Superb Henry on the final stretch
Reigning champions Jeremy Henry and Alison Merrien are through to the 2013 World Cup finals at Warilla Bowling Club today, as Mike Gandon reports for the Illawarra Mercury.
Australia’s No 1 men’s player Henry, the bowls co-ordinator at Warilla BC and formerly of Northern Ireland, yesterday won his men’s semi-final against Malta’s Leonard Callus.
Even though he was playing well, Henry dropped the first set 4-10 then proved his dominance and championship qualities to pull away 12-1 and 5-0 in the tie-break.
“I played well in the first set but his last ball was unbelievable,” Henry said.
“Sometimes you just have to hold your hand up and say, well played. Simple as that.
“I was lucky enough to get two twos at the start of the second set which was crucial.
“It was crucial to get out of the blocks in the second set.
“He lost a little bit of heart because I went up 7-0, 9-0, 11-0.
“You’re preparing yourself for the tie-break and I was lucky enough to get two twos in the first hands of the tie-break.”
The men’s second semi-final between Scotland’s Graeme Archer and New Zealand’s Tony Grantham will be played this morning with the winner to face Henry in the final.
Earlier, Merrien from Guernsey downed Canada’s Kelly McKerihen in the first women’s semi-final 8-8 8-3.
The women’s second semi-final between Australia’s No 1 Karen Murphy and 2011 champion New Zealander Jo Edwards was a tight affair before Edwards prevailed 9-7 9-7.
Edwards was in control in the first game but Murphy was in front in the second until the last end.
With Edwards holding three, Murphy had a drive but missed, giving the match to the Kiwi.
The women’s final between last year’s finalists Merrien and Edwards starts today at 11am followed by the men’s at 2pm.
