2019 UK Tour: Wales Test Series underway

by Bowls Australia on July 16, 2019

The BCiB Australian Jackaroos have converged on Cardiff, Wales with the third of four Test Series from their 2019 UK Tour.

In warm conditions and on challenging greens at Cardiff Bowling Club, Sophia Gardens, the open and para-sport Jackaroos experienced mix fortunes on the first day’s play against Wales.

Australia’s para-sport squad continued their good form displayed in their Test Series win over Scotland, having completed Day 1 with a perfect record with four official* wins from as many matches.

This included two last-bowl finishes in the Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs, with outstanding running shots played by both Lynne Seymour and Jake Fehlberg as they alternated the skip position.

With the conditions slightly more challenging to those experienced at Royal Leamington Spa in Birmingham, England against Ireland and Scotland in the days previous, the Aussies battled hard in the open disciplines, with the women faring a little better than their male counterparts.

Our female squad members emerged from the day having broken even with Wales in the win/loss column, with Wales holding a four rink advantage overall as things stand.

The Test Series against Wales will be played slightly different from the previous series against UK opposition, with Test 1 (16 matches) to run over the course of two days (Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16) in Cardiff, before both countries travel north to Berriew Bowling Club for further day and a half of matches, which will make up Test 2.

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
Monday, July 15
Test 1 – Day 1

Open –

Session 1

Women’s Pairs: Karen Murphy, Natasha Scott def by. Lauren Gowan, Laura Daniels 16-22
Women’s Triples: Samantha Shannahan, Chloe Stewart, Kelsey Cottrell def. Gemma Amos, Hannah Williams, Emma Woodcock 20-10

Men’s Pairs: Ray Pearse, Corey Wedlock def Wales 30-3
Men’s Triples: Aaron Teys, Aaron Wilson, Ben Twist def by. Wales 18-19

Session 2

Women’s Pairs: Natasha Scott, Kelsey Cottrell def. Hannah Williams, Laura Daniels 15-8
Women’s Triples: Samantha Shannahan, Karen Murphy, Chloe Stewart def. Lauren Gowen, Gemma Amos, Emma Woodcock 23-12

Men’s Pairs: Aaron Teys, Aaron Wilson def by. Wales 11-19
Men’s Triples: Ray Pearse, Ben Twist, Corey Wedlock def by. Wales 14-15

Session 3

Women’s Singles: Natasha Scott def by. Laura Daniels 16-21
Women’s Fours: Chloe Stewart, Samantha Shannahan, Karen Murphy, Kelsey Cottrell def by. Gemma Amos, Sophie Githins, Hannah Williams, Emma Woodcock 16-17

Men’s Singles: Aaron Teys def. Wales 21-17
Men’s Fours: Corey Wedlock, Ray Pearse, Ben Twist, Aaron Wilson def by. Wales 13-14

Session 4

Women’s Singles: Karen Murphy def by. Lauren Gowan 17-21
Women’s Fours: Samantha Shannahan, Chloe Stewart, Kelsey Cottrell, Natasha Scott def. Gemma Amos, Sophie Githins, Hannah Williams, Emma Woodcock 16-8

Men’s Singles: Aaron Wilson def by. Wales 14-21
Men’s Fours: Ray Pearse, Aaron Teys, Ben Twist, Corey Wedlock def by. Wales 10-13

Wales currently lead the first test 20-12 

Para-Sport –

Session 1

Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs: Jake Fehlberg, Lynne Seymour def. Wales 16-13*
Bowlers with a Disability Triples: Barry Brennan, Tony Bonnell, Josh Barry def. Wales 14-11*

Session 2

Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs: Jake Fehlberg, Lynne Seymour def. Wales 13-12
Bowlers with a Disability Triples: Barry Brennan, Josh Barry, Chris Flavel def. Wales 17-11

Session 3

Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs: Lynne Seymour, Jake Fehlberg def. Wales 14-12
Bowlers with a Disability Triples: Tony Bonnell, Barry Brennan, Chris Flavel def. Wales 16-9

Australia currently lead the first test 8-0
* indicates non-official matches (v Welsh Club Bowlers)

(Win = 2 points, Loss = 0 points, Draw = 1 point)