The Eastbourne Eagles (pictured above) have done it again . . . roaring to a third consecutive National Division One Interclub title in as many years.

After trailing Hinuera by one game after day one, the Eastbourne ranks left nothing to chance as they posted an unbeaten streak on day two to secure the silverware - and remain the supreme club among the top echelons of the country.

Comprising former New Zealand Blackjack Jamie Hill in the singles berth, double world champion Gary Lawson and Commonwealth Games medallist Justin Goodwin in the pairs, and the formidable Mike Solomon, Philip Skoglund, Mike Carroll and Scott Roddick making up the four - it’s little wonder this side continue to perform, but with a challenge in front of them, the Eastbourne seven combined expertly to get the job done.

Dropping off the pace in the opening round on day two, Hinuera duo Dwayne Cameron and Gerrard Slattery were the only victors from three games, while across rinks Belfast were making their move posting a clean sweep to draw level with Hinuera and remain one game behind section leaders Eastbourne.

With anything possible in the final round, Eastbourne appeared to be in no mood for countbacks, instead securing three from three and etching their club on the trophy for the third successive year.

A lacklustre run of results in the final fixtures saw Belfast and Hinuera post a draw respectively, while Auckland’s Mangere reversed their fortunes to take out the singles, pairs and fours - edging into second place on 30pts.

Notable mention must go to the Lawson and Goodwin pairing who failed to drop a game throughout their five-match campaign, while Hill’s only loss was against Fairfield’s Murray Wilson by a solitary point, 21-20.

Meanwhile, it was all smiles, cheers and jubilations among the Mangawhai ladies, with an impressive run of results on day two seeing them go through with five wins a draw to snatch first place from the star-studded Burnside outfit and 2016 winners Paritutu - finishing just one point ahead of Burnside.

Heading into the final round, the title remained to be a three-horse race between section leaders Burnside, Mangawhai and Paritutu with only one game separating each side from first, second and third.

Spearheaded by Blackjack skipper Mandy Boyd in the singles, Burnside took first points, though a loss to both the pairs and fours paved the way for an unbeaten Mangawhai round to take the spoils with former national singles champion Sue Wightman edging past Parititu’s Cathy Andrews 21-20, while the pairing of Colleen Griffiths and Carol Stebben added to the victory, before the four of Kris and Lyn Wintle, Nicolette Franks and Jan Hollingsworth drew 14-14 to put the result beyond doubt and gift the Northlanders their first ever National Interclub victory.

Notable mention must go the way of Mandy Boyd, who remained undefeated after five gruelling
singles encounters in the capital.

In other results, the small Blaketown Club on the West Coast made little competition of the Division Two title, amassing an incredible 14 wins from 15 starts to smash the title race to oblivion.

Auckland’s Royal Oak proved to be the next best team, securing 10 wins from 15 to claim runner-up ahead of third placed Eketahuna representing the Wairarapa province.

Across greens, it was the Carlton Cornwall side who continued their winning ways from day one, taking out top honour in the women’s Division Two competition, claiming 11 wins from 15.

Despite a clean sweep in the final round, Taranaki representatives West End were forced to settle for second, finishing two game points behind the victors. Third place went the way of Papakura, while Burnside, South Otago Town and Country/Clutha Valley and Bulls shared fourth, fifth and sixth spot respectively.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

National Men’s Interclub - Division One
Champions: Eastbourne, Wellington
(Singles: Jamie Hill, Pairs: Gary Lawson (s), Justin Goodwin, Fours: Mike Solomon (s), Philip Skoglund, Mike Carroll, Scott Roddick)
National Women’s Interclub - Division One
Champions: Mangawhai, Northland
(Singles: Sue Wightman, Pairs: Colleen Griffiths (s), Carol Stebben, Fours: Kris Wintle (s), Lyn Wintle, Nicolette Franks, Jan Hollingsworth)
National Men’s Interclub - Division Two
Champions: Blaketown, West Coast
(Singles: Trevor Pascoe, Pairs: Jarrad Forsyth (s), Jayden Menzies, Fours: Mike Jacobs (s), Peter Sinnott, Chris Fauth, Graeme Forsyth)
National Women’s Interclub - Division Two
Champions: Carlton Cornwall, Auckland
(Singles: Helen Blick, Pairs: Jill Fraser (s), Clara Bowman, Fours: Margaret MacColl (s), Monica Platt, Joyce Rugg, Margeta Dragicevich)