Girls shine at QLD v NSW Test Series
Last year’s winning formula of Cottell, Allen-Best, Wilson, Rixon and Srisamruaybai were back to defend their Interstate Test Series title in this year’s annual clash. (Pictured left: Queensland’s winning five-some of Shervawn Wilson, Jessica Srisamruaybai, Rebecca Rixon, Jessie Cottell and Julia Allen-Best stand celebrate their second consecutive win at Taren Point Bowls Club.)
After they put a stop to New South Wales’s 11-year romp in the girls U18s Interstate Test Series at last year’s clash in Tugun, it was only fair the ‘dream team’ of Broadbeach’s Jessie Cottell, Julia Allen-Best (Nth Toowoomba), Shervawn Wilson (Tin Can Bay), Rebecca Rixon (Kawana) and Jessica Srisamruaybai (Tweed Heads) would be given a chance to defend their title in 2017.
They returned to do Queensland proud once again at this year’s annual Test Series clash (July 3-4) and they were successful with a decisive 2-1 series win at Taren Point Bowls Club.
The girls secured the first test with a comfortable 3-1 win over the NSW’s team, just missing out on a clean-sweep due to a loss in the pairs discipline, with Rixon and Cottell falling short in a 17-24 game against the New South Wales pairing of Brianna Smith and Jessica Smith.
They carried their great form into the second test to pull off another 3-1 win, only missing out in the singles after hotshot Jessie Cottell lost by an excruciating one shot margin to end the game in Louise Cronan’s favour at 20-21 to NSW.
The Queensland team entered the third test with the series already in the bag, but New South Wales were not going to let the maroon girls take the entire series cleanly.
The Blues fought in the final test and managed to claim a win in every discipline besides the pairs which were secured comfortably by Rixon and Cottell after a comprehensive 26-8 win over NSW’s Jessica Smith and Hayley McDonnell.
Club Kawana’s Rebecca Rixon said the win did not come easy against a tough opposition and credited the victory to great teamwork between the girls on the maroon side.
“It was a proud moment for us and I think we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses really well, which probably gave our team the edge,” Rixon said.
“We have been playing together for such a long time now and we are all great friends too and that’s important when playing together.”
It was a tougher affair for Queensland’s U18s boys who showed great spirit throughout the competition but were unable to seal the deal against a crack NSW contingent, the QLD boys campaign ended with a draw in the final test to leave New South Wales with two test wins and a draw.
Queensland boys team manager and coach Greg Bostock says he was proud of the effort put in by the entire Queensland side and says he was pleased with the performance of debutants Indi Conlan (Enoggera), Kane Nelson (Belmont Serv) and South Tweed’s Jayden Cottell who filled in as a last-minute replacement for Bargara’s Nick Cahill who was out due to an injury.
“We brought three new debutants into the series who all did well against a tough and talented NSW side,” Bostock said.
“It was a positive experience and I think everyone learned a lot from this year’s competition and they worked well together as a team.”
Enoggera’s Indi Conlan admitted the Blues had been the more dominant force throughout the competition but had enjoyed the Test Series and said he had benefited from the encounter with New South Wales.
“It was good to get an insight on how the state team plays together and I enjoyed the opportunity to represent Queensland,” Conlan said.
“NSW’s had the home ground advantage and knew the speed of the greens, but they just outplayed us and had a hold on the game after their first test win, but we’ve learned from it and will hopefully take that experience to the nationals.”
The QLD v NSW Interstate Test Series serves as an opportunity to help selectors pick the final team for the Australian U18 Championships which will be held at Taren Point Bowls Club this year from September 30 to October 2.
QLD v NSW U18 Test Series Results
Girls Test Series: 2 – 1 QLD win
Boys Test Series: 2.5 – 0.5 NSW win
To see the full U18s QLD v NSW Test Series draw and results visit the BQ results portal available in the link below:
https://www.bowlsqld.org/Events/State-Events/QLD-v-NSW-U18-Test-Series#Draw-Results-240
