Krstic claims her third State Singles
Dyenamic Women’s State Singles wrap
Manning Bowling Club’s Kristina Krstic asserted her dominance as the best player in the game within Western Australia right now as she claimed an impressive third State Singles title at Yokine Bowling Club yesterday. It had many who witnessed her brilliant display wondering just how many state titles she may claim as the 25yo is seemingly just at the beginning of what is already a brilliant career in the sport.
Such was the class of Krstic that she left the extremely talented Noelene Abe (Corrigin) struggling to match her on the scoreboard despite some great bowls as Krstic always had the answers with the 25-6 final scoreline not reflecting the standard of play by both players.
All four finalists had plenty of time to think about how they might defeat their opponents as the matches were postponed from the originally scheduled date of January 27th when hot weather made it not possible to complete the event.
The semi finals were both great contests. Krstic playing her Manning team mate and close friend Laura Merz endured a terrific battle which he later admitted had her sweating. It was a pleasure to watch two young female players at the peak of their game as they traded shots for most of the match. Krstic did win the majority of ends in the middle stages and looked set for a comfortable victory until Merz responded with some pinpoint drawing to really have Krstic under pressure late in the match. Krstic came up with a match winning bowl when Merz once again held two close shots and looked like levelling the scores at 22 all, however she played a great conversion to shift both bowls and stay to hold the needed three shots to move into the final.
In the other semi final Abe and Mosman Park’s Lisa Featherby were having a titanic struggle. No more than a few shots seperated the players for much of the match. In the later stages Featherby seemed to lose her rhythm and Abe continued to apply the pressure drawing close to the jack. She eventually closed at the encounter 25-18 to set up a salivating final.
This was to be the third occasion Abe and Krstic had met in the state singles final. Abe having come out on top in 2015 with Krstic claiming her first title in 2016, both those matches being very close affairs and this was expected to be no different. Krstic immediately showed she was on song with a three on the first end. Abe hit the scoreboard on end three with a two as the score progressed 4-2. Their was still no indication of the blow out that was to come as the score progressed to 6-3. A few good ends from Krstic took her advantage to 12-3 before Abe was able to respond with another two to make it 12-5.
The following end perhaps provided the real turning point as Abe drew superbly to a jack that was on the Tee. With Abe holding three bowls within inches Krstic connected with an accurate drive which sent the jack flying out of bounds to kill the end. It left Abe just a little rattled perhaps as she was never able to score from that point forward, Krstic consistently drawing inside her all the way to the finish line as she won impressively 25-6 over one of the best players in the game.
