Golden girls add icing to the cake!
WA Women def. ACT 68-64; Men win 79-54 Western Australia’s triumphant women have finished the National Over 60 Sides Championships on a high, with a come from behind win against the valiant Australian Capital Territory. Our girls could be forgiven for making the slower start but there was no hangover from last night’s celebrations as WA stormed home to win 68-64 over an ACT side that yesterday gave our team reason to pop the champagne prematurely at Tweed Heads.
While the final round win to Lee Poletti’s rink comprising Bev Baker, Rinske Butcher and Susan Delaporte and loss for Kaye Blackwell’s side that consisted of Rhonda Prosser, Vicki Spragg and Anne Crabb meant those ladies all finished with three wins and three losses, it was the recently retired state skipper Kathy Gobbart and her experienced team of Kerry Andersen, Janne Gibsone and Julie Savell that stole the show – winning five and drawing one – ensuring they too remained undefeated during the four-day competition.
Manager Susan Hogg and selector Ann Drayson could not have been prouder of the ladies’ efforts, not just this week but throughout their preparation for this prestigious event and will no doubt enjoy the hard-earned success.
Meanwhile, Men’s Manager Roger Barns and selectors Brian Burton and Mike Zusman were encouraged by the lads’ strong finish; a 79-54 win over the ACT when they trailed by as many as 20 early in the game complemented the big wins against the NT and Victoria yesterday.
Earlier defeats to NSW and Queensland meant the side finished equal-second with NSW retaining their title and home-state Queensland placing one rung higher on the ladder with 16 rink wins. WA achieved another podium finish with 14 rink wins, just edging out long-time rivals Victoria with 13.5.
More photos and the announcement of both the Beryl Brennan and McKenzie/Barns medals for the Women’s and Men’s Player of the Series respectively to follow…