A fourth straight world title looms for Henry
Jeremy Henry has setup an all Australian showdown against David Holt in tomorrow’s semi-final at the World Cup at Warilla.
Henry’s hope of a fourth straight World Cup crown is still alive after he defeated Spain’s Pete Bonsor (a member of Towradgi Park) in straight sets.
Henry was behind by two with just two ends to play in the opening set before he played a classic shot from the Henry play book, making four shots to take a two shot advantage into the ninth end.
Henry took the first set 9-6 and jumped away to an early 4-2 lead in the second.
Bonsor edged his way back into the match leading 5-4 before Henry put his foot down once more and ran away with the second set 9-5.
His semi-final opponent St Johns Park’s David Holt is in red hot form only losing the one match in sectional play at the hands of New Zealand’s Ali Forsyth on his way to securing a semi-finals berth.
The juicy encounter between the two Australian’s was what locals hoped would be the final; however with the random finals draw placing the Aussie’s in the same half of the draw, it means the match-up we have all been hoping for will come one game early.
In the other men’s semi-final giant killer Todd Priaulx of Guernsey will meet Scotland’s Iain McLean after accounting for New Zealand’s Ali Forsyth in a tie break.
Meanwhile, our Australian female hopeful Jamie-Lee Worsnop has kept the dream alive with a stunning victory over Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Colleen Piketh of South Africa.
Worsnop come out all guns blazing to claim the first set before Piketh made her comeback and sent the match into a tie-break.
Worsnop looked down and out dropping the first two ends to trail 0-2; however the teenager from St Johns Park snatched two shots on the third end to force an extra end.
Worsnop dominated with her opening two bowls and forced Piketh to drive and kill the end.
The jack was re-spotted and Worsnop drew the shot to hold the match; Piketh played slightly over-weight attempting to promote her bowl, trail the jack or sit the shot bowl but found the gap.
Worsnop will face Malaysia’s Siti Zalina Ahmad in the biggest match of her short career for her chance to make the World Cup final alongside either Australia’s Jeremy Henry or David Holt.
In the other women’s semi-final Scotland’s Julie Forrest will take on Commonwealth Games Singles Gold medallist Jo Edwards of New Zealand who is aiming to win her fifth World Cup.
Tomorrow, Wednesday April 22, the first women’s singles semi-final between New Zealand and Scotland is on at 9am followed by the all Australian men’s semi-final at 11am.
Jamie Lee will take on Siti Zalina Ahmad of Malaysia at 2:30pm.
The second men’s semi-final is Thursday morning followed by the women’s final at 11am and then the men’s final at 2:30pm.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes like Jamie-Lee Worsnop who are in the 2015 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program (formerly known as ‘Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad’ program).
NextGEN AUSComGames was devised by the ACGA to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2018 and/or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes; these players will be showcased at the 2015 World Junior Championships, 2015 Trans Tasman and 2015 World Cup.
