After stalking the Saints on the ladder all season, the visitors somewhat ambushed the home favourites, replicating their 2022 win when they stole the show against the Saints in enemy territory.
In the semifinals, the Bombers came away with a 4-2 victory over Chisholm Links in a match that hung in the balance through the middle stages.
Ben Patston (Bombers) secured the first point in resounding fashion over Mackenzie Gibson. He was soon joined by Ryan Rosevear, giving the Bombers two wins before the Links hit back with wins from Jason Pegler and Kai Koni.
But the key match proved to be between Duncan Croudis (Bombers) and Luke Worthington (Links), who led Croudis at the turn.
Croudis finished the better, winning 3/2, while No1 Callum Judkins always had his nose in front against John McIntee, sealing a 2/1 win to clinch the victory.
At home, St Clair were heavy favourites against the B52s in the other semifinal but the unbeaten Saints were taken down to the wire before escaping with a nail biting 3.5-2.5 win.
Saints No 1 Parker Aluesi scored an emphatic 6/5 victory over Brian Helton to lay a platform for the hosts. He was soon joined by Connor Howes, who defeated George Prendergast in 14 holes.
But wins for the B52s from the unheralded Lachlan Coutts and Isaac Hobbs, beating Logan Clarke and Tony Giles respectively, threw a spanner in the works for the defending champions.
Jacob Bleach had to fight hard to overcome Lewis Harper to give the Saints three, games leaving Albie Reed (Saints) and Andrew Hobbs (B52s) to decide the fixture.
With the match square on the 18th tee, Hobbs needed to win the hole to force a playoff, and when Reed missed the green, that scenario looked a chance before Reed slotted a 2m putt for par to halve the hole and the match.
Yesterday’s final was played in better conditions at the Corstorphine course with no changes for either lineup.
After a steady start, the Bombers turned the screws, and by the 12th hole Patston, Judkins, Murdoch and Hodgson held commanding advantages with Bleach the only Saints player in front.
Patston and Murdoch soon secured wins over Howes and Reed, and the result became a foregone conclusion when Croudis and Hodgson beat Aluesi and Clarke respectively.
Giles managed to fight back to score a half with Judkins, while Bleach stayed in front of Rosevear to make it a 4.5-1.5 scoreline.
The result could be seen as a head-scratcher considering how dominant the Saints have been all year, but it demonstrated how close the finalists are in talent.
It begs the question of what can be done to bring the rest of the competition to the same level, something the metropolitan association might ponder for 2026.
Connor Howes (Saints) was named player of the series with nine wins and a sole loss in the final.
By Michael Minty
