Cool veteran steps up to claim victory
While it may have not done much to live up to a glorious reputation in Mangonui senior club rugby in recent seasons, Awanui Sports Complex teams have continued their long-standing domination in Far North 8-ball.
This was in evidence in the grand finals of the domestic season at Awanui on Saturday when Awanui Titans Black successfully defended their division one championship title by defeating stablemates Blue in an intensely contested match which went to a team game with the score locked at 6-6 after the singles and doubles.
As per tradition, there was plenty at stake on the day for all six teams involved in the three divisional finals to conclude a 2012 competition which lasted over 20 weeks during the winter. Thus the adage, 'A good game is a fast game,' meant nothing. Each and every shot became crucial as each pool shark taking his turn on the firing line chalked his tip thoughtfully, circled the table to consider all the angles and often ended up discussing the potential repercussions of each possible shot with teammate(s) - in the doubles or the odd team game - before committing.
How it played out
The following is a round-up of the day's results by local scribe, Sharpshooter.
The Far North Pool Association's 2012 weekly pool competition concluded at Awanui Sports on Saturday with the Awanui Titans Black again crowned division one champions after defeating stablemates Titans Blue in a team game.
Like most matches played between these two teams all year, this one was closely fought and very even. Black led 5-3 after the singles with Blue gifting a couple of games on 8 ball fouls after first potting it. The first doubles was won by Black meaning the defending champions led 6-3 and only needed to win one more to take the crown again. But in a remarkable display of true grit, the Blues won the next three to force a deciding team game.
There, it was just a matter of time before a chance for victory arose, this one came from an uncharacteristic miss on a reasonably non-difficult shot by the normally reliable Shorty Murray which allowed Gerard Oud to step up to the plate. The Titans Black veteran barely blinked as he sunk his side's remaining two balls and then, quite coolly, slotted the black - using the jigger - to put his team's name on the championship trophy again. Hats off once again to Black, two team game wins over Blue in a space of 11 days.
Division 2 was another close game with the Collard Wanderers nailing this title 7-4 (4-all at the turn) from a Kauri Arms Renegades side playing one man short. They did amazingly well as they played two short last Tuesday when they defeated Awanui 8 Ball in the team game. On Saturday, Tom Irwin had the opportunity to be the hero with a last possible chance to win for the Renegades when faced with what appeared to be one of those situations that crop up from time to time in sport. Alas, no heroics in the final though a deserved win to the Wanderers team who also won the right to host the 2013 finals at Collards Tavern.
Division three was another well played match and a close encounter between two very evenly matched teams. All Day won this 7-4 after leading 5-2 after the singles. The drama and pressure was there even if it was a lower division game. The FNPA raffle was won by Collard Hawks.
The Men's Cock O' the North tournament will be contested this Saturday at Waipapakauri Hotel with the captain's meeting beginning at 9am sharp.