WA competes strongly at Sides Championships
The WA Men’s and Women’s teams have completed strongly at the Australian Sides Championships at Ettalong Bowling Club, NSW were the championships concluded yesterday.
Against quality opposition the Women’s team finished in third placing with four wins and three losses. The defeats were at the hands of winners NSW, runner-ups Queensland and Victoria. The Men’s side finished in sixth position with two wins and a drawn match. Despite another bottom half of the ladder finish the Men’s team should be proud of their efforts with their worst result only a ten shot loss. They took it up to the undefeated champions NSW in a game which WA lead for some periods before the class of NSW eventually told in the finish with a seven shot victory.
Kristina Krstic with her side of Robyn Jolly, Nolene Abe and Laura Merz finished as the fifth best in the Women’s Competition with five wins and a draw +64 shots whilst the rink of Helen Morss, Hailey Packer, Lisa Brannan and Shari Solly also had a strong series with five wins. Lisa Featherby’s team of Linda Warburton, Robyn O’Brien and Jenny Parker finished the series finished with two wins and a draw.
For the Men the young rink of Cody Packer, Anthony Williams, Kevin McKay and Lewis Grigg lost just the one match with four wins and two draws to be the fifth best men’s rink. John Slavich’s team of Matthew Mitchell, Bill Brandsma and Russell Bates and the Dave Rankin team of Shane Knott, Kyle McIlroy and Clive Adams both had three wins for the series.
Helen Morss who celebrated her 100th game for Western Australia won the Beryl Godfry award for Most Outstanding Women’s Player of the Series whilst Russell Bates who had an exceptional first series won the Men’s Allan Eddy/Rod Wishart Award as best player for the series. Both players will receive the awards at the Bowls WA Annual Dinner & Awards Presentations Night on Friday May 24th at Crown Entertainment Complex.
Kyle McIlroy was rewarded for his dedication and commitment to the Western Australia state team over many years by reaching the 200 game milestone. A special presentation took place before the match, however Kyle will also receive a presentation of the coveted Jim Sullivan Medal at the Bowls WA Awards Night.
Bowls WA would like to thank all the players, selectors and coaching staff for their time, effort, dedication and fantastic representation of WA at this series.
Full results available via the Bowls Australian Competition Portal
