Odgers edges out rival Griffen
As the Australian Jackaroos and New Zealand Black Jacks prepare for the final day of the 2013 Trans Tasman battle in Auckland tomorrow, two of the prestigious trophies are already decided and are Australia bound.
The youth of Australian bowls came to the fore on the first two days of competition with the female combinations representing the Jackaroos in the Development and Under 18 events already claiming unassailable 2-0 leads in their three test series while the remaining four encounters are locked at one test match apiece.
Carla Odgers, from the Lalor Bowling Club in Victoria, led from the front on the opening two days of the time-honoured series by proving too good for her New Zealand singles counterpart Kirsten Griffen winning each of her three matches to date by five, nine and five shots respectively to help secure the winner’s trophy for the Australian Women’s Development Team heading into the third and final day.
Odgers, 22, received exceptional support from team mates Elise Cowan and Samantha Shannahan from Victoria, South Australia’s Renee McPharlin and Kelly Richards from New South Wales with the quintet winning four of their six matches played today while the other two were drawn encounters with the only pairs match and one of the two fours matches played today being squared up 12 -12 and 11-11 respectively.
On the final day of competition tomorrow, each discipline will play another two matches except in the singles and fours events who will only take to the mat on one occasion.
The young Under 18 girls team led by Bribie Island’s Natasha Jones in the singles and supported by Breeanna Dickson (NSW), Ellen Ryan (NSW) and twin sisters from Warilla, Natalie and Samantha Noronha almost secured a clean sweep of matches played for the day save for the seven shot loss to Dickson and Ryan 13-20 at the hands of Kiwi duo Katelyn Inch and Tayla Bruce in the women’s pairs.
In all, the Under 18 girls have surrendered only three of the 12 matches played on the opening two days which has been enough to secure them the overall result regardless of the outcomes tomorrow.
In tomorrow’s matches, the Under 18 girls will resume hostilities in two pairs and two triples matches while only one match remains in the singles and fours to complete their successful campaign in Auckland.
