COMBOYNE produced a rousing performance in yesterday’s decider to thump Northmead and claim its maiden Bowls NSW grade 7 state pennant in the club’s first visit to the state finals.

Comboyne dominated the tournament from Friday’s opening game to yesterday’s final, and team manager Melissa Murray said the win was akin to that of the USA’s ice hockey victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics - dubbed the Miracle on Ice.

“We were the underdogs the whole way through,” she said at yesterday’s presentation.

“The club had never been this far, so to win the whole thing was a big surprise, and everyone is really pleased with it.”

The Lower North Coast club won the final over Northmead at Orange City Bowling Club - the competition was shared between OCBC and Blayney Bowling Club - by 33 shots.

“Win, lose or draw it didn’t matter,” Murray said.

“Just being in the final was a win for us.”

Comboyne qualified for yesterday’s final having beaten Blayney by 37 shots in the semi-final, while Northmead played out a tight final four match with Cudgen Leagues, winning by a single shot.

Prior to that both sides had gone through their respective preliminary stages undefeated, topping their pools.