Knott wins Masters Singles
Shane Knott has produced an outstanding display of draw bowls and shot play to claim the Osborne Park Men’s Masters Singles which concluded yesterday defeating Manning team mate Alan Pryce 25-13 in the final.
This event which had not been run for the last few years made a comeback at a new venue where it was supported with a full field of 64 players largely through the work of tournament director Pat Caffell.
After two days of sectional play eight quarter finalists took to a near perfect surface at Osborne Park to battle it out with $3,500 up for grabs.
Alan Pryce was the first to win through to the semi-finals with an impressive 25-9 shot win over John Slavich, whilst Shane Knott overcame Osborne Park local Grant Nicol 25-18, Willie TePania from Cockburn started brilliantly to lead 15-1 and survived a late charge from South Perth’s Neale Griffin to win 25-20 whilst Matt Mitchell had a tough tussle against Osborne Park’s Lewis Grigg before prevailing 25-21.
The semi-finals saw perhaps the best bowls of the tournament. Willie TePania continue his great form leading giant killer Alan Pryce 7-2 early whilst Emu Point’s Matt Mitchell and Shane Knott were going bowl for bowl in the other semi-final with the scores locked up early at 5-5.
Alan Pryce soon got into rhythm as he got back into his match and then began to establish a lead racing to a 17-12 advantage as he continually had bowls on the jack. Mitchell and Knott continued their great form, both playing well, with Knott gaining a slight advantage to lead 15-12. At this point Knott put together two very good ends with Mitchell unable to escape the situation dropping consecutive scores of 3 to make the score 21-12 to Knott. Mitchell tried valiantly to close the gap however Knott was able to come up with the winning bowls to take out the match 25-18. Alan Pryce also survived a late scare from Willie TePania but was able to play one of his trademark draw shots to win the match 25-21.
In the final the breeze was very gusty making it tough work for both players. Pryce started by drawing two shots within inches on the opening end and it looked like Knott would have his work cut out for him. Both players took turns scoring and after a handful of ends Pryce held a slender 5-4 lead. The next end started the charge for Knott as he picked up four shots when Pryce had an uncharacteristic poor end. Knott then also won three of the next four ends and he started to assert his authority on the contest to lead 14-7. Whilst Pryce was able to come up with some good bowls during the remainder of the match Knott was playing simply too well and when he scored another four to take a 23-13 lead he was within touching distance of the title. Knott finished it off on the very next end by picking up two.
The Masters Singles title caps a big year for Knott who won the Masters Pairs, was runner-up in the Masters Triples and played superbly in his debut series for the Perth Suns. He now leads the champion player Award after the first two competitions in the Dyenamic Masters Series.
Attention now turns to the Women’s Masters Pairs at North Beach in January and Masters Singles at Mosman Park in February with entries still open for both events. The Doubleview Men’s Masters Pairs to be played in February is already full.
Further details on the Dyenamic Masters Series available here
Full scores and results from the Dyenamic Masters Series available here
Replays of the Finals available on the Bowls WA Facebook Page
