Two Matts make a State Pairs Title
Final Played Sunday 29th December 2013 A sensational day of bowls at the Sorrento Bowling Club has produced new Western Australian Men’s State Pairs Champions. Matt Ellul (Mt Lawley) and Matt Ayres (Manning) teamed up for the second time in this event to come through a tough top half of the draw and finally defeat a gallant Clive Adams (Wanneroo) and Trystan Smallacombe (Cambridge) in the final of the 2013-14 AERO Bowlsworld Men’s State Pairs.
Earlier in the semi finals, Ellul and Ayres were pushed to the limit by last years runner ups, Anthony Provost and Shane Knott (Victoria Park Carlisle). After seven ends, Provost held a 5-4 lead but then Ellul strung together three consecutive twos to hold a 10-5 lead just over the half way mark of the game. Over the next seven ends the level of bowls reached a new level as Provost set about reeling Ellul in. Finally the scores came together on the 17th end when Provost got a single to level the scores at 12 all. During a tense last end, Provost drew the shot with his second last bowl, Ellul then put the jack in the ditch with his second last bowl but did not follow through which gave both players plenty of room with their last. Provost drew to the two metre mark to make things tough for Ellul under the pressure of a last bowl winner. However with the composure of a future state pairs champion, Ellul drew within two feet of the ditch to put himself and Ayres through to the final.
The other semi final saw a game of scoring runs for both teams. First it was the Adams and Smallacombe combination to grab a break and lead Tony Krajancic and Dinko Golem (Stirling) 10-4 after six ends. It was then Krajancic who took the initiative and won the next five straight ends to grab the lead 12-10 after eleven ends and with all the momentum. Adams broke the run with a single to move within one before Krajancic answered with his own single to keep a two shot lead after thirteen ends. The next four ends were owned by the Adams/Smallacombe team and when they scored a three by drawing three shots to the edge of the ditch, they went into the last end with a six shot lead, 19-13. Getting a six on the last end just to draw the game was always going to be a tough ask for Krajancic and Golem but halfway through the end they had three of the required six shots. However they were only able to add one more during the second half of the end to finish with four shots. Adams and Smallacombe moved through to the final with a 19-17 win.
The final was expected to be a tight affair with a strong breeze expected to make getting close difficult. Belying the conditions, both teams made light work of the breeze with close bowls from all players making it a close battle on the green. However this wasn’t the story on the scoreboard, as at the conclusion of each end, only one side of the scoreboard was turning over. At the end of the 7th end, the game on the scoreboard looked done with Matt Ellul and Matt Ayres holding a commanding 14-0 lead and the frustration showing on the opposition. Both Adams and Smallacombe are previous champions of this event and when they finally scored their first shot on the 8th end, their experience kicked in. Refusing to panic, they set about chasing Ellul down and scored four consecutive singles before grabbing a three on their 5th straight scoring end. After the 12th end, Adams had closed the margin down to seven with a 7-14 score line. A single to Ellul on the 13th end seemed to close down the chase but when Adams grabbed a four on the 14th end to move to 11-15, a murmur of expectation of a grandstand finish started to run through the crowd. Adams and Smallacombe continued to put the pressure on but Ellul and Ayres were not to be denied their chance to win their first major title. With Ayres continuing to show experience beyond his years and Ellul showing his undeniable talent under pressure, they produced three consecutive scoring ends to take an unassailable lead 21-11 to become the 2013-14 Western Australian AERO Bowlsworld Men’s State Pairs Champions.
Final Day Knockout Results
First Day Knockout Results
All Sectional Results
