TALKING TACTICS: Phil Westcott and Glen Raymond on their way to victory. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0228eagle9
GLEN Raymond and Phil Westcott have come from behind to win this year’s Konami City of Orange Golden Eagle Pairs Classic, edging out the Jamen Lewis and Tomas Nathan in a classic final.
Up 12-5 early in the piece, the rain came and with it seemingly washed away Raymond and Westcott’s shot at victory, with Lewis-Nathan snatching momentum to take the ascendancy and lead of the final 18-12.
Nearing its climax, the decider of the 45th Golden Eagle had everything.
The rain continued and, now down 20-17, Raymond and Westcott clawed their way back to 20-18 with one end to play.
Midway through the final end they then drew level at 20 with the young North Sydney-based pairing, with two live bowls on the green, giving Westcott and Raymond a hope.
Looking to snatch the lead, Westcott’s final bowl made no impact, and the scores remained level with one bowl to come.
That belonged to Nathan.
With the final bowl of the 21st and final end, Nathan had a shot at one of Westcott’s scoring bowls that would of gifted him and Lewis a one shot win.
As the rain fell harder, Nathan’s bowl swished down the green.
It was weighted perfectly.
It looked on line.
But it missed by the narrowest of margins, sending the final into extra ends.
It was there both sides had their chances to claim the 2013 title, however, Raymond and Westcott showed their class to take the rain-drenched final 21-20.
Skip Westcott, from the Ashfield Bowling Club, couldn’t of been happier.
“We lost it when the heavy rain came (early), but then we picked it up and clawed our way back to an extra end,” Westcott, a two time runner up of the Golden Eagle said following yesterday’s final.
“It was tough. It’s hard to get your touch and your feel when it’s like that.”
A regular at the eagle, Westcott came second in 2006, partnered with Tony Taylor from North Sydney, and again in 2011, then paired with Avoca’s Richard Love.
He’s found a winning formula with Mount Lewis’ Raymond.
“It’s nice to get the win,” he said.
“I just love my bowls, I love tournaments and I love Orange. It’s one of the special tournaments in the year for me.”