NEW EARSWICK Indoor Bowls Club's mixed pairs knockout competition produced a thrilling final.

Brenda Keller and Ken Harrison looked to be walking away with it at the halfway stage with a 14-6 lead.

But within three ends Roy Robinson and Barbara Stokes hit back to go 16-14 ahead. Keller levelled with a two, only then to go a further two behind on the next.

She levelled again, yet singles on the 19th and 20th ends put Stokes and Robinson ahead at 20-19. However, the topsy-turvy tussle swung again as Keller and Harrison nicked victory with a two.

The men's triples league play-off final was another tight affair with Les Jackson's side hanging on to their 17-14 lead against Graham Lockwoood going into the last to edge home 17-16.

Gill Clark won the women's singles title after coming from 14-11 down to beat Diane Hardy 21-16, while Dave Birch coasted through to win the men's title.

He had a much tougher game in the handicap singles in which he started with a seven-shot deficit to opponent Dave Imeson, who got within sight of the winning post.

But Birch showed his fighting spirit, finishing with a single, three, and then a two to take the title.

Imeson made amends in the men's singles plate coming from 16-13 down to win four successive ends and prevail by 21-16.

Gill Clark added the triples title with husband Ray and Alastair Domville to her singles crown, beating Bill Waldie, Joe and Sylvia Cooper 21-4.

In the men's pairs, Mal Beavers and Dave Kermode got in front against Gordon Storey and Dave Sykes for the first time at 17-14 en route to a 27-20 triumph.

Margaret Moss and Pat Walker got off to a flier in the ladies pairs, leading Audrey Imeson and Lorraine Akers 26-4 after only eight ends before running out 27-12 winners.

Barry Johnson and Bob Edwards also had a relatively easy passage in the two-wood pairs final to beat Dick Hardy and Alwyn Fletcher 20-9.

In the league play-off finals, Ian Farrar's side had the advantage for most of their game as they beat Ken Plowman's team 23-17.

Les Jackson followed his success in the men's triples with the fours title after pulling away from 11-11 to win 22-15.

Shirley Hardcastle's team had the edge for most of their women's pairs final against Margaret Moss' side, winning 21-10. Moss gained consolation in the triples when she beat Moyra Headley's team 20-15 thanks to a good start with a three followed by a six on the first two ends.

Maureen Wood's side took the fours title when they beat Brenda Keller's quartet 22-13.

Ray and Gill Clark were also successful in a one-sided mixed pairs final which saw them beat Barry Johnson's team 22-11.

Betty Petty's team looked to be on course for the mixed triples title when they led Eric Ward 12-10. However, five losing ends put paid to that and they went down 20-15.

Doug Petty scored six shots in the last three ends to win the veterans' mixed triples 19-13, while Barry Harrison won the veterans' men's triples 19-10 against Henry Maude's team.

Brian Bunce's four came from 12-8 down to beat Bob Howland's team 18-13 in the veterans' men's fours.

Updated: 08:38 Thursday, April 21, 2005