Henry rides out storm to stay in frame
Defending champion Jeremy Henry was taken to the last bowl in a thrilling opening match of the Bowls World Cup at his home club, Warilla Bowling Club, as Miek Driscoll reports for the Illawarra Mercury.
The Warilla bowls co-ordinator and multi-world champion yesterday squeezed past Norfolk Island’s Ryan Dixon 7-7 7-6 in two, nine-end sets.
With the first set tied, it came down to the second set with Henry leading 7-1 before Dixon stormed home.
“From 7-1 I gave up five straight singles,” Henry said. “I was down three on the last end but fortunately was able to play a runner and got two away and Ryan only ended up with the one shot, allowing me to get out of a jam.
“Last year I lost the opening match so it was good to scrape through. There’s a bit of nerves early on but once I settle in I should be fine.”
Henry comfortably beat Pakistan’s Maqsood Wasee Khan 15-3 24-1 in round two and faces Scottish international Graeme Archer this morning at 8.30am in the match that could decide the section.
“It’s looks to be the toughest match of the section and hopefully we can get a few people to come out and watch,” Henry said.
World singles champion Karen Murphy began her fifth World Cup campaign with a tough 10-6 9-8 win over Singapore’s Li Li Len.
Murphy faces defending champion Guernsey’s Alison Merrien in today’s standout match in round three.
Merrien began the defence of her crown with a 10-4 16-3 win over Macau’s Nikki Lee Ching Yee and then a 9-8 14-5 win over Hong Kong/China’s Tammy Tham.
Australia’s second men’s representative Mark Casey, the 2005 champion, beat Zimbabwe’s Roy Garden 9-3 10-9 in his first match, while four-time women’s champion, Jo Edwards of New Zealand, had a 16-3 9-2 win over The Netherlands’ Saskia Schaft in round one.
The sectional rounds continue until Sunday with the top three players in each of the two sections advancing to Monday’s post-sectional round.
The men’s and women’s finals are on April 17.
