Doubleview Master Pairs 2009

-----JOHN GODDARD AND JAMIE O`KEEFE MASTER PAIRS CHAMPIONS 2009-------


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February 23, 2009

The prestigious Doubleview Master Pairs was won by Western Australia's best bowler John Goddard and Jamie O`Keefe when they defeated Anthony Provost and Kyle McIlroy in the final this afternoon

This is the second time that Anthony and Kyle have been the runner up in this event in the past three seasons.

Both teams had their moments in reaching the final, For John and Jamie a one shot win against Bedford's Peter Healy/John Winship, a two shot win against Kalamunda duo Neale Griffin/Mitch Biglin and a one shot win against Rhett Butler/Thomas Mitchell in a tough semi-final

Anthony Provost had a one shot win against P Markham & W Markham and a 4 shot win against Scott Walker/Dennis Bandy

The game in the final started out with Anthony Provost looking good after the first two ends and Kyle McIlroy finding the jack easier than Jamie O`Keefe who was trying to find his range, John Goddard was holding the fort while this was happening with some telling bowls, the score was in John/Jamie's favour 5/1

On the 6th end is when Jamie O`Keefe came good when 3 down to some terrific bowls by AP/KM with his 3rd and 4th bowls matched the three down. They lost that end and the score was 5/3 for John/Jamie. what was important was how close Jamie could get to those 3 shots.

From that point on Jamie O`Keefe was the difference and clearly and decisively beat Kyle McIlroy and also was the best player of the four, he maintained his effort till the last end with a classy display.

John/Jamie shot away to lead 11/5 on the 9th end and it was this end that might have proved to be the turning point, John Goddard had played a bomb to get the shot after being 2 down to be one up. AP then drove at that bowl and turned a 1 down to 4 up to make the score 11/9. I suppose it really did seem unfair that after dominating the game up to now for John and Jamie and find that one opposition bowl could cause all that damage on the scoreboard.

Unbeleivably the 12th end was so bad from AP/KM that it had me wondering what the game plan was for the pair, The bowls were that far away from the head one could only wonder privately what was going on. Well the good news for them was they won that end and got 2 shots and goes to show the end ain't over till it is over

It was 14/11 for John/Jamie and still anyone's game, Anthony Provost had played some big bowls to save the game from ending early .
From here on it was over with the John/Jamie show rolling on and on to win comfortably 21/13

How they played

Jamie O`Keefe best on ground performance
John Goddard steady and pretty reliable and showed flashes of brilliance

Kyle McIlroy tried hard but couldn't go with Jamie O`Keefe and would be disappointed with his game in this final
Anthony Provost was up against it but played with a touch of class on occasions throughout the game

The winning of this game came down to the consistency and persistence of Jamie O`Keefe and being backed up by the brilliant John Goddard

Kyle McIlroy with Phil Markham in the background and on the right Phil and Son Wayne went down by one shot in the second round to Anthony and Kyle



Anthony Provost delivering and Phil is there again


The first semi- final

This was a close affair in the game between Scotty Walker/Dennis Bandy, and AP/KM.
It looked like it was going to be one sided when Anthony got away well to lead 14/7 however the game as it turned out was far from over when Scotty and Dennis came roaring back into the game to be 12/14 down so it was game on and the scores went for the winners 14/7, 14/12, 16/12. 16/14 and finally 18/14.
Both Scott and Dennis acquitted themselves well and measured up to the pressure and could be well satisfied to have come this far and to go down swinging against talented opposition

The second semi final

The other semi between Rhett Butler/Thomas Mitchell and John Goddard/Jamie O`Keefe was a hard tough affair with neither side giving an inch but after saying that it always seemed that John Goddard was going to win. The score was 11/5 on the 8th end in JG favour. However no one was safe in this game because it usually meant the last bowl was usually the difference. For the last 3 ends Rhett Butler came from behind, the score went 15/12, 15/14, 15/15
To decide the winner it was Thomas Mitchell who stood tall with a bowl sitting on the jack, Jamie O`Keefe to far away from the action and it was left to John Goddard to win this game and with his last bowl for the game got the jack into the well and Rhett Butler couldn't reply


How they went

Jamie O Keefe did a good job but was shaded by Thomas Mitchell

Thomas Mitchell was extremely good when the chips were down and did all he could in the last two ends to win the game. This player should be playing as a two in the State side

Rhett Butler was swinging well at times and not so good at other times his draw shot wasn't at it best, he played a fair game but I have seen him play far better in other games

John Goddard was always the difference and was the best player in this game and to top it off provided the winning bowl with his last for the match