THE GC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUED
below par, but some good hoop shots gave them a 6-3 lead, despite Reg missing 2 good chances at hoop 9. Tobi hit hoop 10 from corner 1, but then a missed clearance from Reg and hoop from Tobi allowed Jack and Sam to reach the deciding hoop in the deciding game after 5 hour’s play. Reg played a great first ball, but Sam cleared from the West penalty area. After a couple more rotations, including Reg ricocheting off the West wire from 6 yards, Tobi played into the jaws, but Jack won the match with a bouncing boundary jump. Final The combined age of the 4 young finalists was just 91, though that didn’t quite beat the record of 87 set in the 2022 final. It had been another roasting day in the sun, but Euan and Callum had been home for a shower and a nap. At first, it appeared as though the wait had been a detriment to their game, as they missed their first 7-yard shots competing for hoop 1.
However, they soon found their groove again and both hit their 20 yard return clearances. That said, despite the heat and having come through such a battle in the semi-final, Jack and Sam were still on form, and there was little to separate the two pairs. The final was certainly played at a quicker pace, as Euan and Callum took a 2-0 lead before immediately being pegged back to 2-2. Jack and Sam ran hoop 6 and 7 in successive shots for a 4-3 lead. Euan played a nice rush to move red into position at hoop 9 wired from blue, which enabled them to regain the advantage. They then reached 6-4 when Sam had a go at hoop 10 but jawsed and Euan jumped from 3 yards. Jack ran an angled hoop 11 from 3.5 yards, and then played a hampered jump to very tight in front of 12, but fearful of leaving a flick to hoop 13, Callum played to clear it, with half an eye on the in-off, which he expertly played to take the first game.
Callum broke the serve in game 2 after Jack missed from 2 yards. There was a battle at hoop 2 with good clearing but several missed hoops. Third time lucky, Euan ran it, and soon after, hoop 3 as well for a 3-0 lead. However, some misses from both of them allowed Jack and Sam to again level the scores at 3- 3, with a good angled hoop 5 from Sam. The momentum then swung back again, and Euan and Callum scored the next two hoops after opponent misses. The next two hoops were shared. At 6- 4 down, Sam played the aggressive in- lawn clearance from behind hoop 10, but missed. It then looked like they were given a lifeline when Euan cut Jack’s ball into the jaws of 11. However, they were unable to take advantage, and after a battle at hoop 12, Euan went on to run it for the match.
Continued on page 28
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