Flexing their muscles
QLD’s Jessie Cottell and VIC’s Makayla Gibson face their biggest challenge in the Women’s Pairs Of all the bowlers you wouldn’t want to come up against in a knockout round, Carla Krizanic (Odgers) and Natasha Scott would be two of them, both Jackaroos, experienced internationals, and at the top of the Australian women’s rankings for their consistency and excellence under pressure.
But 15 year old QLDer Jessie Cottell from Broadbeach and VIC’s Makayla Gibson are taking it in their stride as an awesome opportunity to experience what it’s really like at the top when they meet Krizanic and Scott in today’s Women’s Pairs Quarter Finals (Wed June 22, Club Helensvale).
They have nothing to lose by “going for it” and no doubt Krizanic and Scott will enjoy the experience against the future of the sport – but they are far too experienced to take anything for granted.
Gibson and Cottell have never played together and they were matched up by Brisbane teacher and 2015 Australian Open Women’s Pairs champ Emma Brown, who is back at school today, her AO 2016 campaign sadly over, but she is delighted at how successful her match making has been.
In yesterday’s Round of 32, Gibson and Cottell unexpectedly defeated sparkling Jackaroos Kelsey Cottrell and Lynsey Clarke 14-11, both seasonsed campaigners and both happy for the youngsters’ success, but also some sadness for Kelsey, her AO campaign for this year over and it’s back to her work at Bowls Australia.
“It was a great game, we’re just so happy,” Cottell said of her and Makayla’s success against the Jackaroo pairing, triples silver medallists with Karen Murphy at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland.
You might think the concentration required for the shock win against Cottrell and Clarke would have taken it out of a pairing so young and inexperienced at playing together, but no, they backed right up and took the next Round of 16 as well, against South Australian duo Yvonne Bekeris and Deirdre Hall, respectfully requesting not to play the final two ends since the scoreline was so far advanced in their favour, 24-9.
They face another huge challenge today, drawn against Krizanic and Scott, but whichever way it goes, they are delighted to have come this far.
(There was just one problem – Jessie’s Pairs Quarter finals clashed with her U18 Singles sectional rounds, also scheduled for today – so she was planning to play in the Women’s Pairs and then do the mad dash to Robina for the Girls Singles sectionals…)
It’s a big day at Club Helensvale, not only the Women’s Pairs Quarter Finals starting at 9am but also the Men’s Fours Quarter Finals at 9am (skip Sam White is the only QLDer in the mix) followed by Men’s Fours Semi Finals at 11.45am, Women’s Singles Semi Finals at 2.30pm and the Men’s Pairs Semi Finals at 2.30pm.
The Over 60s Women’s Pairs knockout round of 16 is at Paradise Point and the Over 60s Men’s Pairs quarter finals from 11.45am at Paradise Point.
The BWD continues today at Musgrave Hill Bowls Club.
The U18 Singles disciplines begin today at Robina from 9am, with 11 sections in the boys event and five sections in the girls event, played at Robina and Helensvale.
At Australian Open “central” Broadbeach, construction of the “television arena” for some of the finals events tomorrow and Friday is underway.