Forsyth gets fifth NZ title

Havelock’s Ali Forsyth and Blenheim’s Matt Gallop reversed the demons of two seasons ago when they combined to win the men’s pairs at the New Zealand bowls championships in New Plymouth yesterday.

The victory carried extra significance for Forsyth, as it was his fifth national title, thereby earning him his New Zealand gold star.

Forsyth, formerly of the United club in Nelson, and Gallop, both current New Zealand team members, had too many guns in the final, defeating Rob Ashton (Johnsonville) and Barclay Lee (St Heliers) 15-9.

The duo, who have both been playing in Australia in recent seasons, showed the value of that exposure and experience in the final. They lost the final in Dunedin two seasons ago to Ryan Bester and Chris Le Leivre, but there was no disappointment this time.

They grabbed a two on the first end and after six heads they had opened up an 8-1 lead. The tone had been set. Gallop drew steadily off the front, placing more bowls on the head than Lee. And when Ashton or Lee got close, Forsyth’s immaculate attacking game came to the fore.

After 11 ends, Forsyth and Gallop had opened up a 13-3 lead, and that 10-shot margin was still intact two ends later.

Ashton trailed the jack on the 14th end for two and then added a bonus to give him and Lee an outside hope. Two further singles closed the gap to 14-9.

On the next head, Ashton drew the shot, but Forsyth, appropriately, removed the bowl to take the point. That left a sixshot difference and Ashton elected not to try for the maximum on the last end.

‘‘Matty got more handy than Barclay did and that put us on the front foot and allowed me to play my attacking game,’’ a delighted Forsyth said. ‘‘I knew it wasn’t the easiest of rinks on which to draw a shot.’’

His other wins have come in the singles (2003 and 2004) and in the fours (2011 and 2012).

‘‘It’s right up there, especially to get a pairs. Now I have won each of them. And to get it with Matty – we’re real good mates. It’s real special. To get five genuine titles is something I will treasure forever.’’