Grand final dream dashed

THE Cardinia Waters Saturday Pennant team was only three shots away from competing in next week’s divisional grand final in its first year of competition.
On Saturday it travelled to Murrumbeena Park and overcame a slow grass green, continuous rain, and some vocal Mooroolbark supporters to win a nailbiter by two shots, 70-68. There were no stars, no big winners – just a gutsy team effort.
Bryan Stevens with his wife Marion leading, Doug Richardson second and John Hutchinson third had an unusually slow start but won the last six ends for an 18-16 win.
Skipper John Van Vugt with Gunter Baumbach, Brian Byrne and Wendy Titcombe also finished strongly and won 18-14. Alan Brodie, Chris Mulcock, Jim Barrie and skipper David Blake continued their good form and hung on to win 20-19.
Skipper Lindsay Cameron with John Cazaly, Stuart Tokely and Bill Hite lost 14-19 but won five out of their last six ends to play an important part in the overall victory.
On Sunday the team bus travelled to the prestigious Ringwood Club to take on the Yarraville/Footscray number four side.
Bryan Stevens led the way with a 26-14 victory and David Blake’s rink won again, 25-21.
John Van Vugt, with Mick Knight as his second, battled hard but lost 14-23, as did Lindsay Cameron who lost 14-24 for an overall score of 79 shots to 82.
Club president and team manager Alan Burkitt praised the side’s effort. He also gave a big tick to the many supporters who followed the team each week.
The Midweek Open team travelled to Mentone on Tuesday and finished easy winners, 87 shots to 50.
Jim Barrie with his wife Anna, Doug Richardson and Pat Hutchinson returned to the winners list 34-15. Bryan and Marion Stevens, John Cazaly and Stuart Tokely won 26-16 and Wendy Titcombe, Dennis Patmore, Rae Richardson and Lindsay Cameron made it a clean sweep winning 27-19. Their win earned the team a home final against Cranbourne this week.