In the second life, Signal faced a tough post-section road to the final.
First he had to overcome recent Commonwealth Games representative Tony Grantham (Birkenhead) in the quarterfinal qualifier.
Then, after clearing that hurdle, he faced High Performance Squad member Finbar McGuigan (Stokes Valley) in the quarterfinal proper, winning 25-18, only to face another Blackjack in Jamie Hill (Auckland) in the semifinal.
After overcoming Hill 25-13, Signal gave a glimpse of what to expect from him in the final, as he became master of the green and the demons it possessed with the indifferent weather conditions.
On the other side of the draw, local talent Keanu Darby (North East Valley), who had earlier defeated Signal in section play, was making short work of his opponents.
Firstly he despatched Sean O’Neill (Kia Toa, Timaru) 25-17 with some tigerish assaults on the head.
He then ended the unbeaten run of Ray Martin (Victoria, Wellington) in a cliff-hanger 25-24 game that took 30 ends and kept the lunches of the watching players and officials in the warmer drawer as they became engrossed in the contest.
Eliminated by world champion Shannon McIlroy (Stoke, Nelson) at the semifinal stage last year, Martin, who was at short odds to make the final, will have to wear the bridesmaid’s tag for another year.
While Signal appeared brimming with confidence after overcoming three of the top-ranked players at the tournament to earn his spot in the final, Darby had little time to reflect following his roller-coaster marathon semifinal encounter against Martin.
Signal scored a two on the opening end only for Darby to rise to the challenge to jump out to a 5-2 lead after the first four ends.
However Signal kept him scoreless over the next five ends with some sublime draw shots to hold a 10-5 lead heading into the 10th end.
Darby pulled one back, but Signal, scoring a four on the 11th end, turned the match in his favour to hold a 14-6 lead.
And although Darby pulled back three shots on the 12th end, Signal then kept the numbers coming his way with sensational draw shots and heart-breaking drives to lock Darby out of the game, achieving match point on the 26th end to win 25-16.
"It was pretty trying conditions out there, to be fair," Signal said afterwards.
"It was just about trying to get some in the zone and just hold on to them."
Signal was full of praise for Darby, whom he held a great deal of respect for heading into the final after losing to him in section play.
"He [Keanu] played fantastic bowls all weekend and it’s just unfortunate that there can only be one winner. He has a big future in the game."
Signal was pleased to be back playing in the event after residing on the other side of the Tasman in recent years.
"It’s an amazing event — so prestigious.
"It’s just an absolute honour to have my name on that trophy now. It’s fantastic."
After seven years in Australia, Signal has returned to take on the general manager’s job at Bowls Wellington. He was a member of the World Championship winning team in 2016. And in 2017 he was a member of the New Zealand team that won bronze at the Eight Nations Tournament at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
"I’ve been around the world to play bowls. It’s just an undescribable feeling to be able to do that."
He said there was no doubt he would be back next year to defend the title.
Darby was reflective of his performance in the final, saying Signal was more consistent.
"I let go far too many loose ones," he said.
"I hurts to lose a final but my goal was to make the semifinal so I exceeded that. And it was nice to top that section."
Darby will now prepare for the Stoke Pairs in two weeks’ time before the UBC Tournament at the Moama Bowling Club in New South Wales in December.
Darby also paid tribute afterwards to his grandfather (Peter Darby) who followed his progress in the game and was unable to travel south from Temuka to witness him playing this year, but was watching the live stream.
