NSW and VIC take control of Aus Sides Champs
The Australian Sides Championships has commenced in scintillating style in Queanbeyan this morning. NSW and Victoria have taken the early lead after the opening round of the 2016 Australian Sides Championships at Queanbeyan this morning.
The Blues commenced their title defence with a comprehensive three rink victory in the men’s event against Western Australia, 64-44, with David Ferguson defeating Matthew Ellul 21-13, Wayne Turley overcoming Scott Edmonds 26-15 and Aron Sherriff sneaking across the line against Peter Harris 17-16.
As a result, they hold a one-rink lead over South Australia, who got the better of Northern Territory 60-41, with Wayne Ruediger downing Graeme Kitto 22-11 and Max Kleinig powering past John Meneguzzi 26-8, but the Top Enders did salvage some pride, with Trystan Smallacombe’s rink defeating Craig Mills, who took over from late omission Scott Thulborn.
Also in red-hot form in the first rubber was the Victorian men, who toppled perennial powerhouse Queensland 67-53, courtesy of Aaron Wilson’s 23-11 win over fellow Aussie Jackaroo Nathan Rice, and former international Matthew Flapper’s 27-15 victory against Kurt Brown, which was enough to mitigate Barrie Lester’s 17-27 lose to Mark Casey.
The other team to enjoy an opening win was Tasmania, who narrowly edged out host state ACT 60-56, despite dropping two of the three rinks on offer.
Former under-18 male bowler of the year Michael Sims’ rink proved to be the difference, with a 26-15 victory over Andrew Ashlin, which nullified Lee Schrader’s narrow lost to Robert Chesher 19-20, and Mark Nitz’s 15-21 defeat by Andrew Howie.
In the women’s contest, the Blues aren’t quite topping the table, but aren’t far off the mark either.
Victoria’s has gathered the early ascendancy in the women’s event, courtesy of a powerful performance against Queensland, 73-46.
The Big V were victorious in all three rinks, with Chloe Stewart upending Louise Witton 25-15, Carla Krizanic defeating Lynsey Clarke 25-2- and Lisa Phillips overcoming Julie Keegan 23-11.
NSW are hot on their heals however, with a two-rink win against the team from the west, 76-43, with Kelsey Cottrell proving too strong from Noelene Abe 25-12, Karen Murphy powering past Helen Morss 33-12, while Western Australia’s under-25 world champion Kristina Krstic enjoyed a slender win against reigning female bowler of the year Natasha Scott 19-18.
The host state ACT women took the points from their encounter with Tasmania, and in a reversal of the men’s match, got the points with only one rink win.
Sharon Harmer’s 24-19 victory over Australian Jackaroo Rebecca Van Asch proved to be the catalyst for the overall win, despite Tasmania’s Courtney Hobbs winning 20-19 against Margaret Bacchetto and fellow Tiger Lyn Triffitt’s 20-18 victory against Nicole Mengel.
The second round of the 2016 Australian Sides Championships is about to commence at Queanbeyan RSL Memorial Bowling Club and Queanbeyan Bowling Club, with seven rounds of warfare staged over the four days of competition.
Click here to view the men’s Alley Shield results.
Click here to view the women’s Marj Morris Trophy results.
