The Men’s Champ Pairs were held over the weekend with play still on the carpet green.

The weather was amazing although very fresh on both mornings.

We had 12 teams entered.

Three rounds of 18 ends, two and a quarter hours each game. Teams required two or three wins to qualify.

Six teams qualified : Kevin Robertson/Barry McCrystal, Russ Noble/Mark Batley, Gerry Strydom/Bruce McClintock, Leon Wech/Brian Rogers, Alan Daniels/David Lloydd, Phil Chisholm/David Payne.

 Daniels/Lloydd and Chisholm/Payne got the bye.

 Noble and Batley played Wech and Rogers in a quarter-final.

Wech/Rogers raced away to a 10-2 lead but Noble and Batley fought back to 9-13 down after 14 ends. But Wech and Rogers won the last three ends to take the win 19-9.

In the other quarter-final Robertson and McCrystal played Strydom and McClintock.

Strydom/ McClintock started well to lead 15-3 after ten ends. Robertson and McCrystal were under pressure and showed off the their bowling arm skills with killing 4 ends in a row.

Strydom and McClintock were too good winning 21-8 with time up on the clock with all those kills.

 

Semi-final: Daniels and Lloydd v Chisholm and Payne. This was a close game, after four ends Daniels/Lloydd led 8-7, after nine ends it was 11 all.

Daniels/Lloydd edged ahead to lead 14-11 after 11 ends, but they dropped a 5 on the next end and two 1”s in the next two ends to be down 18-14 after 14 ends.

Daniels/Lloydd picked up a three on the next 17-18 to Chisholm and Payne, they won two of the next three ends to take the win 22-18.

Semi-final 2 :  Wech and Rogers v Strydom and McClintock. Wech and Rogers started well and lead 11-3 after 6 ends. Strydom and McClintock fought back to win the next three ends 11-6.

But a four to Wech and Rogers on the next end took them out to 15-6 after 10 ends. The ends were shared over the last 7 ends with Wech and Rogers taking the win 20-11.

 

The FINAL: Chisholm and Payne(Last year’s champions)  v Wech and Rogers. Chisholm and Payne started well to lead 5-1 after 4 ends, after 10 ends they led 11-5 both bowling very well.

Two more ends and they still led, now 12-5. Wech and Rogers fought back winning the next five ends to take the lead 14-12, GAME ON.

Chisholm and Payne picked up a 1 in each of the final two ends, 14 all so an extra end needed to be played.

What a last end by all players, with the shot holder changing almost every bowl. Phil came in with his last bowl to chip Leon out, but Leon with his last bowl came in and looked

like he was too far back, but it curved around to take the shot by 2cm.

 

What a game, could have gone either way. Well done to Leon and Brian, Congratulations.

This was Leon’s first pairs title, but for me Brian Rogers was the man of the tournament, his draw bowling over both days was amazing .

He had family watching so he was under a bit of pressure but he kept his cool to win another club pairs title.

A big thankyou to everyone that helped to run the tournament, particularly John, Jan and Gerd in the kitchen.

Report by Alan Daniels