The final day of the Wanaka Bowling Club’s winter stadium season on Saturday (August 24) featured the finals of the Studholme Trophy.

The top two qualifiers Hawea Country and Mt Albert (Albert Town/Mt Iron) battled for nearly three hours and 20 ends to decide who would lift the trophy and what a game it was, going down to the wire. Those present saw the closest final the competition has ever had in its 25 years.

Hawea Country (Dion Kiddey(s), Kyle McGowan, Glennis MacMillan), got away to a great start, leading 9-3 after five ends and looking confident. Mt Albert, skipped by Don Cameron with Alan Coupe and Gordon Hall, came right back and after 10 ends it was 10-10 and nothing between the teams, with the big crowd of about 80 absolutely enthralled by this battle.

Mt Albert kept the pressure on with some excellent draw bowls that forced Hawea Country into playing aggressively with weighted shots, but without a lot of reward. This typified the contrasting styles of the two teams — the flamboyance of Hawea Country and the calm considered approach of Mt Albert.

The pressure was now really on all the players and the tension level in the stadium was high. During each of the next three ends the lead often changed. After each bowl was delivered all eyes followed its track to see if it altered the situation. There were some great bowls played by all the players and the crowd were quick to show their appreciation. It was ‘cut and thrust’, but in the end Mt Albert did enough to win the next three ends to lead 19-14.

Going into the last end Hawea Country needed a five to force an extra end, but were only able to score one shot, so Mt Albert emerged deserved champions by 19-15.

A memorable game played in great spirit with very appreciative spectators.

In the other ‘finals’ played: for third and fourth place: Meadowstone defeated Beacon Point 23-15; for fifth and sixth place: Rippon/West Meadows defeated Hawea Town 19-11; for seventh and eighth place: Pembroke Heights defeated the Village 13-10.