Davis and Ryan rolling along at Commonwealth Youth Games
NSW’s Jono Davis and Ellen Ryan are demonstrating exactly why they were chosen to don the green and gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa with scintillating performances on debut. The Australian contingent at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa kicked started their singles campaign in scintillating style today, blasting through day one with six wins from seven starts.
Australian’s Ellen Ryan, 18, and Jono Davis, 14 registered six wins between them on the opening day’s play, much to the delight of Australian Assistant Coach Gary Willis who watched the action unfold rink-side in Apia.
After partaking in the festivities at the opening ceremony last night nerves were high and a real sense of excitement was running through the Australian camp leading up to their Commonwealth Games debuts; however performances would tell a different story with the Australian’s storming through their day one matches showing experience far beyond their years.
Australian Jackaroos squad member Ellen Ryan was first up for the green and gold team on a balmy Samoan morning, registering a strong first up victory against Malaysia’s Nur Ain Nabilah Tarmizi, 21-9.
14 year old Jono Davis was eager to join the action after having a bye in the first session of the day; with the current NSW Junior Bowler of the Year recording his first win against South Africa’s Rowan Watkins 21-16.
Ryan backed up with another strong performance against Cook Islands’ Ngametua Ngatuakana Arama, 21-15.
The pair continued their winning way in the third session, with Ryan producing a two shot victory over Northern Ireland’s Chloe Watson, 21-19, while Davis followed in Ryan’s footsteps from the previous round with a mirroring result against Cook Island in the boys’ field, 21-15 against Taiki Bosco Stuart Robin Paniani.
Davis notched up his third straight win in the last session of the opening day, blasting past England’s Bradley Coles 21-15, but Ryan suffered her first defeat at the international event, succumbing to Scotland’s Carla Banks 18-21.
Both representatives are well positioned going into the last singles rubber tomorrow morning, staged from 5.00am AEST, with the top two from each section progressing to semi-final action.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the 2015-18 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program.
NextGEN AUSComGames was devised by the ACGA to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2015 or 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and/or 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
Commonwealth Youth Games results:
Round one:
Ryan def Malaysia 21-9
Davis bye
Round two:
Ryan def Cook Islands 21-15
Davis def South Africa 21-16
Round three:
Ryan def Northern Ireland 21-19
Davis def Cook Islands 21-15
Round four:
Ryan lt Scotland 18-21
Davis def England 21-15
Click here to visit the official Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games lawn bowls website.
