Australia has wrapped up the 2017 Trans Tasman a day early, after reaching an unassailable lead in the best-of-three test series against New Zealand at Broadbeach.
The green and gold contingent were in clinical form on the future greens of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, prevailing in eight out of ten contests in this evening’s last session, to secure a consecutive test victory in all five events.
All five teams won by two matches or more, out of the six contested today, with the development women and para-sport groups prevailing five-games-to-one.
While the host-nation has one firmly planted on all seven pieces of event silverware, being the Open Men’s Trophy, Open Women’s Trophy, Development Men’s Trophy, Development Women’s Trophy and Para-Sport Trophy, in addition to coveted Overall Open Trophy and Overall Development Trophy, there is still a lot more than pride on the line in tomorrow’s final test.
The fate of the accolades may seem sealed, but both nations will be eager to finish in red hot form, knowing that the 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations event, which is a seven-nation Commonwealth Games preparation tournament, commences on Saturday.
Bowls Australia acknowledges the assistance and funding provided by Commonwealth Games Australia to Bowls Australia for athletes in the “Gold Coast GOLD” and “NextGEN AUSComGames” programs.
The Gold Coast GOLD program was devised by the CGA to maximise podium performances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and assist athletes who are expected to be nominated for selection to the 2018 Australian Team. NextGEN AUSComGames was created to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
Trans Tasman test two standings:
Open men: Australia win 12 points to 6
Open women: Australia win 12 points to 6
Development men: Australia win 12 points to 6
Development women: Australia win 15 points to 3
Para-sport: Australia win 15 points to 3
Trans Tasman test two, session three results:
Open:
Men’s singles: Australia (Scott Thulborn) lost to New Zealand (Shannon McIlroy) 14-21
Men’s fours: Australia (Barrie Lester, Wayne Ruediger, Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson) def New Zealand (Mike Nagy, Tony Grantham, Blake Signal, Ali Forsyth) 15-9
Women’s singles: Australia (Karen Murphy) def New Zealand (Jo Edwards) 19-17
Women’s fours: Australia (Kelsey Cottrell, Lynsey Clarke, Carla Krizanic, Natasha Scott) def New Zealand (Tayla Bruce, Kirsten Edwards, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch) 17-10
Development:
Men’s singles: Australia (Aaron Teys) def New Zealand (Richard Hocking) 21-8
Men’s fours: Australia (Jonathon Davis, Lachlan Sims, Nathan Pedersen, Corey Wedlock) def New Zealand (Seamus Curtin, Finbar McGuigan, Aiden Takarua, Sheldon Barrie-Hawley) 14-9
Women’s singles: Australia (Kristina Krstic) def New Zealand (Ashleigh Jeffcoat) 21-19
Women’s fours: Australia (Kate Matthews, Jessica Srisamruaybai, Ellen Ryan, Bolivia Millerick) def New Zealand (Kimberley Hemingway, Natasha Russell, Nicole Toomey, Sarah Scott) 16-10
Para-sport:
Pairs: Australia (Jake Fehlberg, Marian Morrison) lost to New Zealand (Sue Curran, David Stallard) 10-23
Triples: Australia (Eddie Gollan, Joshua Thornton, Chris Flavel) def New Zealand (Carolyn Crawford, Mark Noble, Graham Skellern) 19-12
