PROLIFIC STATE CHAMPIONS PREVAIL IN THE FOURS
By Kelsey Cottrell
The men’s 2020 State Fours final was a David versus Goliath match-up with state and national champions taking on four relatively unknown club bowlers from Maroochy Beach on the Sunshine Coast.
Beware of the underdogs; the Sunshine Coast four skipped by Paul Newman had already taken several big scalps throughout the fours event, but they had their eyes on one last prize, a shot at a maiden QLD state title.
Four guys standing in their way, Newell, Groenewege, Ingham and Baker started the match like the season campaigners of big time matches that they are, jumping out to a 7-0 lead and they weren’t looking like giving their opponents any chance to get back into the match by continuing to dominate and thus extending their lead 16-2 at the half way mark.
It was a one-sided affair but with the match broadcast live through our Facebook page, we still got to witness some great bowls in the closing stages of the game.
Sean Ingham and Sean Baker have now won 2 state titles in 2020, Jade Groenewege and John Newell bag their first this year but all four players have multiple state titles to their names across their careers.
“It feels great to win another state title, we had a great game set up by the first 11 ends when we came out and played wellfrom the start,“ said Newell.
“We knew our opposition had done a great job in making today’s final so we were expecting a tough game.”
“We had a tough run to the final, our section alone had Ryan Bester, Jacob Nelson and Des Cann Jr so we were happy to get through, but wanted to go on with it after working so hard to reach the final.”
In the women’s final we were in for a real treat; eight players all well known around the competitive bowls circuit were going to strut their stuff in the prestigious state final with both sides well and truly capable of the feat.
Their roads to the final gave little indication of who might be pre-match favourite with both sides having to win past quality teams; however after 10 ends it was all one-way traffic with the rink skipped by Ester Regan leading 16-4 after 11 ends.
Not through lack of trying, Millerick’s side comprising of her sister Cassandra, Karen Goldsworthy and Jessie Cottell were being matched end after end by the determined combination of Regan, Maris Rigby, Leigh Fortington and Isabella Lawson.
A turning point was brewing when Millerick sunk the jack into the ditch to hold five shots; but the steady hand of Ester Regan drew the shot within a foot of the ditch making the score 19-5 instead of 18-10 which would have seemed achievable for the defending fours champions.
They shook hands at 25-6.
“It was great to get off to a good start today, my lead and second really set us up, Maria played great too, if one was not there the other would back them up; a great team effort“, said a delighted skipper Ester Regan.
“Hopefully we can keep up the good form and make it to the finals of the pairs later in the week.”
To watch the men’s fours match, visit our Facebook page:https://m.facebook.com/BowlsQld/
Tomorrow will see the sectional play of the pairs competition for both men and women in the open and over 60’s disciplines commencing.
Semi-Final Results-
Women
Isabella LAWSON, Leigh FORTINGTON, Maria RIGBY, Ester REGAN def Christine BAXTER, Melissa CALETTI, Emma SPICER, Noelene DUTTON 25-10
Jessie COTTELL, Cassandra MILLERICK, Karen GOLDSWORTHY, Bolivia MILLERICK def Aymee BELLERT, Sue MCKENZIE, Jacinta WEIER, Dee-Anne ROBERTSON 25-18
Men
Tim PARRY, Grant HOWARD, Paul NEWMAN, David RIXON def Shane KINNEAR, Michael KINNEAR, Grahame KINNEAR, Frank OBAH 23-14
John NEWELL, Jade GROENEWEGE, Sean INGHAM, Sean BAKER def Paul GILBERT, Paul O’BRIEN, Clinton BAILEY, Nick CAHILL 21-12
Final Results-
Isabella LAWSON, Leigh FORTINGTON, Maria RIGBY, Ester REGAN def Jessie COTTELL, Karen GOLDSWORTHY, Cassandra MILLERICK, BoliviaMILLERICK 25-6
John NEWELL, Jade GROENEWEGE, Sean INGHAM, Sean BAKER def Tim PARRY, Grant HOWARD, David RIXON,Paul NEWMAN 26-13
