2024 Nationals: Day 5 wrap
The final day of the 2024 Para Nationals saw the next wave of Australian champions crowned, some for the first time and some continuing to boost their legacies within the sport on a picturesque day at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.
Across the border at Club Tweed, the Australian Senior Sides Championships commenced as the states and territories bid for the ultimate glory.
Para Nationals
Men’s B5/6 singles
South Australia’s Andrew Reed would clinch the singles title in the B5/6 singles, overcoming Victoria’s Right at Home Emerging Para Jackaroo Lucas Protopapas 21-9 in the decider.
Reed was immense from the outset, with his opening bowls the key to his lightning 8-0 start.
Protopapas rallied to trim the gap to 16-9 and force a contest before the Morphetville product pounced on the final three ends to seal his victory.
Men’s B7/8 singles
After rectifying a 10-18 deficit against James Reynolds in the semifinal, it was Para Jackaroo Damien Delgado’s time to shine as he defeated his Commonwealth Games teammate in Chris Flavel for the title.
The defending champion was on the back foot early as Delgado was on the money from the get go, not being headed at any stage of the match thanks to some superb drawing.
He would run out with a 21-10 victory.
Women’s B5/6 singles
It would be New South Wales’ Carolyn Nelson who went undefeated through the section as Western Australia’s Diana Nixon took silver.
Women’s B7/8 singles
In an all-Jackaroo affair, Serena Bonnell made it three singles titles in as many years after overcoming her Commonwealth Games and World Bowls Championships teammate Cheryl Lindfield 21-18 in a marathon match that needed the full allotment of three hours.
After forging ahead 10-5, Bonnell was on the wrong end of a Lindfield onslaught as the Mt Gravatt product went on a barnstorming run to hold an 18-13 buffer as the match edged towards its conclusion.
From there, the current Australian Open title holder would clinch the final five ends of the contest to seal yet another gold for her trophy cabinet.
Men’s 14-point pairs
Protopapas was in his second final of the day with his Victorian teammate in Josh Thornton against New South Wales’ Geoff Seton and James Reynolds.
After picking up a five on the opening end, the Victorians never looked back as they stormed away to a 21-7 win.
Open pairs
It was a successful day for Victoria on the pairs front as Barry Brennan and Josh Barry saluted over South Australia’s Aaron Emonson and Chris Flavel 16-11 in the decider.
Clover-Lester Encouragement Award
The third Clover Lester Encouragement Award went to Tasmania’s Kindilan Hayes.
Best overall player
Like 2023, the best overall player went to Queensland’s Serena Bonnell.
Best overall team
After four days of gruelling contests, the best overall state was decided in the final game of the competition, with Delgado’s B7/8 singles win giving Queensland the title by a solitary point over Victoria.
Australian Senior Sides Championships
Men
South Australia concluded day one of the 2024 Senior Sides Championships with an undefeated day, taking top spot into day two thanks to wins over New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
Defending champions in Queensland went unblemished on the opening afternoon thanks to a first up win over Tasmania and a pulsating 52-50 win over Victoria.
The Victorians, New South Wales, ACT and Western Australia all split their ledger at a win and a loss, while Tasmania and the Northern Territory make up the table.
Women
Like the men, South Australia’s women are the clubhouse leaders as the competition heads into its second day thanks to a pair of salutations over the likes of New South Wales and the Northern Territory, the first of which was a one-shot thriller.
Two-time defending champions in Victoria also enjoyed a day without defeat, overcoming both Western Australia and Queensland in their two contests.
The ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and New South Wales all registered victory and loss on day one, with Western Australia and the Northern Territory rounding out the ladder.
The 2024 Nationals will run from October 8-25, 2024, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel.
