NSW extend their unbeaten run
NSW’s Alley Shield and Marj Morris Trophy campaigns gathered further momentum on the second day of the Australian Sides Championships in Perth this morning.
While the tournament is not yet at the halfway point, the Blues, who are looking to claim the men’s silverware for an eighth time since the millennium and are hunting the women’s honours for a record fourth consecutive time, have established themselves as the clear front-runners after progressing through the third session unscathed.
Despite coming up against a parochial host state in Western Australia in this morning’s third rubber, the Blues record a comprehensive 30 shot win in the women’s event, notwithstanding WA NTC Coach Therese Hastings’ rink getting the better of Australian veteran Kelsey Cottrell’s by one shot, while the men were forced to settle for a 13 shot win, with crowd favourite Matthew Ellul’s rink doing their part to appease the local spectators, tying his match against Commonwealth Games gold medallist Wayne Turley 17-all.
The Blues toughest test yet will come in their next encounter, where they face an inform Queensland contingent, who has made amends for their shock opening round upset to South Australia with a comprehensive win over the Northern Territory this morning in both genders, on the back of yesterday’s second round victory against Tasmania.
The encounter between traditional powerhouses NSW and Queensland could shape the final placings, particularly in the women’s event, after South Australia dropped their one game cushion to Tasmania this morning, resulting in a log jam of contenders hovering on two wins.
The croweaters remain well and truly in the hunt in the men’s competition, after notching up a 66-47 win against the Tigers to keep their record intact, but they too face a steep challenge in their next rubber against Victoria.
If NSW and South Australia both prevail, it could set up a blockbuster penultimate round decider between the two states in round 6 tomorrow afternoon.
Round four the seven round event will see Western Australia looking to enter the winners’ circle against Northern Territory, South Australia tested against Victoria, Tasmania and ACT both looking to climb up the ladder, and the showdown between NSW and Queensland.
NSW lead the race for the best skipped rink in both genders, with Aron Sherriff paving the way in the men’s while Karen Murphy headlines the women’s.
Click here for full rink scores and a ladder standing for both genders.
Round three scores:
Men
Victoria defeated ACT 89-34
Queensland def Northern Territory 85-46
South Australia def Tasmania 60-35
NSW def Western Australia 57-44
Women
Victoria def ACT 59-50
Queensland def NT 95-31
Tasmania def South Australia 66-47
NSW def Western Australia 75-45
Caption: Andrew Howie is currently part of the men’s best skipped rink, playing second to Aron Sherriff, after moving across from ACT to NSW this year.
