Big V’s flying start
The Big V have upstaged the defending men’s champions to set the scene in the opening round of the Australian Side Championships at Broadbeach.
Victoria commenced their Alley Shield campaign with a bang in the men’s event, with a 16-shot victory over the NSW titleholders across the three rinks contested, 64-48.
Matthew Flapper’s rink comfortably accounted for Ben Twist’s, 31-9, and Dylan Fisher’s quartet toppled Aaron Wilson’s by a slender 2-shots, 20-18, with Victoria’s only blemish coming from former Queensland-and-NSW representative Mark Casey’s 8-shot loss to David Ferguson, 13-21.
The heroics weren’t replicated in the women’s Marj Morris Trophy contested however, with the NSW titleholders snaring a 12-shot triumph, 58-46, with Dawn Hayman’s team accounting for Jessica Wallace’s 24-14, and Ellen Ryan’s rink recording a 5-shot win over Lisa’ Phillip’s Big V‘s, despite Natasha Van Eldik’s Blues falling shy of Kylie Whitehead’s team by three-shots, 15-18.
The Victorian contingent won’t enjoy any much respite however, encountering South Australia in tomorrow morning’s second rubber, who won the Alley Shield in 2017, the year prior to Victoria.
However, the Croweaters weren’t able to get their campaign off to flying start, with the host state Queensland producing an almost unblemished performance.
The Maroons enjoyed a three-rink win in the men’s competition, with 8, 9 and 11 shot victories to prevail 75-47, while two rinks were enough to get the points in the women’s contest, 66-52.
The hometown heroes are poised for a blockbuster second round tomorrow morning, against NSW, which will likely have significant reifications for determining the overall event winners.
Across the greens, Western Australia and Tasmania secured the points in both gender’s events, over ACT and Northern Territory respectively.
The Sandgropers were unscathed in the women’s clashes, prevailing 75-38, while two rinks were enough to get the points in the men’s, 67-42.
It was a similar tale for the Tigers, who won 74-34 in the women with three straight rinks while a two rinks in the men saw them prevail 67-44.
Western Australia will face the Top Enders, while Tasmania will play the Capitals in tomorrow’s second clash.
Bowls Australia’s Rinkside Live live-streaming will return from the Nationals with the Australian Championships event, with a new discipline each day, from Monday through Friday.
