Australians don’t rest on their laurels
The Australian team has picked up where they left off at the 2017 Trans Tasman, with a strong start to the final test on the Gold Coast this morning. The Australian team has picked up where they left off at the 2017 Trans Tasman, with a strong start to the final test on the Gold Coast this morning.
The host-nation didn’t rest on its laurels, despite having already sewn up the tournament’s coveted silverware with consecutive test victories during the previous two days of competition, with a clinical performance across the board this morning.
Australia claimed all rubbers on offer in the open men’s and women’s events, to take a 6-0 lead on the points ledger, while both development teams split their rubbers one-win-a-piece, but have the ascendancy over the Kiwis on the next countback; shot differential.
The development men have a 12 shot headway, while the women have a breathing room of 15 shots.
There’s still two more sessions in the competition’s final test today, and while Australia’s war-chest is guaranteed to be filled to the brim at the conclusion of play, the competitors will be eager to continue pressing their case to the national selection panel for eventual inclusion at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Bowls Australia acknowledges the assistance and funding provided by Commonwealth Games Australia to Bowls Australia for athletes in the “Gold Coast GOLD” and “NextGEN AUSComGames” programs.
The Gold Coast GOLD program was devised by the CGA to maximise podium performances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and assist athletes who are expected to be nominated for selection to the 2018 Australian Team. NextGEN AUSComGames was created to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
Trans Tasman test three standings after one session:
Open men: Australia lead 6 points to 0
Open women: Australia lead 6 points to 0
Development men: 3 points each, Australia leads by 12 shots
Development women: 3 points each, Australia leads by 15 shots
Para-sport: 3 points each, New Zealand lead by 5 shots
Trans Tasman test three, session one results:
Open:
Men’s pairs: Australia (Brett Wilkie, Scott Thulborn) def New Zealand (Mike Nagy, Mike Kernaghan) 17-15
Men’s triples: Australia (Barrie Lester, Aaron Wilson, Aron Sherriff) def New Zealand (Tony Grantham, Paul Girdler, Blake Signal) 22-15
Women’s pairs: Australia (Carla Krizanic, Natasha Scott) def New Zealand (Angela Boyd, Kirsten Edwards) 31-8
Women’s triples: Australia (Kelsey Cottrell, Lynsey Clarke, Rebecca Van Asch) def New Zealand (Tayla Bruce, Selina Goddard, Katelyn Inch) 33-7
Development:
Men’s pairs: Australia (Jonathon Davis, Aaron Teys) lost to New Zealand (Richard Hocking, Aiden Takarua) 16-18
Men’s triples: Australia (Lachlan Sims, Nathan Pedersen, Corey Wedlock) def New Zealand (Seamus Curtin, Finbar McGuigan, Sheldon Barrie-Hawley) 24-10
Women’s pairs: Australia (Jessica Srisamruaybai, Ellen Ryan) def New Zealand (Ashleigh Jeffcoat, Nicole Toomey) 27-10
Women’s triples: Australia (Kate Matthews, Bolivia Millerick, Kristina Kristic) lost to New Zealand (Kimberley Hemingway, Natasha Russell, Sarah Scott) 13-15
Para-sport:
Pairs: Australia Australia (Ralph Simpson, Lynne Seymour) def New Zealand (Sue Curran, David Stallard) 23-7
Triples: Australia (Eddie Gollan, Ken Hanson, Josh Barry) lost to New Zealand (Carolyn Crawford, Mark Noble, Graham Skellern) 3-24
