May 7, 2005
Neil Payne {Kalamunda} defeated Gavin Greive {Morley} in the final of the Champion of Club Championship singles 25/17. It has been 30 years since the last player, Bob Williams has achieved the feat of winning back to back titles.
Neil Payne {pictured}
Neil has won 24 games straight in taking out the two titles, which include his club singles as well. He has won his club singles for the last three years.
After the game Neil who has won many big games , said it was a great feeling to win back to back titles, and paid Gavin a well deserved compliment for his game.
I arrived at the game when the score was 5/4 in favour of Neil Payne,and he was drawing better than Gavin on a slick green.
He led 11/5 with two smack on the jack forcing Gavin to play a running shot which he converted to win the end. Gavin then lengthened the end which caused Neil to lose his weight a little, and so things went more in favour of Gavin. Neil Payne played his shots on this Tiff green extremely well, didn't miss when he needed to play them today or last week either. Gavin just missed a couple of important ones that could have had an effect on the result of the game.
If Neil won the end he shortened it, if Gavin won the end he lengthened it, both players played their shots to good effect when in trouble however it was Gavin who came right into the game drawing better on the longer ends to even the score at 16/16 all.
Gavin Greive {pictured below}
Anyone's game from here on but Neil steadied with extremely good draw shot power while Gavin lost his very good touch and scored only once more for the game.
Neil winning the game 25/17.
The game was a pretty good standard, landing within 2 feet of the jack was a very good bowl considering the speed of the green, there were plenty of bowls that landed closer than 2 feet, putting four bowls on the jack was rare and hard to acheive..
The green had a strange quirk in when the putting the jack down the weight didn't marry to the same weight as putting the bowl down.
Will this win enhance Neil's chance of regaining a position in the State team? hard to say, but Bill Galloway who is always at the finals of major events {which is a good thing} was on hand to veiw Neil's win.

The semi-finals saw Neil Payne (Kala) defeat Neville Steven (Guild) 25/20
Gavin Greive (Morl) defeated Scott Edmonds (Cam) 25/18

May 1, 2005
Their were some very good games today at Osborne Park as the field narrowed down to the final four in the Champion of Champion singles.

Neil Payne {pictured} took care of business with two comfortable wins in the knockout rounds beating B. Axford from Quinn's following up with a good victory over Bedford's Barry Gartrell.
At this stage he would be favoured to win his second Champion of Champion singles in a row. That feat has not been accomplished for some time.
Another win may force the state selectors to rethink his absence from the state side.

Scott Edmonds {pictured} from the Cambridge club defeated Les Carruthers {Thornlie} but had to withstand a determined fight back from the leading skipper this year in the One Blue division. This was a very good contest and the score line is not a reflection of the game, it was closer than that. For a while it looked like Les might get over the line, however Scotty steadied and had a nice win

Morley's Gavin Greive had a good game against John Solly from Sportsman's, it was a close game for some time into the contest, as the game wore on it was evident that young John, who had done so well to get himself into the last 8 was losing his touch and Gavin was too consistent and went on to a good win.

N. Stevens (Guilderton) always seemed to have the call over Tony Krajancic (Melville ) in his game, playing very consistently made it hard for Tony, who didn't seem to get a feel of the green, which was running very well.
The finals are to be held at Osborne Park tomorrow and start at 9.30 AM.

These results were kindly provided by Bruce Challen BowlsWA

K/O Round 1
T.Krajancic (Melv) b T.Gedge (F’fld) 21-3,
S.Sloan (Corrgn) b A.Dowson (Warw) 21-16

K/O Round 2
N.Stevens (Guild) b S.Martin (Capel) 21-8,
B.Gartrell (Bed) b T.Mitchell (Gos) 21-14,
N.Payne (Kala) b B.Axford (Quinns) 21-14,
L.Carruthers(Thorn) b I.Young (Wagin) 21-16,
S.Edmonds (Cam) b R.Stevens (EF) 21-18,
G.Grieve (Morl) b D.Bandy (Arm) 21-19,
J.Solly (SAA) b R.Bates (Wann) 21-20,
T.Krajancic b S.Sloan 21-20

K/O Round 3
N.Payne b B.Gartrell 21-9,
S.Edmonds b L.Carruthers 21-15,
G.Grieve b J.Solly 21-15,
N.Stevens b T.Krajancic 21-13

Bruce Challen Bowls WA