Jackaroos dodge bullet
Three Australian Jackaroos have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Australian Indoor Championships, but two are now on a collision course. Three members of the Australian Jackaroos squad kept their untarnished record intact at the Australian Indoor Championships this morning, but it was case of a bit too close for comfort for one in particular.
The second round of the $30,000 event kicked off at Tweed Heads at 8.00am, with three Jackaroos among the contenders.
World Bowls Championships-bound Barrie Lester was the first Jackaroo to have a target planted firmly on his back, by Manning Memorial’s Matthew Mitchell.
Mitchell pushed the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist to his limit, with Lester only scraping away victorious after drawing shot with his last bullet when he was down game in an extra end of the tie-break, prevailing 10-4, 6-8, 3-2.
Lester will next encounter East Maitland’s Joshua Bell in the quarters, after he posted a 7-4, 13-7 win over Mudgeeraba’s Alan Law.
Tasmania’s sole world champion, Rebecca Van Asch found herself in a tie-break situation, after winning the first set against Natalie Noronha 8-6, but unable to claw back enough momentum after being down 2-6 on the seventh end of the second set, but held her nerve to capture the last two ends and the following three ends of the tie-break to finish in the winner’s circle 8-6, 5-6, 5-0.
The game played out a little bit more favourably for Jackaroos Captain Lynsey Clarke, who defeated Maureen Zoon in straight sets, 8-5, 12-1, but last year’s finalist has a difficult challenge ahead of in the quarter-final at 12.00pm, where she will meet Van Asch.
The last result from the 8.00am session saw Canadian international Kelly McKerihen edge out Howrah’s Rosie Geeves 8-3, 6-5, although she is yet to know her next combatant, who will be the winner of Samantha Noronha and Kelsey Cottrell.
The last session of round two at 10.00am sees Anthony Mathison face Curtis Hanley, Ian Taylor play Chris Pollock, Nathan Dawson encounter Aron Sherriff, Samantha Noronha square off against Kelsey Cottrell, Karen Murphy lock horns with Kristy Thatcher and Jessica Hogan take on Natasha Scott.
Click here to see the full men’s results.
Click here to view the entire women’s results.
