Phenomenal fours final
Helensvale’s Yvonne Lovelock, Rosie Lovelock, Natasha Jones and Lynsey Clarke (skip) well deserve their 2015 State Women’s Fours win Queensland and Australian women’s captain Lynsey Clarke only just held off a determined challenge by former Queensland selector Gail Waitai from Broadbeach to take the 2015 state championship women’s fours title.
The game was so close that the winner was decided in the final end by the roll of a bowl to either the left or right…
Clarke and her team of Natasha Jones, Yvonne Lovelock and Rosie Lovelock took the game 24-22, but could have easily have gone home the bridesmaid if Waitai’s final bowl, and the last bowl of the game, had stopped a smidge shorter…
After the game, Clarke reflected on the close win and how it could have easily been her on the runners-up podium.
“It came down to the final end to decide the winner but it shouldn’t have,” she said. “At one stage we were reasonably well in front and we should have maintained that lead.
“But Gail and her girls came back strongly and played a great game.”
Waitai was philosophical about the shot that saw her and her team of Val Jackson, Leigh Fortington and Maree Gibbs pushed into second spot at the last minute.
“I wanted to make a good game of it and we did that by bringing it to the wire to see who would win,” she said.
“It was just unfortunate my final bowl didn’t go the way I wanted and it gave the shot, and game, to Lynsey.”
Waitai said her team had played exceptionally well by achieving a near win from a slow start.
Noosa Heads spectator Marie McColl said it was one of the most exciting fours games she has seen for a while.
“I think most of us are on the edge of our seats because no-one can predict how this game is going to end,” she said as the margin narrowed again.
Today’s win sees Clarke add her name to the State Women’s Fours shield for the fifth time.
She has previously skipped the winning Four in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Earlier in the day, Clarke beat Sue McKenzie’s team 20-18 in the semi finals, while Waitai defeated Amanda Haevecker 23-17.
Like the final, these games saw the scores remain close throughout the match, with the win open to either team until the final ends.
