AARON Teys celebrated a near-flawless South Pacific carnival on his home Warilla green by winning the singles and pairs and claiming the Player of the Carnival award.
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Teys lost just one match in eight playing days – ironically his opening sectional match in fours – and played better with every day and seemingly with every challenge.
After wins over world No 2 Jeremy Henry, plus blossoming talent Dylan Skinner and four-time singles champion Shane Garvey on his way to the singles final, Teys was too strong for Cabramatta’s Jeff Smith 31-18 in Sunday’s decider at headquarters Warilla Bowling Club.
With a stiffening nor’easter a factor, Teys had his draw game in perfect order in a comprehensive offering.
Smith was playing his first South Pacific but was hardly a giant killer, having won the strong Zone 12 singles in 2012, before switching from St Johns Park to Cabramatta ‘‘for more opportunities’’.
Having never played bowls in the Illawarra before, Smith showed his capability, beating Australian bowls legend Steve Glasson 31-28 in their singles semi-final.
But Teys had all the answers in the final, sealing his second title of the day after earlier combining with new Warilla clubmate Mat McIntyre to win the pairs.
‘‘It’s unbelievable,’’ Teys said.
‘‘I wanted to do well having given up defending a title back home but to win two titles and Player of the Carnival was exceptional.
‘‘Mat [McIntyre] was outstanding and we just clicked and it was a great week with him.
‘‘I just took every match as a challenge and played good bowls throughout. It’s been a week I won’t forget.’’
Teys lost his first match in the fours, but then went on to win 20 matches straight – the last two sectional matches in fours, plus nine games of pairs and nine matches in singles.
Teys played on eight of the nine days of the carnival and became the first dual champion since Matt Sargeant won the singles and fours in 2011.
Teys’s double triumph was also the perfect start to Warilla’s 50th year celebrations this year.
Finally, attention now turns from the seniors to the juniors with Warilla hosting the annual Junior South Pacific from next Monday, January 13.
The carnival features top juniors including Dylan Skinner and Jono Davis.
FINALS RESULTS
■ Singles Final: Aaron Teys (Warilla) beat Jeff Smith (Cabramatta) 31-18
■ Pairs Final: Mat McIntyre-Aaron Teys (Warilla) beat Brett Pieper-James Webster (composite) 25-19
■ Fours Final: Peter Freestone, Barry Martin, Michael Clarke, John Green (skip, composite) beat Jono Davis, Jamie Thelander, Dylan Skinner, Chris Green (skip, composite) 21-11
■ Player of the Carnival: Aaron Teys
