The open district pairs event attracts the cream of lawn bowlers from the Riverina Bowls District and, while the abilities of the two L&D bowlers were not in question, pundits considered there could have been better suited combinations and that the combine of Douglas and Harris was possibly even a little odd.

However, those doubts were well and truly dispensed with when, the "odd couple", made the event their own, and took it out in fine style.

With teams entered from places such as Griffith, Leeton, Hay and Narrandera, the event is a war of attrition and, when the L&D pair fell into the semi-final, it was considered they had more than proved themselves worthy adversaries.

Few, if any however, saw them advancing in further in the tournament.

The semi-final had them matched against a strong Narrandera side who started the match as hot favourites.

With gritty determination, the two bowlers stuck with their more fancied opponents and the game went down to the wire.

With one end remaining and the score locked at 20-all, the Narrandera side were holding game and the L&D side looked to be gone.

Enter Douglas.

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With one last bowl remaining in the match, Douglas held his composure, and drew a shot to the jack to win the game 21-20.

Douglas had been in sublime form all game and drew praise from his opponents, as well as spectators, on the match winning shot.

Beyond all expectations the now confident duo found themselves in the final to face an experienced team from Hay.

With nothing to lose and filled with confidence and adrenaline, Douglas and Harris led the entire game and ran out winners 21-16.

The five shot difference was the closest the Hay side got to them.

Harris was full of praise for his team mate and skip Douglas.

"Max was just great and it was a real honour to play with him and win this prestigious event," he said.

Club president Graeme Ahern was also pleased with the result, although he too was a little surprised at the outcome.

"Both Max and Brian do a lot for our club, but if you had asked me to back them before the start of the event, I think I would have kept my wallet in my pocket," he said.

"It is however, a great result for them personally and our club generally."