Jones and Wilkie post early wins Aus Indoor
Australia’s best indoor bowlers at Tweed Heads Bowls Club this week for 2014 Aus Indoor titles. 32 men, 32 women, including Queen of the carpet Karen Murphy going for her 7th title. Bribie’s Natasha Jones has advanced to the second round of the Australian Indoor Championships after prevailing in a testing first-up encournter at Tweed Heads today.
Jones beat fellow Queenslander Monika Duff from Club Kawana in a suspense-laden match that see-sawed and could have been resolved either way, Jones eventually prevailing over Duff 5-8, 8-5, 3-2.
Hometown favourite Kristy Thatcher from Tweed Heads also went through in a tie-break, 7-8. 9-4, 3-2 over Debbie Howard from NSW.
In Men’s Round One play this morning, Queensland’s Eric Copeland from Caloundra went down to David Holt from NSW, 8-10, 3-12.
Brett Wilkie came from behind to keep his title chances alive, 9-9, 10-5, against Jared Hamilton (NSW).
This report from Bowls Australia’s Aiden Davis, on the ground at Tweed Heads:
The saying goes ‘form is fleeting, but class is forever’, and so it was for former champion Brett Wilkie at the Australian Indoor Championships this morning.
Staring down the barrel of an opening round exit, the 2010 winner breathed fresh life into his campaign for a second title as he forced a tied-set against Jared Hamilton with his final delivery, after fighting his way back from a five shot deficit.
Appearing down and out early, Wilkie effortlessly changed gears in the second set, powering his way to a 9-9, 10-5 victory.
“He (Jared) was playing awesome early and got away with the first set – I was fortunate enough to string a few good ends together and get away with a lucky tie,” Wilkie said.
“I changed the length and that helped me a little bit towards the end, so I went into the second set confident.
“I was able to get the jump on him but to his credit, he played really well and stayed right in it.
“A couple little things went my way which always helps, but it was nearly worthy of being a final match, I reckon.
“It was a good quality game and pleasing to get away with the win.”
Wilkie will now face Allen Hurst in the round two match tomorrow morning (Tues Aug 19) at 10.00am.
Meanwhile in the second session of the opening round, NSW young-gun prodigies Ellen Ryan and Jamie-Lee Wornsop steamrolled their campaigns with comprehensive opening rubber victories.
Ryan accounted for Leisa Parsons 8-6, 14-3. while Worsnop prevailed 10-2, 11-1 over Christine Keep.
The fight will come to a sudden halt for one of the duo though, with the state teammates now set on a collision course for their round two rubber at 8.00am tomorrow.
Also advancing to round two was local Tweed Heads favourite Kristy Thatcher, who was down 2 on the last end of the tie-break but sat her final bullet next to the jack to snatch victory 7-2, 9-4, 3-2.
William McIlwain defeated Mick Carley 8-13, 8-4, 4-0 and Steve Halmai eliminated Steve Grant 1-11, 9-4, 3-1.
Round one, Session 3 gets under way at 12.20pm.
(Keep up to date with all the Australian Indoors action over the next four days on the BA website and Twitter feed.)
