2025/26 Men’s Major Pairs Championship

Congartulations to Adam Troth & Gerard Beath who are the 2025/26 Men’s Major Pairs Champions. They defeated defending Champions Ashley Mitchell & Mathew Pietersen 19-18 in an enthralling Final.
Ashley & Mathew started the better, winning 3 of the first 4 ends, including counts of 5 & 4, to take an 11-2. Adam & Gerard then started to find their range, winning 4 consecutive ends, to trim the margin to 3 shots, 12-9. Ashley & Mathew picked up a single shot on the 11th end to make it 13-9. On the next end, with Adam & Gerard holding 3, possibly 4 shots, Mathew would draw shot with his last bowl, however, with his last bowl, Gerard would sit the shot bowl & then trail the jack for a huge 5 shots & take the lead 14-13. They would then pick up a 3 on the next end to extend the lead to 4 shots, 17-13. Single shots to Ashley & Mathew over the next 2 ends made it 17-15 with 3 ends to play. Adam & Gerard then scored single shots of their own on the next 2 ends to make the score 19-15 going into the last end. Chasing a 4 to force an extra end, or 5 to win, Ashley & Mathew peppered the jack, with Mathew trailing the jack a foot to make 4 shots after the skips first 2 bowls. After the leads had finished the 3rd & 4th bowls, it was still Ashley & Mathew holding 4 shots. Gerard would miss narrow with his 3rd bowl, but with his last bowl, sat out one of the counters to make it 2 to Ashley & Mathew. Mathew needed to sit & stay on Gerard’s bowl to make a 4 to force the extra end. In what was a valiant effort, Mathew sat the bowl, but just ran on to far, making a 3 only, which meant that Adam & Gerard would take the match & the title 19-18. Congratulations to all 4 players who put on a great display for the spectators in hot & blustery conditions.
In the Semi Finals, Adam & Gerard were in red hot form, defeating Bryce Billington & Kenta Treacher 25-11. In the other Semi Final, Ashley & Mathew defeated Joseph Clarke & Ben Twist 16-11.