State Singles Heat up at Morley
Played Monday 27th January 2014 The Taylor Bowls State Singles semi finalists put on a show at the Morley Bowling Club this morning. With deft drawing, accurate running shots and big drives, the healthy crowd were kept entertained all morning as the winners booked their place in the afternoon final.
The much anticipated contest between John Slavich (Doubleview) and Daniel Brown (Kardinya) was played at a furious pace with both players looking to score multiples and race to the finish. With two 4’s and five 3’s and only eight singles between the pair during the game, it was a case of who could stop the other first. In the end it was John Slavich who came out on top with a 25-16 win and a place in his first State Singles final.
The second semi final was a much more controlled affair between Stuart Bainbridge (Doubleview) and Scott Walker (South Perth). Bainbridge lost the first shot but soon found himself well in front as he continually put Walker under pressure to lead 12-3. As the breeze increased across the green, Walker began to gain some control and with a three, three, two and one found himself down 12-13. However Bainbridge steadied and slowly built his lead into a match winning one that Walker would not be able to pull in. Bainbridge was denied his first chance at winning the match when Walker sat the Bainbridge bowl with his last bowl to keep the game going but Bainbridge was not to be denied and finished it off the following end to win 25-18.
The first semi final of the Women’s State Singles was a nip and tuck affair late in the game between two past champions looking to add to their silverware. Bev Baker (Mosman Park) started positively and was three nil up over the Women’s State Squad member, Therese Hastings. Hastings picked her game up and slowly edged away to build a sizeable lead 15-6. With a big defeat looking a possibility, Baker lifted herself up to creep back in the match and over the next 12 ends kept making ground to tie the game up at 20-20. With momentum against her, Hastings showed all her experience and won the next four ends to run out a 25-20 victor and a chance to add a fourth State Singles title to her resume.
The second semi final between Linda Warburton and Anne Crabb started as the close game of the round before Warburton gradually pulled away. At 8-6 after eight ends it looked like the match would continue all day as neither girl gave an inch. However as the game continued Warburton kept having the shot at the conclusion of the end and put together a run of seven consecutive scoring ends to lead 14-6. Crabb showed some fight by grabbing singles on the next three ends but always looked to be behind the eight ball as Warburton kept steady under pressure. Although the contest was evenly matched until the game finished, the string of ends that Warburton put together during the middle stages told the difference. Warburton eventually ran out the winner 25-15 to put herself in her first State Singles final.
Men’s Taylor Bowls State Singles Final
John Slavich (Doubleview) v Stuart Bainbridge (Doubleview)
Women’s Taylor Bowls State Singles Final
Therese Hastings (Manning) v Linda Warburton (Mosman Park)
