Australian Sides Championships Wrap
Western Australian finish well In an exciting finish to the Australian Sides Championship at Lockleys Bowling Club, SA it all came down to the last end to decide which state would be crowned the Alley Shield champions. Tasmania needed to win the end against Victoria to claim their first title whilst South Australia were waiting in anticipation, if the end went to Victoria the crown would go to them. After the head was killed three times Victoria finally ended up with three shots which ultimately gave to the title to the host state South Australia who can hold aloft the shield for just the second time having last claimed the title in 1988.
The Women’s Marj Morris shield was presented to Queensland who dominated the Women’s events this year snapping a run of five consecutive NSW victories in the event. The Queenslanders had secured the title the night before after six straight wins and must have celebrated a bit early as they lost the last match by 31 shots to the defending titleholders NSW.
WA finished strongly at the Australian Sides Championships despite deteriorating conditions which included strong winds and pouring rain during the last match against NT.
After a tough start where WA went winless against NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania WA managed to win matches against ACT and Northern Territory with the Women also defeating South Australia.
The WA Men finished the series in sixth spot with two wins and five losses. Best rink for them was the side of Tom Mitchell, Clive Adams, Shane Knott and Cody Packer. Packer was particularly exceptional in the leads position and was duly awarded the Eddy/Wishart medal as the best player of the series for the men’s team. State team regular Clive Adams also notched his 200th game and will be awarded the Jim Sullivan medal at the Bowls WA Awards Night on Friday May 26th.
Despite a slow start the WA Women can be proud of their efforts during the series. The team which flew out was one the least experienced in many years without recent regulars Lee Poletti, Therese Hastings, and Noelene Abe who was a last minute withdrawal from the team. WA claimed the WA v NSW shield (pictured) after a win and two draws against them which included two warm up tests prior to the series and in the last three games they put together three strong wins to move into fourth spot in the final standings. WA’s most experienced players in Kristina Krstic and Helen Morss skipped their rinks to five wins and four wins respectively to be the best rinks for WA. Australian squad member Krstic and her third emerging star Hailey Adams were subsequently awarded the Beryl Godfrey award as best players for WA.
For all results, ladders and skip leadders from the Australian Sides Championships click here
