City Memorial defied the odds to go back-to-back in the Warrnambool 8-Ball Association's division one competition on Sunday.
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The team came from fourth and survived two elimination finals before an 8-5 division one triumph against Cally Rock at City Memorial Bowls Club.
Cally Rock only lost one round in the 17-week competition to finish the regular season on top of the ladder.
But City Memorial, which also claimed the winter season earlier this year, took down the powerhouse team and City's Jarrod Fary was awarded player of the match.
Association committee member Matt Pearson said plenty of people watched the grand final.
"There were a lot of teams from the association represented and a lot of spectators," he said.
City Memorial's eight-strong team featured Australian representative Justin Allen.
Allen's performance at the European Blackball Association nations cup in November earned him a spot in Australia's 2020 world championship team.
It's been a memorable year for his City Memorial teammate Colby Bowden.
Bowden, who has been playing 8-ball for more than 20 years, had been involved in several losing grand finals before twin triumphs in 2019.
Warrnambool C's defeated Royal Rafferty's in an 8-7 division two thriller.
Warrnambool C's captain Krystal Brown was named best player in the match that went down to the final frame.
Brown won both her singles matches and lost her doubles on Sunday.
Warrnambool C's, which finished second on the ladder after the regular season, raced to a 4-2 lead before Royal Rafferty's caught up to make it 7-7 in the race to 8 frames. Royal Rafferty's finished third on the ladder after the regular season.
Macey's Massive took out the division two summer competition earlier this year.
While 8-ball matches include singles and doubles encounters, the association awarded its best singles players for the year on Sunday.
It was a four-way tie with Far Cues' Jamie Keane (division one), City Memorial Cats' Jason Camelleri (division one), Rack Packers' Jethro Serle (division two) and Royal Rafferty's Laurie Mahony (division two) recognised.
Pearson said it was the first time in years there had been a tie and perhaps the first time ever there had been a four-way tie.
The association runs two seasons per year with play on Tuesday nights.
It will hold its annual general meeting in January and its next season starts in February 2020.
There were a lot of teams from the association represented and a lot of spectators.
- Matt Pearson
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