LE LIEVRE AND LUCAS STRIKE GOLD AGAIN
By Kelsey Cottrell
State Championship Pairs finals day gave spectators a little bit of everything at the Broadbeach Bowls Club; a fairy tale victory, masterclass performances, hot favourites prevailing, familiar faces back on the podium and newcomers reigning supreme.
We brought out the big guns for the Men’s Open Pairs Final with an in-form Nick Cahill teaming up with Burleigh’s Scott De Jongh Fitzpatrick and Australian Jackaroo Matt Lucas skipping New Zealand Blackjack Chris Le Lievre.
The live stream match had more than 1200 viewers glued to their devices with many predicting an extra end to separate the teams; no team was giving an inch in the final ends and the bowls being played under immense pressure were a credit to all four players on the rink.
A killed last end added a bit more tension to a match that had been neck-and-neck for 20 ends; Matt Lucas was forced to drive to save the game after Nick Cahill had just played a superb conversion whilst he was match down.
Matt Lucas returned serve in the replayed end, drawing the 2nd shot his team required to win the match by one, with Cahill’s final attempt just half a bowl tight of the desired target.
This was the fourth out of four State Finals Broadbeach star Nick Cahill had contested these Championships; winning two (mixed pairs and triples) and losing two (fours and now pairs) by just one shot.
Chris Le Lievre and Matt Lucas have now won two state titles together in three years and won silver in the Australian Pairs in 2020.
“Chris played so well throughout the whole tournament, I was lucky enough to get some fortunate results against Bakes (Sean Baker) in the semi and then managed to play a couple of goodies in that final,” said the humble champion.
Matt had only got back from a tour of the UK where he was trialling for the 2022 Commonwealth Games a few days prior to the pairs starting and said it took a few ends to adjust back to Aussie greens.
“I was expecting someone to tell me the greens were running at 14-15 but I felt like they were 18,” he said.
The Women’s Pairs Championship was a fairy tale result for gold medallist Tilly Orero (Broadbeach) and Marilyn Emerton (Kawana) having joined forces in the 11th hour.
Emerton with plenty of experience in big matches like these was teamed up with Broadbeach super-sub-Tilly Orero, and they took on young guns Natasha Jones, a former State Pairs Champion, and Jacinta Weier, a player knocking on the door of state selection.
Jones and Weier just didn’t have the answers in today’s final after blitzing through their semi-final and Orero and Emerton ran away comfortable winners 24-7.
Open Pairs bronze medals went to Dean McWhinney and Ryan Digby and in the women’s bronze playoff Pauline Laverty and Lorraine Callaghan finished their campaign in style with a 20-13 win over Joanne Albers and Dee-Anne Robertson.
The State Over 60’s Pairs is becoming increasingly harder to win with the talent pool nothing short of brilliant and the high level of entries in the competition making it a long and gruelling three days.
Gail Crompton already has an Over 60’s Australian Open pairs title and was also backing up from a gold medal in the Open Women’s Fours just a few days ago. Crompton teamed up with another accomplished player in Bargara’s Adele Pershouse this week and the pair combined brilliantly.
It was going to be a tough ask for any team to beat Crompton and Pershouse; and despite Cleveland duo Betty Clarke and Kerry Heelass’ best efforts, they were four shots short in the final.
Cleveland was well represented on the podium with Kay Smith and Georgina Moore securing bronze.
When we say hot favourites prevailed, you couldn’t look much further than Max Jaffray and Neville Jenkins in the Over 60’s Men’s Pairs as the team to beat.
Once again, we see these two gentlemen from Tweed Heads in the winner’s circle. The reigning Australian Open Champions claimed gold against Paradise Point’s John Hrabak and Ray Glasser 19-17.
Bowls Queensland would like to thank our sponsors, Identified Services Cleaning Maintenance, Major Events Gold Coast and the Broadbeach Bulls.
The State Singles commences on Friday May 20 with the finals on Sunday May 22nd.
Bowls QLD State Pairs Medal Round Results
Open Women
Gold/Silver Play off: Tilly Orero & Marilyn Emerton 24 def Natasha Jones & Jacinta Weier 7
Bronze Play Off: Pauline Laverty & Lorraine Callaghan 20 def Joanne Albers & Dee-Anne Robertson 13
Open Men
Gold/Silver Play off: Chris Le Lievre & Matt Lucas 20 def Scott De Jongh Fitzpatrick & Nick Cahill 19
Bronze Play Off: Dean McWhinney & Ryan Digby 18 def Jamie Anderson & Sean Baker 15
Over 60 Women
Gold/Silver Play off: Adele Pershouse & Gail Crompton 19 def Betty Clarke & Kerry Heelass 15
Bronze Play Off: Kay Smith & Georgina Moore 18 def Cheryl Hutchinson & Carmen French 17
Over 60 Men
Gold/Silver Play off: Max Jaffray & Neville Jenkins 19 def John Hrabak & Ray Glasser 17
Bronze Play Off: Mark Beutel & Peter Hughes 22 def Peter Rookas & Jimmo Hagan 15
Semi Final Results
Open Women
Natasha Jones & Jacinta Weier 24 def Joanne Albers & Dee-Anne Robertson 3
Tilly Orero & Marilyn Emerton 19 def Pauline Laverty & Lorraine Callaghan 15
Open Men
Chris Le Lievre & Matt Lucas 17 def Jamie Anderson & Sean Baker 16
Scott De Jongh Fitzpatrick & Nick Cahill 22 def Dean McWhinney & Ryan Digby 15
Over 60 Women
Betty Clarke & Kerry Heelass 32 def Cheryl Hutchinson & Carmen French 7
Adele Pershouse & Gail Crompton 22 def Kay Smith & Georgina Moore 15
Over 60 Men
John Hrabak & Ray Glasser 20 def Mark Beutel & Peter Hughes 7
Max Jaffray & Neville Jenkins 26 def Peter Rookas & Jimmo Hagan 14
Click here for more information on the 2022 State Championships
Click here to watch the live stream from today
Click here to download the program
Click here for detailed results
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