Blackjacks roar back as third Trans Tasman test goes down to the wire
A massive regard action from New Zealand has left the third and final test of the Trans Tasman series against Australia on a knife edge, with the Kiwi’s winning all four Open matches after the Aussies did likewise in the first session. While the Australians have already sealed the Open series courtesy of wins in the first two tests, session two showed that the Blackjacks can never be discounted, with Katelyn Inch rallying from a heavy morning defeat in the Women’s Fours to defeat current Australian number one Natasha Scott 21-13 in their singles rubber.
Not to be outdone, Jo Edwards’ Kiwi quartet defeated Karen Murphy’s rink in the Women’s Fours 11-8. However, Australia hold a big shot margin lead, so NZ will likely need to win both session three Women’s matches to take the Test.
It was a similar story in the Open Men’s event, with current World Champion Shannon McIlroy topping Aussie Scott Thulborn 21-13 in a Singles encounter, while another current World Champion Mike Kernaghan skipped NZ to a 15-12 fours win over Aron Sherriff’s rink; New Zealand now hold a slender 2 shot lead going into the final session of test three.
It’s a similar story in the Development series, with both the Men’s and Women’s series tied at 6 rink points each, albeit with Australia holding handy shot leads in each event. Young Aussie star Ellen Ryan showed her class in downing Sarah Scott 21-6 in the Women’s Singles, but Jono Davis succumb to a heartbreaking 20-21 loss to Sheldon Bagrie Howley. Recently capped Jackaroo Corey Wedlock skipped his foursome to an 18-11 victory over Aidan Takarua’s rink, but Bolivia Millerick’s rink was defeated by Natasha Russell’s Kiwi team 10-13 in their fours encounter.
The Jackaroos Para Sport team now holds a dominant 9 rink points to 3 lead over New Zealand, after Jake Fehlberg and Lynne Seymour completed a comfortable 23-9 victory over Sue Curran and David Stallard in the Pairs, while Ken Hanson’s triple downed Graham Skellern’s Kiwi team 15-9.
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:
Open men: Australia – 6 points, -2; New Zealand – 6 points, +2
Open women: Australia – 6 points, +39; New Zealand – 6 points, -39
Development men: Australia – 6 points, +18; New Zealand – 6 points, -18
Development women: Australia – 6 points, +27; New Zealand – 6 points, -27
Para-sport: Australia – 9 points, +15; New Zealand – 3 points, -15
Trans Tasman test three, session two results:
Open:
Men’s singles: Australia (Scott Thulborn) lost to New Zealand (Shannon McIlroy) 13-21
Men’s fours: Australia (Wayne Ruediger, Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson, Aron Sherriff) lost to New Zealand (Mike Nagy, Tony Grantham, Paul Girdler, Mike Kernaghan) 12-15
Women’s singles: Australia (Natasha Scott) lost to New Zealand (Katelyn Inch) 14-21
Women’s fours: Australia (Lynsey Clarke, Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic, Karen Murphy) lost to New Zealand (Selina Goddard, Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Jo Edwards) 8-11
Development:
Men’s singles: Australia (Jonathan Davis) lost to New Zealand (Sheldon Bagrie Hawley) 20-21
Men’s fours: Australia (Lachlan Sims, Nathan Pedersen, Aaron Teys, Corey Wedlock) def New Zealand (Seamus Curtin, Finbar McGuigin, Richard Hocking, Aidan Takarua) 18-11
Women’s singles: Australia (Ellen Ryan) def New Zealand (Sarah Scott) 21-6
Women’s fours: Australia (Kate Matthews, Jessica Srisamruaybai, Kristina Krstic, Bolivia Millerick) lost to New Zealand (Kimberley Hemingway, Ashleigh Jeffcoat, Nicole Toomey, Natasha Russell) 10-13
Para-sport:
Pairs: Australia (Jake Fehlberg, Lynne Seymour) def New Zealand (Sue Curran, David Stallard) 23-9
Triples: Australia (Tony Bonnell, Josh Thornton, Ken Hanson) def New Zealand (Carolyn Crawford, Mark Noble, Graham Skellern) 15-9
Caption: Australia and New Zealand’s development teams tussle in a Men’s Fours encounter
