Bateau Bay Boys Win Over 40’s Pairs
Warren Power and Chayne Edwards are the Bowls NSW State O40’s Pairs champions after winning a see-saw affair against Ben Harrison and Simon Mitchell (Club Maitland City).
It was an achievement in itself to have the final played after wet weather wreaked havoc over the two days of play, forcing relocation of the event from Club Maitland City and Lorn Park to Raymond Terrace and East Maitland Bowling Club, their undercover surfaces providing protection from the wild weather.
Shots were hard to come by in the final, with no multiples scored across the first seven ends. After dropping two singles, the Maitland City duo strung together six-straight ends to take an 8-2 lead heading into the halfway stage of the match. All four players were producing brilliant shots on the East Maitland surface, particularly Chayne Edwards who managed to draw three bowls within inches of the jack when 8-2 down to spark a mini-comeback which saw Bateau Bay regain the lead 10-8 after 12 ends.
The final six ends were worthy of any final, with the leads and skips consistently exchanging shots. Heading into the last end, Bateau Bay held a slender 14-12 lead, meaning Maitland City required three for the win and two to force an extra end. A side-resting toucher from Chayne Edwards with his first bowl left Simon Mitchell needing to play weight to wrestle shot back. After two decent attempts, he had a chance with his final bowl to run the jack into the ditch for two. Mitchell got the bowl away well, but it missed the jack by the barest of margins leaving Bateau Bay holding shot and the match.
Congratulations to Warren Power and Chayne Edwards on winning the title and to Ben Harrison and Simon Mitchell on their runner-up finish. Equal third place was shared by Peter McGuinness and Paul Earl (Pottsville) and Eugenie Muncaster and Andrew Rees (Kurri Kurri).
