York Indoor Bowls Club’s New Year’s Eve mixed pairs competition drew another full complement of entries.
The draw made last year’s winner Melvyn Banks and one of the club’s best players, Stuart Smith, favourites.
They confirmed that status as they won their three group matches, though they did not top the group. That honour went to Irene Paylor and Noel Mallen, who had a better shots difference.
The only other team to finish with maximum points were Cliff Hunter and Peter Lawrence, who finished second.
Smith and Banks proved too much for Hunter and Lawrence as they beat them 10-3 in the semi-final, while Paylor and Mallen were equally ruthless in their semi-final beating fourth-placed Gordon Fennell and Ian Mihill 15-4.
As expected, the final proved to be a tighter game. Smith and Banks went into a 3-0 lead after two ends only to be pegged back by a two, then a single.
A three gave them a 6-3 lead but was countered by a two from Paylor and Mallen only for Smith and Banks to take the title by picking up singles on the next two ends to finish 8-5.
The Plate proved to be an exciting final as Mal Turpin and Alwyn Anderson, 8-3 conquerors over two of York’s young stars – Haley MacDonald and Ken Robinson – carried on their winning run in their last match.
They led 4-0 after three ends, but were immediately rocked back as they dropped a six.
Swapped singles gave the initiative to Turpin and Anderson but they were hit by a two which levelled the scores at 7-7.
They were then left wondering what happened as Munro and Wenham took the Plate with a single to triumph 8-7.
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