Murphy On Top Of World

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday January 19, 2008

By LUKE KEENAN

NEW world bowls champion Karen Murphy plans to emulate her latest and greatest sporting achievement as soon as next week.

The Shellharbour resident skipped Australian team-mates and World Championship debutantes Lynsey Armitage, Claire Duke and Julie Keegan to a blistering 22-6 win over Wales in the final of the women's fours in Christchurch yesterday.

But Murphy's campaign in New Zealand is far from done given the women's pairs start tomorrow.

The 33-year-old will combine with Armitage, whom she won gold with at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, in the pairs.

"Lynsey was player of the day as far as the final went (against Wales)," Murphy said. "If she takes that form into the pairs it will hold us in good stead.

"It's good to get the first one (world title) under the belt. We're every chance (of winning another) if we can keep it going."

In claiming gold against the Welsh, Murphy captured the one big prize which had eluded her during a decade-long international career.

She finished runner-up in the pairs and third in the singles at the 2000 world titles and won bronze in the pairs in 2004.

"I have to say it hasn't sunk in yet - it's unreal," said Murphy, whose husband Paul was on hand to cheer her on.

"The girls played outstanding. We won by heaps, so in a way it was a bit of an anti-climax, but you'd rather that than win on the last bowl.

"It's the biggest title I've won. You can't get bigger than a world title and to win it with three really good mates is something special."

Down 8-0, Wales were able to grab consecutive singles before some superb skipping from Murphy ensured the Australians a count of four on the 10th end.

There was no coming back from there for the Welsh, who eventually conceded defeat with three ends to play.

For 24-year-old Queenslander Armitage, becoming a world champion was surreal.

"This is unbelievable - I'm lost for words," she said.

"I don't think I've ever played a better game than that in my life. The whole team was simply sensational."

Rising women's singles star Kelsey Cottrell won bronze for Australia, as did men's duo Aron Sherriff and Nathan Rice.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home