Clarke storms into round of 16
Australian Jackaroos Captain Lynsey Clarke has announced to the rest of the Australian Indoor Championships field she is a strong contender this year after her compelling first round victory. Australian Jackaroos Captain Lynsey Clarke has one title left on her bucket list to win and this week at the Australian Indoor Championships she could complete her grand slam notwithstanding the fact she is seven months pregnant.
The closest Clarke has got to winning the Australian Indoor Championships was a semi-final appearance against Karen Murphy in 2011; now after three year’s failing to qualify for the main event, Clarke is just four games away from achieving her goal.
Years in the making, Clarke says the Australian Indoor Championship has been a title that keeps getting away from her but this year she is happy with her form especially after a confident boosting 9-4, 13-0 victory against fellow Queenslander June Beverley.
“It was good to get the first game under my belt; obviously it is a little bit harder with a baby on board but I’m just taking things slowly and will focus on one game at a time,” said the glowing mother to be.
“June Beverley is a very good player, I have known her for a long time now and knew how hard she had been practicing leading into this event; I just got off to a really good start in the first set and kept my consistency up and kept my foot on the pedal.”
Clarke will now meet Linda Warburton in the second round after she received a forfeit from QLD’s Charlie Harkness.
APL03 rookie, Solargain Perth Suns player Matthew Ellul met fourth seed Corey Wedlock in a high quality contest and it was Ellul that struck first in the match.
Ellul appeared to be in control during the early stages of the second set leading 7-1; however the 19 year old from Cabramatta strung together three ends in a row to level the scores with one end to play.
Wedlock once again beat Ellul to the jack; Ellul was forced to play the perfect shot and whilst he managed to move the jack, Wedlock’s back bowl came into play and the match was headed to the decider.
Both players produced some of the highest quality bowls of the match during the tie-break; however Wedlock produced the big shots when it counted and the NSW/ACT NTC squad member kept his indoor hopes alive.
In a battle between two up and coming NSW stars, Jodie Marshall from Goulburn Railway and Natalie Noronha from Merrylands demonstrated their wares in a closely fought match.
On the second last end of the first set Noronha led 8-6 and despite holding shot Marshall played the perfect bowl to get within one shot on the final end.
Noronha drove on the last bowl of the set trying to win the match, it looked to be on target but slid through a gap; after the wash up Marshall still held one to tie the first set.
Both 18 year old Jodie Marshall and 19 year old Natalie Noronha continued to play consistently in the second set and it was clear this game was going down to the wire.
Noronha, the current Australian Open Fours champion managed to bridge a gap between her and her younger opponent and went on to win the match in straight sets 8-8, 8-5.
Noronha will meet Australian Jackaroo and fellow Australian Open Fours team mate Carla Odgers in the second round to be played tomorrow morning at 8am.
In the first major upset of the tournament, Norooma’s Jay Breust ousted current Australian Champion of Champion Singles winner Scott Thulborn who was considered by most as a strong contender in this year’s event.
Breust stunned Thulborn in the first set, stealing a two on the final end to win the set 6-5; and then again in the second set Breust trailed Thulborn 5-7 after five ends but won the last four ends of the match to claim the second set 11-7.
Currently in action is Tweed Heads local hope Kristy Thatcher, former Northern Ireland representative and the 2011 Australian Indoor Championships winner Jeremy Henry and WA’s Bowler of the Year Noelene Abe.
For those that can’t make it to Tweed Heads to catch all the action, don’t forget live streaming is available for all the finals matches.
To find all the results of today’s completed matches or to find out more information about the live streaming visit the Australian Indoor Championships page on the Bowls Australia website by clicking here.
Caption- Lynsey Clarke progresses through to the round of 16 at the Australian Indoor Championships
