Newcastle Reigns Supreme
Newcastle Zone 2 has captured the 2021 Inter-Zone Sides Championship usurping defending Champions Illawarra Zone 16 in the final at South Tamworth bowling Club.
Newcastle moved to an early lead in the final and appeared to be cruising with a lead of around 20 shots at the mid-way point. Illawarra clawed their way back and narrowed the margin to 6 shots, but the Novocastrians responded and edged to the lead again, taking the final 64-49.
In the Semi-Finals, Newcastle took control early over South East NSW Zone 7 and maintained their control to claim a 63-40 victory.
Illawarra had a much tougher time against the side they beat in the 2020 final, Sydney Central and Southern Zone 13. The lead changed several times before Illawarra eased to the lead in the closing stages of the match. Illawarra lead by just two shots going into the final end, and with one bowl left to play Zone 13 held the shots needed to claim victory, before Illawarra converted with the final bowl to claim a shot and progression to the decider.
The title is Newcastle’s first since 1995 and is their first since all 16 NSW Zones joined the competition in 1996.
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