Tussle for test spots at Broadbeach
Aussies win test friendly against Scots 43 games to 20, with one draw. The international ‘friendly’ was set up to test boths squads ahead of national team selections. Australian and Scottish selectors watched carefully as their national squads showed off their shots on the perfectly manicured greens of Broadbeach over three days (Sunday June 5 – Tuesday June 7).
The Aussie squad won 43 out of 64 clashes, Scotland won 20, and there was one draw.
“The greens are definitely quicker, we have a lot more grass on our greens in Scotland, they’re wilder…” Scottish national coach John Price said.
Scotland’s high performance manager Rhona Howie said they had brought lots of juniors out to Australia and they would be given plenty of opportunities to shine ahead of upcoming world tournaments.
Australian coach Steve Glasson said it was about time the Aussies had an advantage playing on a surface they were used to against the world power of the Scots.
Glasson said the Australian squad would be narrowed down to a national team of 10, five men and five women, to contest the World Bowls Championships in Christchurch later this year (Nov 29 – Dec 11).
“The Australian team will be announced a few days after the Australian Open concludes (Friday June 24), it will be competitive, and this international test series against Scotland has provided an opportunity for those looking for selection,” Glasson said.
After the 64-game test series, the Scots and Aussies played a seven-game contest of Jack Attack, ahead of a televised Jack Attack INTERNATIONAL clash, televised for The Bowls Show.
Bowls Australia president Nigel Smith from South Tweed urged bowlers to tune into the Bowls Show on SBS (Sundays 1pm – 2pm) to help keep bowls on free-to-air TV.
The television cameras will again be at this year’s Australian Open (June 11-24), Fox Sports cameras on the TV arena and cameras for The Bowls Show.
