The zone four championship is finally underway at Forster Bowling Club after all play the previous weekend was suspended due to the extreme weather conditions.
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After four rounds of competition, and some interesting results, the two finalists have been decided.
In the top half of the draw the first round clash between club-mates Heath McGuire and Matt Sargeant, from Tuncurry Beach was a real thriller with Matt getting the lead for the first time on the last end for a last gasp win.
Matt then went on to win his second round game and progress to the quarter-finals.
Others to progress in the top half were Laurie Keene. Pacific Palms, Peter Donnelly, Forster and the strong Rex Johnston team,Tuncurry Beach.
In the bottom half Dylan Riley, Forster survived a close game against Jason Aurisch Black Head) and then went on to join Jim Cherrett, Taree Leagues and Phil Scott-Young, Forster who had a bye, and then survived on an extra end against Darryl Hazell, Harrington to also make the quarter finals.
In a quarter final upset, the underdog, Laurie Keene, held on to record a win against the more fancied Matt Sargeant and progress to the semifinal against Rex Johnston who defeated Peter Donnelly.
Unfortunately they couldn’t sustain their morning form and were comfortably defeated in the afternoon.
Rex has now progressed to the final for the second year running.
In the other half of the draw Dylan Riley defeated Jim Cherrett and Phil Scott-Young defeated John Andrews, Gloucester to set up an afternoon semifinal clash between the two remaining teams from Forster.
With Dylan’s team being the favourites they were expected to win, but Phil’s team took it right up them.
Throughout the game the lead changed several times, and with an approaching storm, the rain hit with four ends still to play.
After 19 ends the scores were locked at 18 all and Phil’s team were holding shot when Dylan played with enough weight to dislodge the shot bowl and go into the last end one up.
Phil’s team again held the shot, and with Dylan down to his last bowl he trailed the jack a yard to hold the shot.
Phil, with the last bowl of the game, just failed to clear a short bowl and could not convert.
Dylan will now play Rex in the final.
So, last year’s finalists are this year’s finalists with the team of Steve Harris, Marty Gosper, Kevin Robinson and Rex Johnston to play Keedon McGuire, Peter Holland, Jason Morse and Dylan Riley.
The final will be played at Forster next Saturday from 9am.
Last year this game went to an extra end, and if there is a similar result this game will be a cracker.
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
