Maurice and Val Symes (Blenheim/ Riverside) have taken out the national 2-4-2 Mixed Pairs final in Dunedin on Wednesday, where the weather was seasons apart from day one of the tournament.
The pair said they were thrilled about winning the title, and praised the comradery of Rob Ashton and Linda Ralph of Carlton Cornwall, Auckland.
Their road to the final was near text book, having only lost one match to Counties Manukau in sectional play.
In their semi-final the Marlborough husband and wife duo had a tight game against 2015 winners Mata Frankum and Scott Fisher. The couple were down from the get go, however climbed back, to pip the South Canterbury composite team at the end, winning 12-9.
The final on Wednesday evening was a clash like no other, as both teams held their own during the near three-hour battle. On the 11th end the tables were all tied up at 11 a piece. But, Symes broke away on the 13th end, with a cluster of four lime green bowls sitting nicely at the end of the rink after the jack had been put in the ditch. The score
board stood at 15-17 in favour of the Marlborough team going into the final end where they gained two more to take the 2017 title.
