"Every shot is a money shot. That's the way you get to play it."
That was the gospel according to one local pool shark, the observation coming after one very long day of play concluded the Far North 8-ball season at Collard Tavern on Sunday.
The last game of the night provided a fitting denouement to proceedings when Titans Blue beat Titans Black by 7-6 to take out the premier Division I title, ensuring the balance of power stayed at the Awanui Sports Complex in the process.
The last shot of the three championships contested on the day came more than eight hours after play began at midday, when Titans Black's otherwise reliable Leroy Nicholls went in off the black to hand the Blues the title. The score had been tied 6-6 after 12 frames when, in the deciding match, Nicholls was called upon to knock the black into the corner pocket while the Blues had two balls still on the felt. The pressure would have been akin to taking a penalty kick in a shootout in the Fifa World Cup final. It wasn't a double however - Black won the 2013 minor premiership title on countback earlier this month after both teams finished the competition top equal on 177 points.
At Sunday's prizegiving, event spokesperson Raymond 'Box' Jujnovich admitted he was "happy to say there's a new champion for 2013", the remark earning both good natured cheers and jeers. He noted this was the first time Blue had beaten their stablemates since the Titans outfit - which has dominated the domestic scene over the first 13 years of the century - split earlier in the decade, with Black winning Div I titles in 2011 and 2012. However, Box was quick to shrug off any suggestion bragging rights would stir internal rivalry.
"We all stick really close," he said referring to the camaraderie between the two teams. Naturally he could afford to be generous: he was in the Blues faction.
Earlier in the day, the Div II final became another marathon cliffhanger, taking five hours to complete as players negotiated their way around the 7' x 3' tables, carefully calculating every angle and the subsequent ramifications of every single shot played over the 13 frames required.
The Kauri Arms Renegades eventually secured the Div II title, beating the Collard Hawks on their home ground also by 7-6, after scores were tied 4-4 at the conclusion of the singles.
Hawks captain Rusty proved gracious in defeat, congratulating the opposition and also his teammates for their collective effort this season.
"It was an honour to be in the final," he said, adding it was "fitting" this match went to a team game decider as both times the two sides had met in competition this year had finished in draws.
The day began with the Div III title, which was eventually taken out by the Waipap Maniacs beating the Kauri Arms Rebels 7-5 and earning Waipapakauri Hotel hosting rights for the 2014 finals.
The three finals made for a very long day and some wondered if the Far North Pool Association should consider putting a limit on the time people take to play their shot in future events to make for a tighter ship. To be fair, each shot was indeed the proverbial money shot: the Div 1 winners pocketing $600, the runners up $300, the Div II placegetters taking $450 and $300 respectively, while the Div III winners took $250 and $200.
For the record, Jujnovich said the Titans would simply be putting their winnings back in the kitty for next year's campaign, although some of the proceeds would be used to buy a couple of boxes of beer to celebrate the club's continuing good fortune.
Naturally, enigmatic local pool commentator Sharpshooter was also there monitoring proceedings from the wings. His exclusive account of finals day will feature in Thursday's edition.