CRANBOURNE BOWLS
On a very overcast day with some early showers, Cranbourne weekend teams headed to the battlegrounds of lawn bowls.
Cranbourne 1 Div 1 took to the roads and finished at Mulgrave Country Club to take on their number one team.
Best rink was skipped by Jay Tootell, third Stephen Arms, second Ron Lyfield and Lead Joe Byrne, who had an honourable draw with 17 shots each.
Next best was the team skipped by Chris Hunt, third Lyn Quigg, second Peter Elgar and Lead Barry Gilchrist who went down by three shots, 25-28, in a very good game.
Gavin Wright’s team came next and went down by seven shots, 15-22.
The final team had a mixed day of good and bad, but never gave up; eventually succumbing to their opponents 9-37.
• Cranbourne 1 Div 1 (66) def by Mulgrave CC 1 (102) -36 shots and 1 point.
Cranbourne 2 Div 2 hosted Keysborough 1 on the front grass green.
Another game of some good bowls, but Keysborough eventually took the chocolates winning three rinks to Cranbourne’s one.
Best Cranbourne rink was skipped by Hans Worsteling, third Chris Stevenson, second Barry Thomas and Lead Harry Van Soest winning 26-18.
Next best was Skip Nick Arnold, third Dale Henry, second Karen Hickson and Lead Dennis Tomlin who had a great game going down by only three shots, 16-19.
Neil Drummond’s team went down by six shots and unfortunately Phil Nielsen’s team had a bit of a struggle, going down by 16 shots, 13-29.
• Cranbourne 2 Div 3 (73) def by Keysborough (90) -17 shots and 2 points.
Cranbourne 3 Div 4 travelled to Cardinia Waters where they took on the top of the ladder Cardinia Waters 1 on their svelte synthetic.
Three of our four teams put in a magnificent effort and one even took the points.
It was skipped by Scott De Piazza, third Bob Bellamy, second Loui Magri and Lead Rob Gye who won 23-18 by five shots.
Next best was the team skipped by Brian Turton, third Jacqui Warner, second Jo Alsop and Lead Bruce Harper who went down by four shots, 17-21.
They were closely followed by Skip Dermot McConville, third John Kent, second Roger Roscoe and Lead John Anstiss who also went down by four shots, 13-17.
The team of Skip Derek Maguire, third Yvonne Van Der Wees, second Lois Brock and Lead Bob Pyne tried their hardest and did have bowls in the head, but Cardinia’s Skip Ray Naylor third John Moore did not miss anything all day.
They were very steady, and consistency made a big difference.
Skip Derek Maguire is taking responsibility for giving the opposition 12 shots, when on three occasions, he picked up the jack, took it back and gave away three.
He did the same again, giving away four, and then to add to the misery, picked the jack again, taking it back, only to give away a five.
Derek wishes to apologise to his team mates and the other three Cranbourne rinks.
At the end this rink went down 11-29.
• Cranbourne 3 (63) def by Cardinia Waters 1 (84) -21 shots and 2 points.
Cranbourne 4 Div 5 hosted Berwick 4 on the front synthetic.
Again, it was a tough day for the Cranbourne rinks and they struggled against a better qualified opponent.
The two best rinks went down by 12 shots each, 12-24 and 13-25.
The third rink went down by 18 shots, 14-32, and our last rink would rather forget the day going down by 28 shots, 6-34.
• Cranbourne 4 Div 5 (45) def by Berwick 4 (115) -70 shots and 0 points.
We have many players with little experience playing pennant bowls, but relax now for Xmas/New Year, enjoy yourselves with family and friends, practice when you can and be ready to go again for Round 10 on 17 January, 2026.
MIDWEEK PENNANT
Cranbourne 1 Div 1 played at home against a very formidable Berwick 1 team on the front grass green.
Due to many players not being available with health issues, and Tuesday appearing to be the day to get procedures done, we were very thinly strewn for players and had to call in some other friends to help us get rinks together in the three teams.
Our best rink for the day was skipped by Peter Elgar, third Chris Stevenson, second Yvonne Van Der Wees and Lead Louis Magri; who played some great bowls on the way to defeating their opponents by nine shots, 24-15; great effort team.
The rink skipped by Lyn Quigg had an enthralling game all day, but in the end his opposition Skip Jaryn Mackie snuck away to win by four shots, 16-20.
The third rink was changed at the last minute when Skip Nick Arnold pulled out due to a family problem (injury) and we put our youngest and best junior in the skips’ chair for the experience and the result wasn’t what he hoped for.
But believe me when I say the future looks bright in this young man’s hands.
We thank Chadd and his team for their efforts, especially in the conditions that arose, but better things are yet to come.
A big thank you goes to all players who looked after the Cranbourne 1 team today.
• Cranbourne 1 Div 1 (50) def by Berwick 1 (64) -14 shots and 2 points.
Cranbourne 2 Div 3 took to the road to take on Churchill Waverley Golf 1 at Rowville.
Always a tough team on their home green, the game got under way on a dry but coolish morning with a strong breeze effecting some bowls when it came into play.
There wasn’t much between any of the rinks, and Cranbourne went into the break with a small four-shot lead.
After the break, the ends were fluctuating in score and this didn’t change a lot and eventually Cranbourne were able to win two rinks.
The third rink had a ding-dong battle with Churchill WG 1 in the end, scoring 19 shots to Cranbourne 17 shots.
Best rink was skipped by Steve Bentley, third Phil Nielsen, second John Stanley and Lead Dennis Tomlin winning 22-15.
They were followed by Skip Bill Sherriff, third Derek Maguire, second Lois Brock and Lead Vic Butera who won 18-13.
Another great team effort was Skip Harry Van Soest, third Dermot McConville, second John Anstiss and Lead Brian Turton who just went down on the last end 17-19.
This was a very good close game, but it was important to the Cranbourne team to try and win and keep ourselves out of the danger zone of relegation.
Note: As an aside, on behalf of Cranbourne Bowling Club, I want to thank a Churchill stalwart in Kay Walker for being a great bowler, umpire, delegate, office bearer and an all-round lovely person for what might be her final year of Pennant bowls.
We wish you and Geoff all the very best for your future endeavours.
I’ve played against you many times over the years and we’ve been able to have many a laugh and comment made without any malice.
Have a good Xmas and wonderful 2026 #33
• Cranbourne 2 Div 3 (57) def Churchill Waverley Golf 1 (47) +10 shots and 14 points.
Cranbourne 3 Div 5 headed east towards Pakenham to take on Cardinia Waters 2 on their super quick synthetic.
Our band of warriors tried hard, but they keep coming up against quality opposition which makes it very hard for them.
Our ladies’ rink, skipped by Helen Blake, with third Davina Bobetic, second Theresa Von Oppeln and Lead Jeanne Tomlin, put up a great effort, eventually going down by 12 shots, 14-26.
The rinks skipped by Bob Bellamy and John Kent came up against players who were very good and know their synthetic very well.
• Cranbourne 3 Div 5 (29) def by Cardinia Waters 2 (81) -52 shots and 0 points.
Enjoy your Xmas/New Year break folks and come back better and wins will come.
Well done one and all.
-Derek Maguire-
