Mitchell and Ker win Masters
Nexus Doubleview Masters Pairs results Manning’s Matthew Mitchell and Peter Ker have combined to win the Nexus Doubleview Masters Pairs for the second time having previously taken the title in 2012. Mitchell played off against his brother Tom Mitchell who partnered with Victoria Park Carlisle team mate Rhett Butler in what was an extremely high quality final. Both teams showed plenty of ability with all bowlers drawing superbly and also playing weighted shots accurately when needed.
Earlier Mitchell and Ker had staged the comeback of the tournament in the semi-finals recovery from a 16-5 deficit to win 17-16 in dramatic circumstances. Still trailing by six with two ends to play a good four set them up with a chance. Mitchell played a great drive to put the jack in the ditch and after Srhoy drew a good second shot once again a pinpoint drive by Mitchell put that bowl in the ditch leaving them with the needed three shots. Srhoy had one last bowl to win the match but was unable to repeat his previous effort. Srhoy and Cockburn partner John Morgan would have been disappointed to lose under the circumstances but no doubt satisfied with their efforts having knocked out some talented pairs on the way to the semi finals. Mitchell and Butler had a hard fought 20-11 victory in their semi final, they were dominant in the second half of the match after trailing 10-9 to the composite side of Jamie O’Keefe (Stirling) and Bill Brandsma (Doubleview).
In the final the match had ebbed and flowed with no more than a handful of shots separating the teams until the scores were locked at 14-14 all with just three ends to play. The next two ends proved the catalyst for the victory as the Manning duo scored successive scores of two to have a very handy four shot buffer going into the last end. Tom Mitchell managed to keep his team’s hopes alive with a powerful drive to kill the end and on the replay drew a front toucher and added another counter to raise their hopes. Butler added another and a draw looked a distinct possibility until Mitchell played a beauty with his last to touch the jack and reduce the count to only one. Tom Mitchell tried to dislodge the bowl but missed narrowly meaning his younger brother and team mate claimed the crown as Masters Pairs champions.
More photos from the final can be found on the Doubleview Bowling Club facebook page.