There was more than a sense of déjà vu for Barry Wynks (Manawatu) and Victoria’s Mark Noble when they lost the Para triples final, with Bruce Wakefield (Canterbury), to Australia 14-13 at the 21st Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast on Thursday afternoon. The gutsy trio were beaten on Ken Hanson’s last bowl in the decider, which was exactly the same fate that Wynks and Noble had to encounter in the B6/B7/B8 class in the 2014 Games. With Lynda Bennett, Wynks and Noble lost the 2014 final of the same event on the last bowl to South Africa.
Opening with two singles, the triple could feel some confidence, but Hanson played with weight and kept coming up with results – a trend that included the final head.
The Australians took over, leading 10-3 before Noble’s side drew a five to make for an interesting closing. A two on the penultimate head gave the Kiwis a one shot lead on the last end and Wakefield drew a beauty to ensure the side held the advantage on the change-over. But Hanson, running, hit Wynks’ bowl, sitting at third shot, which in turn dislodged Wakefield’s bowl. Noble found himself three down, and while he narrowly missed getting the shot, it appeared as if he got second – effectively locking the match up. But Hanson added the bonus with his last delivery to take the honours.
At the mid-point of the semifinal against England, their chances of making another final looked dicey, with the English leading 8-6. But two fours and a three over the next three ends turned the tide back towards the Kiwis winning 18-11.