The 2019 Major Pairs Championship was decided on the weekend with 16 quality teams nominated and after two days of competition, not only were the skills of the participants tested but the constant pressure exerted by quality of the play and the energy-sapping weather conditions meant that also the physical and mental toughness of the competitors became critical elements of any potential success.
The preliminary round on Saturday morning gave an early indication of things to come with several upsets and a few key battles decided against a backdrop of brilliant pairs lawn bowls.
Tom Cross and Peter Forrester needed an extra end to overcome the challenge of Steve Jackson and Ian Parker by 16 – 17; Graeme Brown and Erik Pedder were victors over Jake McHutchison and Bill Andrews by 20 – 16 in a close tussle; Ray Schafer and Wayne Curtis survived a late surge from Dave Atkinson and Alan Turnbull to take their match by 26 – 24; Chris Holst and Col Lindsay had to battle all the way to defeat Nev Hillyard and Brad Wynne by 19 – 18; Greg Johnson and Martyn Wood survived a scare against Brian Pennell and Steve Kliendienst to win their contest by 26 – 23; Adam Hart and Allan Abbott somehow succeeded over Brett Pingell and Ron Smidt by 21 – 18 in a match where they never looked the dominant side; Terry and Brad Johnson played well to defeat Trevor Bardsley and Bob Ballantyne 27 – 17; and Greg Dickman and Jim Johnson combined well to defeat the seasoned pairing of Allan Parker and Graham Meany by 22 – 14.
The quarter-finals provided the platform for teams to advance through to the Sunday semi and grand-finals. The match-ups were tantalising and at one stage it looked like a ‘Johnson-a-thon’. Somehow as the competition advanced so did the quality of the play and word obviously spread as the number of spectators swelled.
Tom Cross and Peter Forrester took another step towards the elusive title when they defeated Graeme Brown and Erik Pedder 27 – 11; Chris Holst and Col Lindsay played well to defeat Ray Schafer and Wayne Curtis 26 – 13; Greg Johnson and Martyn Wood overcame the oppressive combination of Adam Hart and Alan Abbott 28 – 17; and Terry and Brad Johnson defeated Greg Dickman and Jim Johnson by 20 – 15.
The semi-finals where a ‘who’s who’ of local lawn bowls with the 2018 Yamba Minor Pairs Champions, Chris Holst and Col Lindsay, up against the 2018 Yamba Major Pairs runners-up, Tom Cross and Peter Forrester, and the 2017 and 2018 Yamba and CRDBA Major Pairs Champions, Greg Johnson and Martyn Wood, confronting the 2018 Maclean Club Pairs Champions, Terry and Brad Johnson. Tom and Peter won their match against Chris and Col by 21 – 16 to keep their dream of going one better in 2019 well and truly alive. The other semi-final was always going to be a thriller as the last time these duos were on the same rinks was in the 2018 CRDBA Champion of Club Champions Pairs final when Greg and Martyn required an extra end to defeat Terry and Brad by a single shot. The throng of appreciative spectators were treated to four hours of bowling brilliance and with the twenty-first and final end to be played the scores were locked together at 19 shots each. This time however, it was the ‘dynamic duo’ of Terry and Brad Johnson who were victors taking the tumultuous tussle by 21 – 19.
The final continued to test the physical and mental forte of the four combatants and they responded magnificently. In the battle of the leads, Tom Cross had a colossal challenge to prevent Terry ‘Plover’ Johnson from continuing to provide Brad with platforms upon which success could be constructed, while Peter Forrester had his own tribulations with a confident Brad. In a game of mixed fortunes, it was Terry and Brad who established an early lead and after eight ends they led by eleven shots to five. Each time Tom and Peter closed the gap a counter-punch was landed and Terry and Brad would grab a handful of shots to reaffirm their ascendency and after sixteen ends the lead was maintained at 22 – 14. After twenty-one completely engrossing ends of play Terry and Brad Johnson took the title to become, what is thought to be, the first father and son combination to be the Yamba Major Pairs Champions in club history. Tom and Peter, while having to settle for runners-up again, can be proud of their achievements, particularly when an analysis of the scorecard shows that they actually won 13 of the 21 ends played but were restricted to small hauls on each occasion.
Nomination sheets for the Club Major Singles, Major Triples and Minor Triples Championships are on the notice board and bowlers should get their nominations recorded early to avoid any disappointment.
Don Freeman