The blues are back in town
The NSW Blues took a step towards defending their Alley Shield and Marj Morris Trophies on the opening day of the Australian Sides Championships in Queanbeyan. The NSW Blues have taken a small step towards defending their Australian Sides Championships silverware today, finishing the opening day’s play in pole position of both the men’s and women’s competitions.
The Blues, who are gunning for a record-breaking fifth consecutive Marj Morris Trophy, were one of just two teams to prevail in both rounds of the women’s event in Queanbeyan today, toppling Western Australia 76-43 to commence proceedings, before upstaging Tasmania in the afternoon session 65-49.
Despite a strong start, they didn’t manage to keep their unblemished record intact, having dropped one of the three rinks this morning, and tied another this afternoon, which opened up the field for their Victorian opposition.
The Big V produced a clinical display against perennial powerhouse Queensland in the first rubber, 73-46, before overcoming South Australia 56-51, meaning a score difference of 17 shots is all that separates the two states.
Western Australia and ACT still remain in the hunt, with one one win each; the Sandgropers coming courtesy of a 58-53 victory over host state ACT in the last round, while the capitals took the points from the first round against Tasmania, 61-59, despite only winning one of the three rinks on offer.
The Tigers, Croweaters and Maroons are yet to join the winners circle in the women’s event.
Australia’s most capped international player, Karen Murphy, leads the best performed rink for NSW, with a 12 shot differential better than her Jackaroo team Carla Krizanic from Victoria.
NSW are also in red-hot form in the men’s competition, where they are attempting to defend their Alley Shield, with an untarnished record after two rounds.
All three of the Blues rinks, skipped by Aron Sherriff, Wayne Turley and David Ferguson, enjoyed a golden start to the event, with wins against Western Australia’s Pieter Harris, Scott Edmonds and Matthew Ellul, totalling 64-44, followed by Tasmania’s Lee Schraner, Michael Sims and Mark Nitz, 74-44.
Again, Victoria trail closely behind though, just two rink wins shy in the men’s field.
The Victorian outfit powered past Queensland, who claimed the men’s Shield two years ago, 67-53, and then withstood a late attack from South Australia to take the match points 54-49 in their second encounter.
There’s a log jam of teams on one win, including Queensland, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania, with Western Australia and Northern Territory winless so far.
Ocean Grove’s Matthew Flapper and Club Helensvale’s Mark Casey are equal on best performed rinks so far, followed by local hope Andrew Howie from ACT.
The Australian Sides Championships continues at Queanbeyan RSL Memorial Bowling Club and Queanbeyan Bowling Club until Sunday afternoon, with five more rounds to be staged.
Click here to view the men’s results.
Click here to view the women’s results.
Day one results:
Alley Shield:
Round 1: SA bt NT 60-41, NSW bt WA 64-44, TAS bt ACT 60-56, VIC bt QLD 67-53
Round 2: VIC bt SA 54-49, QLD bt NT 71-42, ACT bt WA 68-60, NSW bt TAS 74-44
Marj Morris Trophy:
Round 1: VIC bt QLD 73-46, NSW bt WA 76-43, ACT bt TAS 61-59
Round 2: NSW bt TAS 65-49, WA bt ACT 58-53, VIC bt SA 56-51
