2024 World Champion of Champions: Day 3 recap
It was a mixed day for the Australians at the 2024 World Champion of Champions at Browns Bay Bowling Club, as Lee Schraner continued to steam ahead in his quest for a second title, while Laini McGorman hit a minor speed bump, but remains well placed in her section.
The top of the table clash between Schraner and New Zealand’s Aiden Takarua lived up to the hype, with both bowlers putting on an exemplary display.
The Trans-Tasman rivals couldn’t be separated until the Australian drew a superb bowl to a jack in the ditch on the sixth end and used that momentum to claim the first set.
Takarua came out strong in the second set, applying the pressure to win five out of the seven ends to force the game to a tiebreaker.
However, Schraner came out firing and didn’t give the New Zealand product an inch in the tiebreaker, playing a huge sit and stay bowl on the second end to make a three and go on to claim a 9-5 3-5 6-0 victory.
The Right at Home Jackaroo didn’t let up in his second game against Japan’s Masahiro Kawamoto, winning 6-4 9-3.
Schraner is now the only undefeated bowler in Section 3, with Takarua and Canadian Pat Bird rounding out the top three heading into the final day of sectional play.
England’s Lewis King sits on top of section 2 undefeated, while Malaysia’s Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple leads Section 1.
In the women’s singles, McGorman only had one game for the day against Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nayan Moni Saikia from India.
Despite a spirited fight back from the South Australian in the second set, the classy Indian was too strong, beating McGorman 1-9 5-6.
The Adelaide Bowling Club product is still in a strong position heading into her final two sectional matches, sitting a game clear in second in Section 2.
Niue’s Joy Peyroux remains undefeated in Section 1, while United States of America’s Anne Nunes and England’s Stef Branfield cannot be separated after a flawless start to their tournament.
View the results and standings HERE
The 2024 World Champion of Champions runs from November 26-30, 2024, in New Zealand. Live streaming will be on the Bowls New Zealand YouTube channel and the World Bowls YouTube channel.
