Warilla wrestle historic National 5 a Side title
Warilla secured a historic third National 5 A Side title at Club Helensvale’s $60,000 event yesterday. The talented Warilla Gorillas claimed their third $60,000 National 5 A Side title yesterday in spectacular fashion, defeating the gallant, star-studded Clayton club – 3 matches to 1.
Warilla, arguably the most consistent and in-form club of the competition, led the field from the opening rubber till the conclusion of the round robbin matches, but the title was ripe for the taking but a quartet of contenders as soon finals action began.
After defeating Club Pine Rivers in the morning matches of their semi-final encounter, Warilla rode a wave of confidence in to the final.
However the underdogs from Clayton were also riding their own high after defeating four-time champions, Helensvale, in their semi-final clash.
Spectators were dished up “some of the best bowls the Club Helensvale greens have ever seen” in the grand final decider.
It was a blow for blow match up in the first of the disciplines with the Warilla team of Greg Jeans, Jesse Noronha and Jeremy Henry winning the triples comprehensively, 14-6 against Winston Brackley, Graeme Archer and Ali Forsyth.
However all was not smooth sailing on the rink next door, as the Clayton duo of Liam Garlick-Adams and Aaron Wilson defeated young superstars Harley McDonald and Aaron Teys 12-8.
With the rink points split between the two clubs, it came down to the blue ribbon singles and fours disciplines to decide the 2015 winner.
Unfortunately for Clayton’s Aaron Wilson, Warilla’s Aaron Teys was in sublime form, with his consistent drawing and accurate conversions keeping Wilson under the pump, eventually posting a 21-8 result.
The win by current Australian Open men’s singles champion Teys sealed the title for the Gorillas as the four boys shook hands at 11-7 in favour of Warilla with just a few ends to go – Clayton unable to make up the 17 shot deficit.
Congratulations to the Warilla team on their third National 5 a side title, and $20,000 first prize winner’s cheque, to Clayton for making their first ever finals appearance and being the best ever performed Victorian team in National 5 A Side history, and to Helensvale and Pine Rivers on finishing equal third in one of the toughest and most prestigious club based events in the country.
