (31-17). Heather Naismith, Richard Pallett, Mort Smith and Ron Beverly won by eight (26-14) and Vince Kovacic, Jim Westwell, Ellen Smith and Geoff Ladner won by two (19-17), but Aaron Ottaway, Tracey Storm, Denise Eastick and Helen Lambert lost 16-21. The win puts Hampton Park second on the ladder.
Hampton Park (2) 16-92 d Burden Park (3) 2-69.
DIVISION 6
Playing Willow Lodge at Dandenong City the Parkers put up a better show, winning two rinks. Keith Damon, Rob Woff, Janice Collins and Gavin Wilson won 23-18 while Lou Soligo, Jos Van Hout, Bill Webb and Craig Richards won 20-15. Gerry Cox, Rudi Oost, Bob Nicol and Ian Kitt lost 14-24 and John Wright, Marion Battaglia, Brian Diaper and Ray Wood lost 16-19.
Willow Lodge (1) 14-81 d Hampton Park (3) 4-73.
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Pakenham’s Neil Devlin is the Casey Division Champion of Champions singles title holder after an entertaining game against Hampton Park’s Ian Bartlett at Cranbourne. Consistent draw bowling gave him an early lead, but at 9-24 down Bartlett rallied. With the score at 20-24 the task proved too great for Bartlett and Devlin finally drew the shot he needed to win 25-20.
