The 2023 Open State Team

by admin on August 8, 2023

The State Selection Panel has completed the difficult task of selecting the Men’s and Women’s Open State Teams for the Australian Sides Championships to be held at the Sorrento Bowling Club from October 13th to 16th.

With both teams having strong squads to choose from, all players have definitely earnt their selection, while other players not selected can consider themselves unlucky.

In the Men’s team, the dynamic Daniel Trewhella returns to the team after a lengthy absence. Daniel takes a skips position and will be ably assisted by Shane Knott who had his best series of his career last year as his third. Country Bowler of the Year, Warren Holt will play in his second series as the second of the rink, while Blake Butler will make his much-deserved debut. Blake has been pushing for selection for a number of years and thoroughly deserves his selection.

Cambridge teammates Blake Nairn and Clive Adams will combine as skip and third for the second straight year. The ever-reliable Bill Brandsma comes across as the second while Scott Walker returns to the team after a number of years out of the side. Scott took full advantage of the Bowls Blitz in pushing his case for selection. Not only was Scott in the winning team and produced a brilliant singles game in the final but he also took MVP honours in the selection tournament.

Cody Packer will once again skip a team and has been joined by last year’s WA’s best player Anthony Williams as his third. David Downey will debut for the WA Open team after he made himself available for selection this year after not being able to commit for the last few years. David had an outstanding Under 18 career and is just another member of the team that has progressed through the Under 18 ranks to the Open Team. In total, 8 of the 12 players selected played WA Under 18 state events with 2 other players playing in Under 18 events in other states before coming to WA. Jack East returns as the lead after being outstanding in last year’s Australian Sides Championships.

The Women’s team features two debutants. Lisa Smith, who has been pushing for selection over the past couple of years, was in the successful Enforcers line-up in the recent Blitz tournament and has performed well in recent State events. Donna Blackwell is the second debutant – winning the State Pairs again last season as well as showing strong form in the Blitz secured her place in the team.

Smith will play lead for Australian Jackaroo and Commonwealth Games star Kristina Krstic, with Bowls WA Connie Hicks Brooch winner Chris Ace-Watson playing third. Lisa Brannan slots in as second in that rink, as she brings her positive and determined approach to her return to the top tier.

Blackwell will play third to Hailey Packer, with Packer earning the skipper’s position for the first time in her career – the pair will form a formidable combination in the back end of the rink, with both capable of precise draw shots and the more attacking style of game. Kaitlin Tyrrell returns in the second’s position after making an impressive debut last year at Broadbeach, and Linda Warburton adds some key experience having played at the highest level for many years now.

Finally, it is the lively Lisa Featherby skipping the final rink, another player that is a regular at the pointy end of nearly every event and one that can stamp a big mark on every game she plays. Helen Stevens returns in the three spot, and is another that brings experience, energy and positivity to the team, while Denise Kelly and Jenny Parker are sure to provide a very solid start for the rink.

Men’s Open State Team:

SKIPPER	THIRD	SECOND	LEAD
Daniel TREWHELLA	Shane KNOTT	Warren HOLT	Blake BUTLER
Blake NAIRN	Clive ADAMS	Bill BRANDSMA	Scott WALKER
Cody PACKER	Anthony WILLIAMS	David DOWNEY	Jack EAST

Women’s Open State Team:

SKIPPER	THIRD	SECOND	LEAD
Hailey PACKER	Donna BLACKWELL	Kaitlin TYRRELL	Linda WARBURTON
Lisa FEATHERBY	Helen STEVENS	Denise KELLY	Jenny PARKER
Kristina KRSTIC	Chris ACE-WATSON	Lisa BRANNAN	Lisa SMITH