Big V seize their golden chance

by admin on October 2, 2014

Victoria have taken the early ascendancy at the Australian Under-18 Championships in Nightcliff on the final morning, claiming the spoils in both gold medal deciders over perennial powerhouse Queensland.

The Big V were able to produce a performance one better than last year’s attempt in Sorrento, Western Australia, in the boy’s fours, where they fell short on the last hurdle to NSW, clawing their way back from a 9 shot deficit to claim a momentous come-from-behind victory.

Jayde Christie, Curtis Hanley, Ben Cotter and Joshua Corless dug deep after a sluggish start in the gold medal decider, after finding themselves 5-14 down at the half-way mark of the match, posting a result on the next six consecutive ends to steal the lead and hang on to 16-15 victory, after allowing Queensland just one shot on the last end.

In contrasting match on the adjacent rink, Victoria lead from go-to-woe, with Tiffany Brodie, Cody Sylvester, Elise Rigoni and Tayla Morison producing a comprehensive 19-9 victory to go back-to-back in the discipline.

Despite confirming the colour of their first two medals as silver, the Maroons still have the opportunity to medal in each of the remaining six disciplines later today.

The traditionally formidable Queensland contingent can still secure four gold medals from the nation’s premier junior competition, while their girls’ pairs and boys’ triples will attempt to clinch bronze medals over the course of the day.

Victoria will have two further opportunities to strike gold, in the boy’s singles and triples, and are well placed to secure the coveted boys’ trophy, which has eluded them since 1997.

NSW secured the bronze medal in the girls’ fours, over South Australia 16-11, and Western Australia claimed the final medal in the boys’ fours, defeating Tasmania 17-14.

The 2014 Australian Under-18 Championships continues at Nightcliff, Darwin from 12.00pm ACST, with the boy’s triples and pairs, and girls’ singles deciders, and then the boys’ singles and girls’ pairs and triples from 2.45pm.
Caption: Victoria’s boys’ fours hang on to claim the first gold of the tournament.