The richest bowls tournament in Australia was back as 128 bowlers from throughout the State battled it out for the Black Opal Classic title.
After a dismal start the team led by Greg Lambourne made up lost ground to beat last year's champions, led by Aron Sherriff, by 12 points.
Greg and Wayne Lambourne from Maitland, and Dick Thornton and Dave Arnoult from the Central Coast made up the winning team and pocketed a cool $10,000.
Skipper Greg Lambourne said team members were shocked they had won.
"After the first day we thought we weren't going to win anything. We came here yesterday (Thursday) prepared to go home this morning (Friday), and things just turned around, and we snuck in the back door," he said.
"We didn't think we were going to get to the semi finals, we thought we were going to come here and muck around, get beaten and go home early. It's very surprising after the way we started. Peter (Williams) kept saying 'Lazarus is still playing!'."
Mr Lambourne said Mr Sherriff's team beat them by one point in the semi finals last year and so it was good to finally beat them now.
"They're a good side...the skipper's a terrific bowler and a good opposition, but we just had a little bit on them today, and that's all bowls boils down to really, whoever gets on top early and can keep the momentum up.
Runners-up were Aron Sherriff, Eddie Knight, Rick Bohm and Henry Gordon from the Central Coast.
Skipper Aron Sherriff was six days shy of 18, but was selected to play in the Australian Bowls Team for the under 18s last year and in the under 25s in New Zealand in early October.
Team-mate Eddie Knight is not much older at 21, but both have been playing for about eight years.
Mr Sherriff said they were disappointed they didn't win but it didn't come as a surprise.
"We were trying, but trying pretty badly. It just didn't come together. Sometimes you just don't pick up on things you do other times. That's the thing that's so good about it. Every day is a different challenge. It makes you keep coming back," he said.
"They're good players. But we beat them in the semi finals last year by one shot, so they're always up there, and this year they got us."
Mr Sherriff said the image of bowls was changing from just being seen as an old people's sport, to one that attracts a younger crowd.
"It has changed, it is becoming more of a younger persons sport, mostly because of more colour and flair being brought into the game. With more coverage in the newspaper and television and radio and that sort of stuff, it's more out there and more people see it, so it's getting better," he said.
"Plus prize money is getting better all the time, that's a big bonus as well."
Mr Sherriff said he used to get teased for playing bowls until he started winning tournaments.
"You always get hassled by some people, but then they have a go and realise how hard it is, so they wake up to themselves," he said.
Lightning Ridge Bowling Club president Peter Williams, thanked the sponsors and the players for coming out to the Ridge to play.
"We always maintain that the most important part of these tournaments is the players, because if we don't have players we don't have tournaments, and this year again, a better bunch of blokes you've never come across than the one's we've had here. At the Ridge we do appreciate the way everyone keeps coming back out here."
he said.
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