2019 UK Tour: Australia secure First Test over Wales
The BCiB Australian Jackaroos have secured both the open and para-sport First Tests against Wales in an enthralling battle at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Trailing by four wins going into Day 2 of the First Test, the open squad mounted a stirring comeback across both genders to finish two wins ahead of Wales at the end of play, while the para-sport stars continued their dominance, winning their First Test with a blemish-free record.
On what was again a warm day in Cardiff, the open team chipped away session by session to reduce the initial deficit, before a decisive second session saw a number of great comebacks result in three wins and a draw from the four matches.
Heading into the afternoon and with the Jackaroos holding a strong position on shot difference, strong wins to Kelsey Cottrell in her two Singles matches as well as decisive Fours victories from both genders were enough to see Australia over the line.
Meanwhile, while on the para-sport team’s performance seemed like one-way traffic on paper, it was anything but, with the eight to nothing wins scoreboard not reflective of the quality of matches.
The Jackaroos collective will now enjoy a rest day on Wednesday in what has been a somewhat hectic tour of the UK.
They will spend Wednesday travelling three hours to the north of Wales to Berriew to play the second and final Test against Wales, before heading back to Birmingham for the fourth and final Test Series of the tour against England.
Bowls Australia would also like to extend its appreciation to Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) for supporting and funding the BCiB Australian Jackaroos’ tour of the UK, in preparation for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Australia v Wales
Cardiff Bowling Club, Sophia Gardens, Wales
Tuesday, July 16
Test 1 – Day 2
Open –
Session 1
Women’s Pairs: Kelsey Cottrell, Natasha Scott def. Alis Butten, Laura Daniels 27–7
Women’s Triples: Samantha Shannahan, Karen Murphy, Chloe Stewart def by. Lauren Selway, Hannah Williams, Emma Woodcock 12-16
Men’s Pairs: Ray Pearse, Corey Wedlock def. Wales 28-11
Men’s Triples: Ben Twist, Aaron Teys, Aaron Wilson def by. Wales 13-19
Session 2
Women’s Pairs: Kelsey Cottrell, Natasha Scott def. Lauren Selway, Emma Woodcock 28-19
Women’s Triples: Samantha Shannahan, Karen Murphy, Chloe Stewart def. Alis Butten, Katie Thomas, Hannah Williams 19-18
Men’s Pairs: Ray Pearse, Corey Wedlock def. Damien Doubler, Dan Salmon 14-13
Men’s Triples: Ben Twist, Aaron Teys, Aaron Wilson drew with. Wales 18-18
Session 3
Women’s Singles: Kelsey Cottrell def. Laura Daniels 21-14
Women’s Fours: Karen Murphy, Samantha Shannahan, Chloe Stewart, Natasha Scott def. Alis Butten, Katie Thomas, Emma Woodcock, Hannah Williams 16-12
Men’s Singles: Ben Twist drew with. Wales 20-20
Men’s Fours: Ray Pearse, Aaron Teys, Corey Wedlock, Aaron Wilson def by. Wales 10-15
Session 4
Women’s Singles: Kelsey Cottrell def. Wales 21-5
Women’s Fours: Karen Murphy, Samantha Shannahan, Chloe Stewart, Natasha Scott def. Laura Daniels, Katie Thomas, Emma Woodcock, Hannah Williams 22-9
Men’s Singles: Corey Wedlock def by. Dan Salmon 15-21
Men’s Fours: Aaron Teys, Ben Twist, Ray Pearse, Aaron Wilson def. Wales 13-11
Australia won first test 34-30 (+109 shots)
Para-Sport –
Session 1
Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs: Lynne Seymour, Jake Fehlberg def. Wales 17-13*
Bowlers with a Disability Fours: Tony Bonnell, Josh Barry, Chris Flavel, Barry Brennan def. Wales 21-10*
Session 2
Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs: Lynne Seymour, Jake Fehlberg def. Julie Thomas, Allan Jones 14-7
Bowlers with a Disability Triples: Chris Flavel, Tony Bonnell, Josh Barry def. Ray Lillycrop, Ben Tear, Jonathan Hubbard 19-12
Session 3
Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs: Lynne Seymour, Jake Fehlberg def. Julie Thomas, Allan Jones 11-10
Bowlers with a Disability Triples: Barry Brennan, Chris Flavel, Josh Barry def. Ben Hopkin, Ray Lillycrop, Jonathan Hubbard 21-10
Australia won first test 16-0 (+42 shots)
* indicates non-official matches (v Welsh Club Bowlers)
(Win = 2 points, Loss = 0 points, Draw = 1 point)
Images – Courtesy Bowls Wales
