Thulborn and Howie go head to head

by admin on October 14, 2014

South Australian ace Scott Thulborn has set up an all or nothing encounter with former Australian ‘A’ Squad member Andrew Howie at the Australian Champion of Champions.

Thulborn defeated Tasmania’s David Genford in their second round match at Taren Point Bowling Club 21-15. 

With only three players in their section, Howie and Thulborn are both one game winners and their third round encounter will see the winner advance to tomorrow’s men’s singles final. 

Western Australia’s Bowler of the Year, Thomas Mitchell will come up against Victoria’s Ben Loughlin in the deciding match of their section. 

Both players are undefeated and the winner will progress to tomorrow’s final against the winner of Howie and Thulborn. 

Things are tight in the women’s sections with results in the second round matches ensuring all third round games could impact the top of the tables. 

In section two, Tasmania’s Mary Beaumont is leading the way as the only two game winner in her section.

Beaumont will face South Australia’s Sue Coultas in the third round who will be looking to square things up at two games apiece and force a count-back. 

ACT’s Margaret Bacchetto will need to win her final sectional match against QLD to force a three way count-back pending a favourable result in the South Australia verse Tasmania match. 

Katrina Wright (NSW) and Alison Hall (VIC) were both first round winners when they met. 

It was Hall putting all the pressure of the former Australian representative leading for the entire match until Wright squared things up at 19-19. 

On what was the final end of the match, Hall put two bowls inches off the jack leaving Wright with only one option, to drive. 

Wright was narrowly off target; in what was an extremely entertaining match it went the way of Hall 21-19 who now leads section one with two wins. 

Hall is delighted to be participating at an Australian event after illness has hindered her game. 

“I feel reasonably settled and the greens are beautiful here at Taren Point, I feel a bit lucky to get away with my last game but it was a hard fought match,” Hall said. 

Hall will meet the 2013 Australian Champion of Champions winner Noelene Abe who can remain in the hunt for back to back titles with a victory over Hall in the final sectional game. 

Australian Champion of Champion Singles Second Round Results:

MEN

Andrew Howie (ACT) Bye
Scott Thulborn (SA) def David Genford (TAS) 21-15
Jade Groenewege (NT) def by Thomas Mitchell (WA) 11-21
Ben Loughlin (VIC) def Todd Fuller (NSW) 21-8

WOMEN

Katrina Wright (NSW) def by Alison Hall (VIC) 19-21
Lyn Derrick (NT) def by Noelene Abe (WA) 8-21
Margaret Bacchetto (ACT) def Sue Coultas (SA) 21-13
Helen Annan (QLD) def by Mary Beaumont (TAS) 10-21

Australian Champion of Champion Singles First Round Results:

Men’s 

Scott Thulborn (SA) Bye
Andrew Howie (ACT) def David Genford (TAS) 21-19
Jade Groenewege (NT) def by Ben Loughlin (VIC) 18-21
Todd Fuller (NSW) def by Thomas Mitchell (WA) 12-21

Women’s 

Katrina Wright (NSW) def Noelene Abe (WA) 21-8
Lyn Derrick (NT) def by Alison Hall (VIC) 10-21
Mary Beaumont (TAS) def Margaret Bacchetto (ACT) 21-14
Sue Coultas (SA) def Helen Annan (QLD) 21-16

For more information on the Champion of Champions click here.