Two up on the scoreboard but four down on the head on the second-last end, skip Jamey Ferris chose to run for glory rather than minimise the damage by playing for second or third shot and went down four.
Still, trailing two going into the last end, all was not lost and two excellent lead bowls put Ferris in the box seat. But he chose not to protect his position by covering the two-metre mark that would have allowed him to kill the end to his advantage, and Lourie took full toll. It was a pivotal point.
The trek from Kawerau was worthwhile for Colin Dowie, Brian Dixon and John Dowie when, along with Tolaga Bay’s Sharon Olsen, they finished third on 37 points.
George Vaotuua, Anita Vaotuua, Steve Jenkins and Cheryl Jenkins were fourth with 36½ points, ahead of Glenys Whiteman, Dayvinia Mills, Marie Wright and Ray Young, half a point back on 36.
Arthur Hawes, Mal Trowell, Dave Beattie and Ginny Sherriff amassed 32½ points for sixth place and their share in the $2500 prize money.
The classic format — in which all teams played singles, pairs, triples and fours — hit the spot for the 64-strong field and was watched in envy by those who had missed a place in the restricted field . . . many of them were queuing before the close of play yesterday to enter the 2020 Burton Cup Classic.
