Dawson returned from holidays in Queensland to play in Friday night’s decider against Beresfield Magpies and flew back on Saturday after a night of celebrations with his teammates.

Kurri Kurri won the pairs and when Dawson clinched the singles with a 3-2 win in the tie-breaker against Mick Beesley the title and $10,000 winner’s cheque headed back to Kurri. 

East Cessnock Comets won the minor grand final defeating East Maitland Griffins on Thursday night.

The Comets’ Simon Mitchell defeated Peter Taylor in straight sets and the pairs partnering of Danny Mathieson and Mick Cronin had the same result over the Griffins’ Chris Dunn and Josh Bell.

The triples were not completed as they were a dead rubber.

The Cannons claimed their third Big Bowls title after successes in 2008 and 2013.

Dawson won the first set 11-3, but Beesley bounced back with a 12-4 result in the second.

Tied after two sets, Dawson won the tie-breaker 3-2.

Every shot came at a premium in a low-scoring pairs match-up.

Kurri’s Jono Davis and Mick Smith prevailed in straight sets defeating Warren Shipley 7-5, 8-2.

The triples between Kurri’s Andrew Rees, Corey Parker and Brody Pitham and Beresfield’s Grant Boyce, Brad Unsted and Mick Brown was not completed as the title had been decided.