While Mason had recorded some impressive victories both in section and post section play in the tournament, his twin brother Oliver had been equally as impressive on the other side of the draw, until Darby eliminated him in the semifinal.
But Darby sent a clear message in the opening ends of the final that he was there to stoutly defend the title, taking first blood and leaping out to a 4-1 lead after the first three ends.
Mason hit back with four on the fourth end to lock the game up, and from there on maintained a steady resolve with some superb draw play, denying Darby any big opportunities.
Mason’s ability to keep his foot on the throat could not have been better witnessed than on the 19th end.
Steady play and a cool head had him out to an 18-12 lead, just three shots away from victory in the race to score 21, when Darby appeared to be launching a comeback, surrounding the head with all four bowls.
But somehow Mason placed a magical draw shot through a gap to deny Darby scoring a big number to close the game up. He then placed his first bowl of the 20th end on the jack to move to match point.
Darby was still not done yet, and bounced back to score three shots and remind Mason that he was still prepared to hunt him down. But a miscued shot on the 22nd end proved costly, handing Mason the one scoring shot he need to claim the title.
Mason (26), a purchasing officer at the Dunedin Hospital, has been nothing short of impressive this season, having notched three titles from four championships.
“It’s going all right for me at the moment. It’s been four finals and three of them have been won,” he said.
“You’ve got to give credit where it’s due and in this there was a field of 70 consisting some really good bowlers. Keanu deserved his spot in the final.”
Mason said a lot of the ends played depended on where the jack was situated and whether each player could get back to it.
“He [Darby] is a tricky opponent and always goes pretty deep in centre events.”
Darby was quick to praise his opponent in the final while reflecting on some unforced errors of his own.
"Elliot was really consistent with his first bowl, and I was sort of off it with my conversion shots and he played some really good shots to maintain his lead and put me under pressure. I’ve just got to be happy to have made the final.”
- Wayne Parsons
