John Green won a record-setting 10th South Pacific crown, while Cabramatta teenager Corey Wedlock edged Warilla’s Jesse Noronha on a final end thriller to win the blue ribbon singles at Figgy Bowlo.
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Wedlock, 19, held on for a gripping 31-30 victory, with Noronha fighting back from 25-17 and 29-24 down to hold a match-winning shot at 30-30.
But the Cabramatta youngster held his nerve to clinch his first singles title in only his second visit to the carnival.
‘’It was a great contest; Jesse was awesome and it could have gone either way,’’ Wedlock said.
The NSW under 25s representative made the semi-finals last year, while Noronha – who has been included in the NSW open team for Test matches against Victoria and Queensland in coming weeks – had a great carnival and improved on his quarter-final effort from 12 months ago.
Meanwhile, John Green stamped himself as the most successful player in the 57 years of the carnival after claiming a fourth fours title.
Green skipped Wes Falconer (third), Barry Martin (second) and Zel Diamant (lead) to beat a spirited Corrimal team skipped by teenager Jarrod Beckford 25-8 in the decider.
The victory gave Green a 10th crown to edge him ahead of Wiseman Park’s Shane Garvey in the most carnival wins.
Green’s remarkable South Pacific run began with winning the fours in 2003 and he also won the fours in 2011 and 2014 – both times with Barry Martin a partner – plus won the pairs in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 and the prized singles in 2010 and 2013.
‘’I’ve been in 15 finals and to win ten is very special,’’ Green said.
‘’I’ve been lucky enough to play on finals day 11 of the last 12 carnivals and to do it this time with great mates Zel and Barry, plus for Wes to win the player of the carnival is really satisfying.
‘’I looked up to Terry Baldwin, Billy Webber and Dennis Howe when I was coming through and imagined what it would be like to win one South Pacific.’’
Sixteen-year-old Beckford also made rd 2 of the singles and was one of the carnival’s emerging young players and had his side still a chance down 13-8 on 12 ends.
Carnival Finals:
FOURS: Zel Diamant, Barry Martin, Wes Falconer, John Green (skip,) df Tony Weekes, Michael Ugarenko, Geoff Hancox, Jarrod Beckford (skip, Corrimal) 25-8.
PAIRS: Steve Glasson-Ben Glasson df Scott Bateup-Mick Anderson 21-17.
SINGLES: Corey Wedlock (Cabramatta) df Jesse Noronha (Warilla) 31-30.
Player of the Carnival: Wes Falconer (11 points).
