World Singles Champion of Champions day one wrap
Day 1 – Good conditions at Club Helensvale, with the greens running about 14, albeit with a slight breeze and patchy cloud coverage.
Rd 1: Scott Thulborn v Alexander Barkley – Zambia
Thurlborn started well to take the lead 3-0 before a couple of loose ends saw the score at 5 all.
He won the next end and shortened the length which worked well, finishing off strong to win the set 11-5.
He continued this form on short ends into the second set taking a 9-0 lead after 4 ends, and went on to produce a dominant 17-4 victory.
Rd 1: Katrina Wright v Jane Rigby – Zimbabwe
Wright had her work cut out for her, with Rigby boasting experience competing in World Bowls, Commonwealth Games singles, where she has made a quarter-final, and the World Cup.
She had been sick since travelling to our shores and it was somewhat unclear whether she would play in her opening rubber.
Wright began in reasonable fashion, but was halted by Jane getting one close each end. 3-1, after 4.
She sound found form, pushing her lead out to 9-1 after 7 before a dropping a 3, which led to raised confidence from Rigby and another two good shots on the next end, resulting in a 9-6 first set.
Wright started well picking up 2 on the first end of the second set before dropping 5 shots over the next two ends to trail 2-5 after 3 ends.
The former Australian representative responded with a couple good ends of her own to regain the lead 7-5, she then held another two before a great conversions from the Zimbabwean to claim 2 shots and a 7 all scoreline after 6.
A change of length worked for Rigby, with 5 shots over the next two ends to lead 12-7 with one end to play, while Wright finished with 3 on the final end to lose the second set 10-12.
Rigby picked up one shot on the first two tie breaks ends with Wright unsuccessful in trying to convert on both ends.
On the last, Rigby rolled the jack into ditch, and was then that Wright seized her opportunity, brining the mat up and peppering the jack with to claim 4 shots and the match 4-2 in the tie-break.
Rd 2: Scott v Russell Forsyth – Japan
A solid start from Thulborn saw him out to a 4-1 lead after 4 ends.
He held another on the fifth end until a good conversion from Forysth put him on the scoreboard with 1 shot.
Thulborn was drawing well and strung a few good ends together to run away to a 10-2 lead after 8 ends, before Forsyth collected two shots on the last end to round out the first set scoreline to 10-4 in the Australian’s favour.
The second set was a lot closer with Thulborn not quite as consistent as in the first set.
Leading 3-2 after 3 he then had a solid end, picking up 3 to extend his lead to 6-2.
After trading ends, Thulborn led 8-3 after 7 where he had a loose end only leaving one bowl in the head, a perfect drive from Forsyth killed the end and took out Thulborn’s shot to claim 3 and put him within 2 shots going into the last end of the set.
Identifying the imminent danger, Thulborn reverted to defensive tactics to ensure he didn’t drop any more than 2, which is what eventuated, resulting in a tied set, 8-8 and a second win to the Australian.
Rd 2: Katrina had a BYE.
Tuesday 17th November
9am: Rd 3 – Katrina v Dee McSparran USA
11am: Rd 3 – Scott v Lee Williamson England
1pm: Rd 4 – Katrina v Emma Woodcock Wales
3pm: Rd 4 – Scott v Morgan Muvhango South Africa
Results of play on Day 1:
Men: Sec.1: Rd.1: Scott Thulborn (Aus) bt Alex Barkley (Zam) 11-5 17-4, Russell Forsyth (Jpn) bt Waisea Senibici (Fij) 4-12 11-5 6-1, Morgan Muvhango (RSA) bt Alf Wallace (Can) 12-10 9-11 2-1, Pete Bonsor (ESP) bt Tim Morton (Bot) 12-3 8-6, Lee Williamson (Eng) bt Terence Lee (Sin) 11-2 11-2. Rd.2: Lee bt Barkley 8-7 14-4, Thulborn bt Forsyth 10-4 8-8, Bonsor bt Muvhango 10-3 9-5, Williamson bt Senibici 15-2 12-8, Boaz Markus (Isr) bt Morton 7-6 13-4.
Men: …
