WA head off for Interstate glory
Australian Sides Championships preview The Western Australian State Side has jetted off to Adelaide to compete against the other states and territories once again. The Australian Sides Championships starts Thursday morning at Lockley’s Bowling Club and the WA team goes over full of optimism and confidence they can live up to the billing. It’s time to take a look at the key factors that could decide how well the side performs.
Changes
Ins: Helen Heal (Manning), Shane Knott (Manning), Rhonda Prosser (North Beach), John Slavich (Doubleview), Kelli Wray (Manning)
There are two debuts at this years side series with Helen Heal and Rhonda Prosser both coming into the women’s team for the first time. Kelli Wray returns as a late call up after spending time in South Australia. John Slavich caps off an outstanding two seasons making his comeback after some time off while Shane Knott regains his place after a couple of seasons out of the side.
Outs: Noelene Abe, Scott Edmonds, Matthew Ellul, Denise Kelly, Linda Warburton
The big news is the late withdrawal of Noelene Abe who was set to play as a skipper at the series. She’ll have to watch from the sidelines for the first time in many years. Scott Edmonds and Denise Kelly have had to make way for others who forced their way into the side. Matt Ellul pulled out of the selection process late while Linda Warburton has retired from the WA side.
The Rinks
Pieter Harris (Cambridge), Kyle McIlroy (Doubleview), Daniel Patterson (Cambridge), Corey Bessant (Doubleview)
This rink is a blend of experience and youth. Harris and McIlroy possess over 350 state games between them while Patterson adds energy up front and is becoming a more experienced team member. Bessant makes his second Side Series appearance and has improved with every season locally. Expect this rink to keep it tight and be the anchor the side needs.
Thomas Mitchell (Manning), Clive Adams (Cambridge), Shane Knott, Cody Packer (Osborne Park)
The backend of this rink has six Rosenthal Medals between them, including a shared one, and can get the team out of any trouble on sheer ability. Packer is becoming a more senior player having been in the side for some time now and Knott is now a premiership hero after carrying the aggregate in Sunday’s grand final. This rink has the potential to go big this week.
John Slavich, Matthew Mitchell (Manning), Bill Brandsma (Doubleview), Lewis Grigg (Osborne Park)
Slavich’s return brings a different dynamic to the team and has the ability to make a lot out of not much. Mitchell will be keen to step up as he moves up to three in just in his second Sides Series. Brandsma is vastly experienced at local level and brings a cool head and keen game sense. Grigg is the reigning Eddy-Wishart Medal winner and has shown the ability to set the team up from the front. It’s an inexperienced rink but one that could shape the fortunes of the side as a whole.
Lisa Featherby (Mosman Park), Shari Solly (Manning), Rhonda Prosser, Toni Madigan (Manning)
Featherby has made the step up to skip before and has shown she can match it with the best at the last National Champion of Champions. Shari Solly has been in the side for while now and brings solidity at the three. Debutant Prosser and Madigan have already forged a strong bond and innate sense of teamwork at the front end. Despite losing one of WA’s finest this is a rink that could prove to be the surprise packet of the tournament.
Kristina Krstic (Manning), Hailey Adams (Osborne Park), Kelli Wray (Manning), Shenayde Heldt (Manning)
Krstic is WA’s only Australian squad member and headlines a solid side that includes last year’s two best players, including herself. Adams moves up to play third in the reshuffle which is a role which should suit her down to the ground. The late-in Wray is vastly experienced for both WA and South Australia while Heldt is now one of the team’s longest serving members and last year’s joint best player. This deep side should be a handful.
Helen Morss (Manning), Laura Merz (Manning), Robyn O’Brien (Manning), Helen Heal
Morss has won state events in all three disciplines this season and looks odds on for the Connie Hicks Brooch. Merz has made a successful transition form lead to third thus far and shows no reason why that can’t continue. O’Brien has now had a couple of years to settle into the side and will be ready to make her mark and the debutant Heal showed her ability with a runner up finish in the State Singles. With the quality of this team and the awesome form of Morss this rink could be the game breaker.
The Key Players
Tom Mitchell
Mitchell’s ability is unquestioned and with four Rosenthal’s to his name he has been the pick of WA bowlers over the last few years. He moves back up to skip this year after last fulfilling the role at Yokine where he won the Eddy-Wishart medal for best player for WA. At his best Mitchell is an absolute weapon who can play every shot in the book. He can sometimes lack the confidence some others possess but when he is up and about he is as good as any player he comes up against. Having soon to be 200 gamer Adams as his third could provide the steadying influence he needs to be the best player at the tournament.
Kristina Krstic
Unquestionably the current pride of WA bowls Krstic is fresh off a semi-final performance at the Under 25 World Championships and comes to the tournament with form. Getting more comfortable at the highest level Krstic will have a point to prove with the Commonwealth Games coming up next year. With a steady side in front of her Krstic will likely have the support she needs to flourish and when in trouble has the potential to draw her way out of anything. Definitely the player the side wants with the last bowl for an aggregate.
The Wildcards
John Slavich
Slavich’s return changes the feel of the side completely allowing teammates to feed off his hunger and passion. A leader of men who commands respect at the head Slavich will be able to keep his lest experienced side together through the toughest of times. Slavich has the ability to put up shots in a hurry and that ability to spurt can change games. A big series from “Chevy” and his rink would likely coincide with a big series for WA.
Helen Morss
Morss has been in inspired form this season and could end up being the first WA player to pull off a grand slam of state titles. Morss is something totally different in the women’s game with her ability and willingness to attack the head making her more unpredictable than most. Her aggression can occasionally see her drop scores but when she is hitting she is near on unstoppable. This leads to aggregate saving wins which could prove the difference between a good and not so good finish at the side series.
Time to Step Up
Matthew Mitchell
Despite being in only his second side series Mitchell has been asked to slide up to the three slot. Despite it being unchartered territory for him at state level his local performances over a number of years indicates that he has the ability to make the jump. With Slavich up the other end he can have every confidence in what’s to come should he fail and will have the knowledge that should he succeed his side will have a great chance at winning the end. If he can produce his best at the Side Series to support his side it could be a tremendously successful rink.
Lisa Featherby
Although not new to skippering at state level it’s not a role Featherby thought she’d be taking on at Adelaide six weeks ago. Despite the sudden change Featherby showed when she finished second at the National Champ of Champs that she has the ability to push the best the east has to offer. Very much a confidence player a lot could depend on her early form. If she hits the ground running she could get her tail up, which would make her rink a very real threat to even the biggest of names. Could be this year’s breakout player in a way.
Who’s the Competition?
It’s hardly groundbreaking to suggest that New South Wales will be strong contenders for both trophies. The men have won every odd numbered year this decade while the women are looking for an outstanding sixth win in a row. With names such as Sherriff, Turley, Murphy and Scott in the side they’ll give the Sandgropers a trial by fire when they meet in the series opener. Queensland will also be around the place in both competitions with international experience in both sides. Victoria includes international quality in both sides as well and the men’s skippers in Flapper, Lester and Wilson have the ability to get unstoppably hot. The men will also have to contend with a strong push from the hosts South Australia who boast quality names such as Ruediger, Thulborn and Kleinig. It’s no doubt the WA side will have to at their very best to challenge for wins.
WA’s schedule of matches is as follows:
Wednesday – Men WA v SA, Women WA v NSW
Thursday – AM WA v NSW, PM WA v Vic
Friday – AM WA v Qld, PM WA v Tas
Saturday – AM WA v SA, PM WA v ACT
Sunday – AM WA v NT
Where to go for Results?
Bowls WA Website – Bowls WA will publish a news item after each day of play on Thursday and Friday with a full wrap on of the Championships on Sunday.
Bowls WA Facebook – Scores will be posted on the Bowls WA Facebook Page as they become available.
Bowls Australia Results Portal – Scores for all states can be found on the Bowls Australia Competition Portal
More Info? To read the Australian Championships program click here
