Special K: Khan and Knott win Masters
Results of the Doubleview Masters Pairs played 25th February In an all Victoria Park Carlisle final Ryan Khan and Shane Knott have emerged victorious in a thrilling final 18-16 to defeat team mates Thomas Mitchell and Rhett Butler yesterday at Doubleview Bowling Club.
The semi finals of the Nexus Doubleview Masters Pairs starting in blustery easterly winds which made it tough for players to get line and length however the quality of display was still exceptional. Mitchell and Butler was extremely dominant in their semi final win over the Manning pair and 2012 winners Peter Ker and Matthew Mitchell racing to a 10-2 lead. The Manning pair tried to mount a comeback with a couple of winning ends closing the margin to 7-13 with two ends to play but a 3 score closed out the match for the Vict Park pair 17-7.
Khan and Knott had to work very hard for victory against the Kardinya pair of Daniel Brown and John Rochford who had race to an early 7-2 lead, however a 3 and a 4 put the Vict Park boys in front 9-7 soon after. All four players where having an influence on the match and at 15-13 with three ends to play the tension was building. A single to Brown & Rochford tightened the margin and they looked set to take the lead holding two but Khan played a superb upshot to send the jack back and collect 1 shot for a 16-14 lead. On the final end Brown and Rochford held a good three before Knott killed the end, on the replay again Brown and Rochford were looking a chance with two before Khan once again played a beauty to trail the jack. Brown couldn’t convert back as the Vict Park boys moved into the final.
By the time the final got under way the wind had swung around in direction to a typical Perth sea breeze however it was strong and gusting keeping the players on their toes with the occasional bowl getting caught on the wind. Knott was giving Khan a great start and whenever Mitchell or Butler played a good shot Khan would respond keeping up his good form from the semi final. Khan and Knott quickly moved to a 6-0 lead after 3 ends. However the class of Mitchell who was defending the title from last year was evident as he played some terrific conversions and with Butler improving his game the scores returned to level at 12 all after 10 ends. All four players were producing terrific bowls before a 4 on the 15th end gave Mitchell and Butler the lead for the first time in the match at 17-15. With 4 ends to play Khan and Knott dug deep to record a series of singles and lead 18-17 going into the last end. Tom Mitchell played a brilliant first bowl to land very close and with Khan holding second shot it looked like an extra end was going to be needed, however Khan as he had done all tournament had one last bomb up his sleeve and moved the jack about one foot to claim shot. This gave Mitchell just one bowl to alter the head and although moving plenty of bowls he couldn’t move the one that mattered as Khan and Knott claimed a well deserved title.
Aaron Delaporte
Doubleview Bowling Club
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