Winning a mixed pairs trophy the hard way
LAWN BOWLS
The Kaitaia Church Road Bowling Club staged its last club championship of 2020-21, the mixed pairs, which was held over from November, and it was a thriller.
Cedric Campbell and Sharlene Lundon ran out comfortable winners, 17-5, over David Riddle and Razia Wrigley in the first round, while Paul Burren and Shirley Crabtree fought out a hard-earned win 9-7 over John Fox Champkins and Lesley Riddle.
The second round saw another big win for Campbell/Lundon, 16-7, over Burren/Crabtree, while Riddle/ Wrigley came from behind to score a 17-12 win over Fox-Champkins/ Riddle, and eliminate them.
The third round saw the two-one lifers fight out a tight match, Riddle/ Wrigley gaining the win 11-7 to eliminate Burren/Crabtree, to set up a final/possible final with Campbell/ Lundon, and what a game it was.
It began with Campbell/Lundon running out to lead by the fourth end 7-1, but then with a 3/2/2 it was Riddle/ Wrigley who led 8-7. The lead continued to change hands; by the 11th end it was 10-9 to Riddle/Wrigley, and with four shots over the next two ends, 14-9, they seemed to be starting to pull away, but with a 3 Campbell/ Lundon were back in it 12-14.
Another 3 in reply saw Riddle/ Wrigley pulled ahead again, 17-12, with three ends to play, but then it all changed, Campbell/Lundon collecting a maximum 6 to take the lead 18-17, but even with a 1 in the next end everything was still to play for.
So it came down to the 18th end, and no one was expecting another big score, but Campbell/Lundon produced it with another 6 to take the match and the title 25-17.
All four players were rewarded with applause from spectators for a riveting game.