Bowls' appeal for all ages was shown in the Trust New Zealand Open men's pairs final when a Waikato-Thames Valley teenage composite prevailed at Blockhouse Bay yesterday.
Taylor Horn, 19, from Cambridge and Jessie Russell, 18, from Mercury Bay, continued the composure they had displayed all week to beat Riverhead's David Ross and Duane McDonald in the final 13-9 to pocket the first prize of $1800 each.
Though starting slowly, the teenagers took hold of the game with a five on the fifth end and from then on, despite some brave saves by Ross, kept their edge for a comfortable win.
Experience, though, told in the men's singles final with former Black Jack Richard Girvan, a world championship winner in 2008, repeating his 2009 Open success by beating Aucklander Scott Cottrell 21-12.
But it was a quality game, with Cottrell, 25, giving Girvan a tougher contest than the margin suggested to indicate the promise he has shown for some years may soon be fulfilled.
