FIRST WORLD TITLES FOR BANKS AND STEPNEY

The Ambassador Cruise Line World Open Pairs final was an epic game, with inch-perfect draw shots, all-out firing shots, and great game management, which only increased the intensity of the match with twists and turns for both teams throughout.

Each of the four players involved in this title decider has gleaned experience from previous involvements in the Open Pairs final over the years, but all with different partners.

In the Red Corner, Jason Banks lost in the final last year with Paul Foster MBE, and his North of Scotland partner Michael Stepney has lost in two previous finals - in 2011 with his Elgin clubmate Andrew Barker and then again with his opponent today - Jason Greenslade, in 2023.

The team wearing green saw England's Rob Paxton win the title in 2015 with Simon Skelton while his skip, Jason Greenslade from Guernsey was successful in 2017 with Les Gillett after tasting defeat with Michael Stepney He had also previously lost the final back in 2012 with Welsh partner Robert Weale, so there was experience in abundance on the rink.

Paxton and Greenslade made the early running in the best of two sets of eleven-end final and held a 7-1 advantage after five ends, increasing that to 9-5 after eight ends.

The Scots played some telling shots on the run home and trailed 8-9 with only one end remaining. However skip Stepney rose superbly to the occasions, rolling his two bowls to within inches of the jack to count a majestic double to take first blood 10-9.

The second set was similar to the first, in that Paxton and Greenslade opened up another 7-1 lead, this time after six ends, but this time the script didn't produce the same outcome over the closing stages.

The Scots countered with three singles and a double to stand only one shot off the pace at 6-7 going into the last end, but this time the count went to Paxton and Greenslade who averted the potential danger and scored that vital match-saving shot to win the set 8-6 and force a shoot out.

In the best of three-end decider the Scots stood strong, won the first end and then celebrated the title when they won a close umpire's measure on the second end to complete their 10-9, 6-8, 2-0 victory.

"It was a fantastic game" agreed the Scots later, adding "Rob and Jason Greenslade certainly got the better of us in the early stages, and we just had to be patient and hang in.

"The title could have gone either way, but of course we're pleased that we were on the receiving end of being presented with the Langham Glass Trophies".

RESULT

WORLD OPEN PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

(Monday 20th January 2025)

Jason Banks & Michael Stepney (Scot) beat Rob Paxton (Eng) & Jason Greenslade (GGY) 2-1 (10-9, 6-8, 2-0)