Figtree Sports claimed their first Zone 16 Senior Fours title, while Warilla denied Dapto Citizens the Open Fours crown in an extra-end thriller at Warilla.
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Two Zone President's Reserve titles were also decided with Wiseman Park's Ron Owen, Peter McMurtrie, Richard Paddon and Barry Deleva winning the Reserve Fours at Shoalhaven Heads BC, while Warilla father and son Ken and Noel Stopher claimed their second Reserve Pairs crown in three years.
In the Senior Fours decider, Figtree Sports appeared to have the title in their grasp only to let it slip and then regain it in a 18-17 victory over a never-say-die Warilla.
Warilla trailed 13-4 but a miracle comeback was well and truly alive as they held four shots on the final end, before Figtree recovered to only give up a two and clinch the title.
''It was tough, but we got there,'' said Figtree's Peter Ellem, whose rink won five matches.
''We had a really difficult draw. We got past Brian Suckley, the Zone Senior Singles champ, plus Brian Harriott, and (Senior Jackaroo) Robbie Warren. Every match we were the underdogs.''
The Figgy rink had three Grade 4 Pennant bowlers from last year in lead Tony Cheetham, Peter Ellem (third) and skip Peter Bennett, while Peter Crewdson (second) played Grade 6 Pennants a year ago.
Warilla's Charlie Grech, Andrew Gillespie, Paul Majkowycz and Andrew Hamilton (skip) also formed a strong lower-grades rink and had a great run in making the decider.
In Open Fours, Warilla and Dapto Citizens delivered a match worthy of a Zone championship decider with the Gorillas' Michael Thorne, Eric Haynes, Jamie Mitchell and Jeremy Henry winning 19-17 on an extra end.
Warilla were quickly out of the blocks but Citos' Chris Green, Trevor Suckley, Jarrod Beckford and Michael Stead (skip) stormed back in the late ends and hit the front 17-16 heading into the last end.
''We had a good lead but not a winning one and Steady (Michael Stead) played a couple of bombs. Suddenly it was game on again,'' said Jeremy Henry.
Warilla led 16-14 with two ends to play but Citos picked up a three, before the Gorillas tied it on the last end.
It's been a huge week for Jeremy Henry who, with Aaron Teys, won the rescheduled 2020 State Open Pairs.
It wasn't just the elite bowlers winning a Zone championship last weekend. Barry Deleva and his Wiseman Park mates played brilliantly to clinch the Zone Reserve Fours.
They won five matches - all by nine shots or more - and beat Figtree Sports' David Phillips, Trent MacPherson, Garry Webster and Greg Wray 26-15 in the final.
Finally, 2019 winners Ken and Noel Stopher returned to beat Dapto Citizens' Stewart Bourke and Troy Gumm 23-16 in the Zone Reserve Pairs decider.
All-Towradgi Pairs final battle
Towradgi Park's Julie Woods and Kay Gill won the club's first Illawarra District Open Pairs title with the double celebration of an all-Towradgi final.
Woods and Gill beat clubmates Zoe Brett and Marilyn Townsend 23-12 to seal Towradgi's first win in an event which has been part of the Illawarra women's calendar since 1956.
''To win and have an all-Towradgi decider is pretty special,'' Kay said.
Both finalists had eventful wins in their semi-final. Brett and Townsend came from 10-1 down to storm to a 17-16 victory over Warilla's Kathy Douglas and Vicki Smith.
It took just three ends for Towradgi to extinguish the nine-shot deficit with the match in the balance until the final bowl.
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Woods and Gill beat Woonona's Karen King and Michelle Fellows 22-19 in another final-end thriller. The Towradgi pair led 19-11 on 10 ends before Woonona clawed back to only trail by a shot heading into the last end. A two on the 18th end sealed an all-Towradgi decider.
The District Open Pairs featured 24 teams from 12 clubs with Figtree RSL and Warilla each nominating four teams.
Thirroul, Kiama, Dapto Citizens and Wiseman Park hosted the early rounds, with the semi-finals and final at Figtree Sports last Thursday.
Triple treat at state event
Warilla showed their class on the biggest stage with Brendan Aquilina, Corey Wedlock and Gary Kelly clinching the State Triples crown at Ettalong BC.
The international trio won five games and played better with every match including blasting aside Soldiers Point 29-11 in the semi-finals and overwhelming Campbelltown City 30-11 in the final.
The Triples triumph was Warilla's second at the 2020 State Championships with Jeremy Henry and Aaron Teys winning the Open Pairs earlier last week.
The other Zone 16 representatives in Senior and Reserve Pairs and Triples did not make a final, but Corrimal's Phil Barnett and James Boyle won their section in Reserve Pairs to reach the semi-finals.
In a big week for the region, Fairy Meadow junior Dawn Hayman, playing for her Sydney club St Johns Park, beat Figtree Sports bowls co-ordinator and Scottish international Kay Moran (Cabramatta) in Monday's final of the Women's NSW 2020 Champion of Club Champion Singles.
