Scott the undisputed singles champion
Natasha Scott has confirmed that she is far and away the nation’s most in-form female singles player, adding the illustrious indoor title to her already claimed Australian Open and Australian Champion of Champions singles crowns secured over the past 12 months. Natasha Scott has produced a spectacular come-from-behind victory in the final of the Australian Indoor Championships against fellow Australian Jackaroo Rebecca Van Asch to secure the unprecedented double, the indoor and outdoor national singles titles in the same calendar year.
Rebecca Van Asch was dominating the match in the early stages and through precision draw shots, the Tasmanian’s hopes of becoming the first from the Apple Isle to win the coveted national indoor title looked promising.
Van Asch led the first set 8-2 after seven ends; however Natasha Scott’s count of three on the second last end meant Australia’s number one ranked bowler was going to make Van Asch work for the all-important first set, and history felt like it could have been repeating itself with the 5-8 score line identical to Scott’s semi-final against Samantha Noronha.
The first set ended dramatically with Natasha Scott playing the perfect end to hold four for a drawn set; Van Asch’s last bowl came after she was forced to hop off the mat and regather her thoughts following a distracting comment in the crowd at the most testing moment.
Van Asch delivered the goods with a final drive that saw three of Scott’s bowls ripped away from the head and favour in the hands of the World Pairs Champion.
“Over the moon is an understatement at the moment, it was an absolute cracker of a game out there with Bec and I suppose it was great for the audience to come down to the last end, and pretty much the last bowl too,” Scott said after prevailing.
“To go out there any win it was unbelievable and I don’t think it’s even sunk-in yet.
“I’m pretty glad that this is over and I can pair up with her in a team event later in the year at the World Bowls Championships.
“I knew that it was going to be tough out there, we’re both fighters and we certainly showed that in the game today.”
By virtue of her win, Scott is afforded the nation’s position in the 2017 World Cup, but said she wasn’t fully aware of the additional reward.
“I didn’t realise that this leads into the World Cup when I started the event so I’ll be focusing on preparing for that, and I’ll definitely be back in Tweed next year to defend this title,” Scott added.
Testament to her stellar form over the past two years, Scott has now won the past two female bowler of the year awards, as determined by the National Ranking System, the most recent Australian Champion of Champion singles, the Australian Open singles and the Australian Indoor singles crowns.
Van Asch was gracious in defeat and said she would put the match behind her and focus on the path the lies ahead, which includes uniting with her opponent later in the year at the World Bowls Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.
“I think going in everyone expected a close final between us and fortunately we delivered on that and it came down to the very last end of the tie-break and probably the last bowl or two so it was close, unfortunately not my way, but I’m happy with my performance and wrapped to get through to the final anyway,” Van Asch said graciously.
“This is my best result so far and I’ll be trying to go one better next time.”
The Australian Indoor Championships continues at Tweed Heads Bowls Club, with the men’s final between Jeremey Henry and Curtis Hanley to commenced at 2.00pm.
