The Nationals: ACT claim mixed pairs crown in final-end thriller
It took until the final bowl of Monday evening to determine a winner in the Australian Championships mixed pairs competition at Broadbeach, with a duo from the ACT coming away victorious.
Gayle Young and Matt Styles will return to the nation’s capital after an undefeated campaign on the Gold Coast.
The day started a little slow for the eventual champions, drawing 16-16 with Victoria in their first of three sectional matches.
A one-shot win over Western Australia in their second match kept them in the hunt for a place in a medal match.
They entered their final pool match against the Northern Territory needing a win and a Victorian loss to feature in the gold medal match, and that is exactly what took place.
Young and Styles trailed the NT by 8-shots late in the game, but stormed home to claim the top spot in their section, with WA knocking off Victoria to feature in the bronze playoff match.
The ACT would go on the face NSW in the playoff for gold, with Claire Kelly and Shannon White advancing.
They started the day on a high, defeating pre-event favourites in Queensland’s Kelsey Cottrell and Nick Cahill to set themselves up.
Two more wins secured their spot in the final, with rain descending on Broadbeach.
NSW held the advantage for much of the final, but just as they did all day, ACT fought their way back, levelling the scores at 11-11 with one end to play.
Young played the shot of the day to hold game and eventually secure the title with a 12-11 win.
Young and Styles finished the day undefeated, but remarkably with a shot difference of just +3 after four matches.
Cottrell and Cahill secured bronze with a dominant 21-5 bronze playoff win.
Australian Championships action continues at Broadbeach on Tuesday with triples action.
2022 Australian Championships – Mixed Pairs
Gold: Gayle Young & Matt Styles (ACT)
Silver: Claire Kelly & Shannon White (NSW)
Bronze: Kelsey Cottrell & Nick Cahill (QLD)
