World Singles Champion of Champions day two wrap
Queensland NTC Coach Brett Wilkie has provided an insight into the second day’s play at the World Singles Champion of Champions event at Club Helensvale. Day 2: It was a fine morning at Club Helensvale; today the top green was is a little quicker around 14.5-15 seconds with an uncharacteristic early morning gusty breeze.
The breeze eased of a little in the afternoon.
Rd 3: Katrina Wright vs Dee McSparran – USA
Wright started well going away from the clubhouse picking up ends 1 and 3 but struggled coming back towards the club with Dee picking up ends 2 and 4 to lead 5-4.
After another good end going away from the club Wright picked up a 3; Katrina then opted to change the length and mat placement which worked with her claiming 1 shot to lead 8-5 after 6 ends.
The next end was good from both players until Wright pulled off a big conversion with her last bowl to trail jack for two and an important break of 10-5.
USA responded with a trail of the jack herself with her last on the next end to pick up 3 and reduce the gap to 10-8 with just one end to play.
A solid last end from Wright gave her 2 shots to win first set 12-8.
Katrina started dominating in the second set to lead 7-1 after 4 ends and then 13 -1 after 8.
USA picked up 2 shots on the last end; Katrina won the match 12-8, 13-3.
Rd 3: Scott Thulborn vs Lee Williamson – England
This was an important game for both players as Lee Williamson had won first his first two rounds in straight sets yesterday against Singapore and Fiji.
Both men started well and went one for one to be 2 all after 4 ends.
Williamson brought the mat up and rolled the jack into the ditch, Thulborn then took the opportunity to stretch out the length and picked up two 1’s to lead 4-2 after 6 ends.
The seventh end was a good one from both players with Thulborn just missing on the wrong side of Williamson’s bowl to sit or trail for 3 shots; 1 shot to Williamson who then quickly shortened the length and added another to his tally after Thulborn narrowly missed a drive with 2 seconds; it was now 4 all after 8 ends.
With the mat up and jack on the T, Williamson trailed the jack to hold 1, Thulborn then missed two conversion attempts to lose the first set 4-5.
After trading three more 1’s in the second set, Thulborn held three until Williamson nailed it with his last; a great drive from Thulborn clipped Williamson out clean to hold three again until Williamson narrowly misses drawing the shot; Thulborn held onto 2 and the first multiple of the match to lead 4-1 after 4 ends.
Williamson nailed it on next end before Thulborn drove it out and put the jack in ditch. Thulborn won the battle of drawing to the ditch to grab 1 shot and a 5-1 lead. Thulborn held onto this lead to eventually take the second set 8-4 and force the match into a tie break.
Williamson rolled the jack short which gave Thulborn the opportunity to go long on the first tie break end; Williamson had been better on short ends with Thulborn favouring the longer ends.
Thulborn picked up 1 and then backed it up with a 3 next end to lead 4-0 going into the third and final end. Keeping things tight, Thulborn dropped 2 and won the match 4-5, 8-4, 4-2.
Rd 4: Katrina Wright vs Emma Woodcock – Wales
This game was the opposite for Wright than the morning game where she found it easier going back to the club instead of away for the first few ends.
With the score at 4 all after 4 ends, Woodcock picked up the next two ends to lead 6-4. A great reply from Wright on the next end to pick up 3 shots and regain the lead 7-6.
Not to be outdone Woodcock responded strongly on the next end with three great shots until Katrina drove one out with her third bowl and missed the other two with her last.
With Woodcock leading by one going into the last end, Wright held two good shots to hold the set until Woodcock drew a front toucher with her last bowl. Trying to sit or trail the jack, Wright ran into a short bowl; consequently the first set went to Emma Woodcock 9-7.
A fantastic start to the second set by Katrina Wright picking up 3 shots.
The pair traded ends with Wright holding the upper hand to lead 8-5 after 7 until a loose end from Woodcock handed Wright a full count of four which gave her a 12-5 lead with an end to play. A single on the last gave Wright the second set 13-5 forcing the match into a tie break.
A tight first end of the tie break with both players within two inches but it was one to Emma Woodcock to take the early advantage.
A good second end from Woodcock to pick up 3 shots and a deadly 4 shot buffer going into the last end.
Needing to trail the jack 10 feet to claim 4, Katrina trailed the jack with perfect weight but the jack went straight to Woodcock’s last positional bowl, a great attempt but Woodcock prevailed 9-7, 5-13, 5-0. Both played well and this match could have gone either way.
Katrina Wright sits in fourth although there is only one undefeated player (South Africa) who she hasn’t played yet, she has already had her bye as well.
Rd 4: Scott Thulborn vs Morgan Muvhango – South Africa
Thulborn came out firing with Morgan struggling to find the rink in the early stages. Thulborn led 5-0 after 2 ends with Morgan bouncing back with two singles to reduce it to 5-2.
Thulborn continued to keep the upper hand going into the last end 8-3 up before dropping a 3 to win the first set by just 2, 8-6.
A great start to second set by Thulborn holding 2 until Morgan played a perfect runner to rip them both out to claim 2.
With Morgan now playing more consistently the pair traded ends until Morgan led 5-3 after 6 ends.
One down Thulborn drives and rips both of Morgan’s bowls out to hold three, Morgan draws third shot, Thulborn draws another to grab 3 and lead 6-5 after 7.
A great eighth end from both players with Morgan prevailing with 1 to tie the set going into the last end at 6 all.
Morgan nails the jack until Thulborn killed the end, Morgan once again nailed the re-spotted jack to hold the second set with Thulborn having one bowl left to play.
Thulborn played a perfect reaching shot to sit the shot bowl out and stay to hold shot and win the second set and the game 8-6, 7-6.
This win gives Thulborn 4 wins from 4 games; he now plays Pete Bonsor from Spain in the morning who has won 3 from 3 matches.
To view all of the men’s results click here.
To view of the women’s results click here.
Click here to read about what happened on the opening day.
