Croweaters come out firing at Australian Sides Championships

by admin on March 31, 2014

South Australia has signalled its intentions at the Australian Sides Championships, recording a huge upset over defending titleholders NSW in the race for the Alley Shield and Marj Morris Trophy. The Croweaters, who are gunning for a maiden Trophy in the women’s competition and only their second ever Shield win in the men’s event, opened proceedings with a 59-52 victory over the Blues – who captured both silverware last year – across the three rinks in the men and secured a slender 3-shot margin in the women, 52-49. The South Australian men’s contingent continued their form into the second rubber, backing it up with a dominant 82-45 performance against the Western Australian line-up to conclude the opening day’s play ahead of six of the other state and territories. Leading the standings for the men by half a rink however are the Victorian team, who last claimed the honours in 2002, having posted a 96-35 smashing of the Northern Territory and a 68-52 win over host state Tasmania. The South Australian women had a reversal of form after their stunning first round, unable to account for the Sandgropers 52-65 – who also edged out ACT to finish the day in second place with 5 out of 6 rink wins. Victoria emerged as a genuine contender in the women’s event, a rink win clear of Western Australia after recording a 79-54 victory over the Top Enders and posting a 68-45 result against the Tigers. The third round of the Australian Sides Championships commences at 9.00am tomorrow morning at South Burnie and will see NSW take on Western Australia, Victoria face Queensland, Northern Territory pitted against Tasmania and South Australia square off against ACT. Click here for full results from the Australian Sides Championships.