Cyclones take out Pirates in final Blitz
A thrilling finish to this year’s edition of the Bowls Blitz at Stirling on Sunday saw the Cyclones through to the final in the closest finish the 4 year old competition has ever seen. The Pirates were safe heading into the final two rounds, and would play finals, but the remaining place was up for grabs – between the Cyclones and the Chargers.
It couldn’t have been better fixtured as the Cyclones and the Chargers met in the final qualifying round, and as the match drew to a conclusion, one final end was likely the decider. With everyone uncertain of the points (as the scoring system attracts points per end won, and bonus points), Blake Nairn removed a Chargers bowl to hold game. Cameron Harris’ final bowl just held wide of the jack as it moved past, and it was the Cyclones through by the barest of margins. In the final wash-up, the Cyclones and Chargers finished equal on points for the entire competition with just 3 shots separating them, the Cyclones way.
The Grand Final – Dyenamic CYCLONES (56 points) defeated Liquor Traders PIRATES (47 points)
Singles – Cyclones 22 def Pirates 18
An entertaining match between two of the State’s best Singles players. Scott Walker for the Cyclones taking on Ben Leggett for the Pirates. The first half of the match was quite even with both players playing to a very high standard. Walker managed to pull away frequently grouping bowls around the jack and stringing four ends together, however just as he looked home, Leggett charged back into the match grabbing two full counts to challenge, but just fall short, courtesy of the time clock.
Pairs – Pirates 19 def Cyclones 9
Clive Adams and Brad White for the Pirates took on David Downey and Robyn O’Brien for the Cyclones in this one. White set things up very well throughout and Adams made the conversions as necessary to establish a strong 15-4 advantage. At that point changes were made with both Adams and Downey transferred to the Fours match, with Lisa Brannan taking over the Pairs for the Pirates and Denise Kelly for the Cyclones.
Triples – Cyclones 12 def Pirates 10
Shane Giudice-Nairn skippered the triples for the Cyclones with Chris Ace-Watson and Cameron Green, versus Anthony Williams, Hailey Packer and Jenny Parker. It was the Cyclones out to an early lead, just taking the big moments in the match, before a spirited fightback from the Pirates. As Giudice-Nairn played his final bowl, the match was there for the Pirates taking, however Giudice-Nairn held his nerve securing second shot and a vital win.
Fours – Cyclones 8 drew Pirates 8
Blake Nairn started with the Cyclones crew of Peter Wachmer, Denise Kelly and Jenni McLaughlin versus Steve Rushforth with Helen Stevens, Lisa Brannan and Andrew Drayton. What ensued was an enthralling encounter with three shots the biggest difference throughout. The final end saw the Pirates holding one shot on the changeover but needing two for victory. Rushforth’s final bowl was in the area, but just glanced third shot and left it half a bowl out of the count. After a brief discussion, Nairn decided not to play his last bowl.
As it turns out, both the final ends of the triples and fours were crucial – had either of those matches gone the way of the Pirates, it would have been a different result, but in the final scheme of things it is the Dyenamic Cyclones that are the 2024 Blitz champions.
Final Standings
| Rank | Team Name | Day 1 | Day 2 | R9 | R10 | Total |
| 1 | LIQUOR TRADERS PIRATES | 191 | 192 | 42 | 32 | 457 |
| 2 | DYENAMIC CYCLONES | 184 | 125 | 55 | 55 | 419 (+17) |
| 3 | AFGRI CHARGERS | 185 | 161 | 30 | 43 | 419 (+14) |
| 4 | THE PROFESSIONALS STARS | 120 | 164 | 17 | 72 | 373 |
Round 9 Results (1 x Fours, 2 x Triples)
Liquor Traders Pirates 42 defeated AFGRI Chargers 30
Williams, Leggett, Brannan, Parker 14 def Mitchell, Holt, Webster, Saunders 8
Packer, Drayton, Rushforth 8 def by McIlroy, Jones, Smith 25
Adams, H Stevens, White 14 def Harris, Solly, Davies 8
Dyenamic Cyclones 55 defeated The Professional Stars 17
Downey, Wachmer, O’Brien, McLaughlin 8 def East, Bates, Brandsma, Masters 7
Nairn, Kelly, Walker 14 def Knight, Biglin, Leeson 13
Giudice-Nairn, Ace-Watson, Green 21 def N Stevens, Tyrrell, Lynch 12
Round 10 Results (5 x Pairs)
The Professionals Stars 72 defeated Liquor Traders Pirates 32
Knight, Tyrrell 10 def Adams, Drayton 7
East, Biglin 6 def by Rushforth, Leggett 8
Brandsma, Lynch 19 def H Stevens, Brannan 3
Bates, Masters 10 def Packer, Parker 9
N Stevens, Leeson 10 def Williams, White 7
Dyenamic Cyclones 55 defeated AFGRI Chargers 43
Ace-Watson, Walker 8 def Solly, Webster 5
Wachmer, Green 7 def by McIlroy, Jones 10
Giudice-Nairn, McLaughlin 12 def Holt, Smith 3
Downey, O’Brien 7 def by Mitchell, Saunders 9
Nairn, Kelly 11 def Harris, Davies 9
Player of the Tournament – DAVID DOWNEY (CYCLONES)
