Australia’s emerging stars Nathan Black and Cohen Litfin will etch their names on the prestigious Stu Buttar Burnside Pairs silverware, after completing a stunning victory in the final to remain undefeated throughout the event.
With COVID rules relaxing and travel back on the cards, Burnside welcomed back another powerful contingent of Australian stars for the 2023 edition, with fully fledged Jackaroos Aaron Teys, Cody Packer, Dawn Hayman and Kylie Whitehead joining emerging talent Black, Litfin, Kate Matthews and Jessie Cottell.
And just as two Aussie pairings have done before them, the green and black duo of Black and Litfin proved superior, rounding out 10 games unbeaten in a fiercely competitive field as they stamped their mark as the ones to watch.
Held in perfect conditions, Black and Litfin took early command of the final, executing a wide range of shots and putting their full talent on display. Not to be outdone, Burnside’s very own Rickard Hocking and Barry Williams hung tough throughout, but were unable to capitalise on some rare space left in the latter stages of the game, chasing a three on the final end to force an extra end.
However, it wasn’t to be - with Hocking missing two narrow run shots in an attempt to replace Litfin’s second shot - gifting the win to the Australian duo, 12-10. The win sees Black and Litfin join former Australian reps Scott Thulborn, Corey Wedlock and Aaron Wilson as winners of the Burnside Pairs - pointing to a bright future for both, showing grit, determination and tenacity on typically quicker greens this side of the Tasman.
Earlier in the piece, Black and Litfin closed out a thrilling semi-final opposite former New Zealand representative Jamie Hill and Auckland rep Mike Bradshaw, 11-8, while Hocking and Williams ended the title run of Australian representatives Dawn Hayman and Kylie Whitehead, 16-8.
Meanwhile, it was the star-studded Australian pairing of Teys and Packer doing the damage in Division Two, comfortably accounting for Marlborough duo Sanjhe Prasad and Mike Melhopt, 16-5. Both Teys and Packer would have been disappointed not to have made their way through to post-section in Division One, but made their intentions clear as they bounced back in commanding fashion to secure their respective division.
In other results, Auckland pairing Aiden Takarua and Jeremy Brosnan were too strong for last year’s main event semi-finalists Rodney Greaney and Paul Matheson, dispatching them 13-5 after 11 of the scheduled 13 ends.
Beaten semi-finalists in Division Two were Adam Baillie (Anthony Ouellet) and last year’s winners Mike Kernaghan and Tony Grantham, while Kevin Gore (Ross Stevens) and Tom Tamati (Rohan Ware) finished third equal to round out Division Three.
Other Division One qualifiers were Kerry Becks (Paddy Stewart), Joseph van Pennen (Hamish Wilson), Andy McLean (Brent McEwan), Shaun Scott (Sean O’Neill), Roger Stevens (Bronwyn Stevens), Bob McAuley (Allan Brash), Nick Buttar (Lindsay Thomas) and Jonty Horwell (Hamish Kelleher).
The Stu Buttar Burnside Pairs will return in January 2024.
-Sam Morton
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
2023 Stu Buttar Burnside Pairs, Christchurch
Division One
Nathan Black, Cohen Litfin (Australia) def Richard Hocking, Barry Williams (Burnside): 12-10
Division Two
Aaron Teys, Cody Packer (Australia) def Sanjhe Prasad, Mike Melhopt (Marlborough)
Division Three
Aiden Takarua, Jeremy Brosnan (Auckland) def Rod Greaney, Paul Matheson (Canterbury)v
