2023 Nationals: day eight recap
The 2023 Australian Sides Championships is shaping up to have one of the more exciting finishes in recent history, with no clear indication on men’s or women’s champions favourites after four rounds of play.
Rounds three and four at Sorrento on Saturday have set up some blockbuster games to come as states vie for the Alley Shield and Marj Morris Trophy.
Marj Morris Trophy (women’s)
The Marj Morris Trophy is still anyone’s for the taking with three rounds to play, after a rollercoaster of a day on Saturday.
Victoria headed into the day unbeaten but ran into a Queensland team on the warpath.
After a mixed start to the competition on Friday, the Maroons had a point to prove against the Big V.
The Queenslanders took out two rinks on their way to a 17-shot win in a must-win match to keep themselves in the title hunt.
A solid fourth round win over Tasmania rocketed them to top spot at the end of day’s play, level with Victoria on match and rink points, but clear on shot difference.
The Big V bounced back in the afternoon session to hold off reigning champions NSW to keep touch with Queensland.
NSW have plenty of work to do if they are to defend their title, with two losses making things difficult with three rounds to play.
The ACT remain one of the surprise packets of the event so far, keeping themselves in touch with a gutsy three-shot win over SA and strong win over the Northern Territory to sit in third with a 3-1 record.
Unbeaten going into Saturday, home-state Western Australia are still in the championship fight but will be rueing a hiccup in round four.
Unbeaten with a 3-0 record and with a chance to go clear at the top of the standings, WA faced a winless yet dangerous South Australia side to finish the day.
The Reds had a point to prove, winning two rinks and tying the third to claim a victory that has blown the competition wide open.
Queensland’s Kelsey Cottrell-skipped rink remains the only one with a perfect record, winning four from four contests so far.
View women’s senior sides championships results here.
Women’s ladder (after four rounds)
Alley Shield
The battle for the Alley Shield is looking like it may go down to the final round, with New South Wales and Queensland looking dominant after four rounds.
The Blues cruised through their two matches on Saturday, with big wins over Tasmania and Victoria keeping them atop the standings.
NSW has a perfect record after four rounds, with no match or rink blemishes so far.
Queensland are hot on their heels however, also remaining unbeaten.
Also facing Victoria and Tasmania, the Maroons have given themselves a great chance at defending their crown.
NSW and Queensland face off on Monday in the final round of play, which could be the deciding contest.
Home-state WA is likely the only possible contender outside of the top two, with an unbeaten day keeping them in touch to sit in third with a 3-1 record.
It will be make or break for WA in their hunt to win a first Alley Shield since 1999, as they face Victoria and Queensland on Sunday, needing two wins to give themselves a chance at the title.
Four rinks remain unbeaten after four rounds, with NSW’s Lee Schraner-skipped rink leading the way with +54 shot difference.
View men’s sides championships results here.
Men’s ladder (after four rounds)
The 2023 Nationals will run from October 6-20, 2023, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
The 2023 Nationals in Perth, Western Australia is proudly supported by Tourism Western Australia, City of Joondalup, and the State government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Lotterywest in Western Australia. Sport and recreation creates vibrant, inclusive and connected WA communities.
