Algester All Stars Take All
By Kelsey Cottrell
It was a great day for the Algester All Stars claiming victory in the inaugural State 8-A-Side event at Club Tweed after two days of play against mixed club sides from all over the state.
The format of four women and four men contesting women’s pairs, men’s pairs and mixed fours disciplines allows smaller clubs the opportunity to compete in a pennant style competition, qualifying through their districts and groups to compete for a prestigious state title.
Teams from Wellington Point, Algester, Hamilton, Bargara, Souths Suburban Mackay and South Johnstone qualified for state finals to be played at one of the states most iconic bowling clubs.
A five-game round robin would be conducted amongst the six competing teams all vying for a top 2 spot to qualify for the inaugural gold medal match.
Two sides went through sectional play with four wins; Algester Sports and Wellington Point would battle it out in the final.
Algester was a comfortable winner in sectional play, but Wellington Point would get a second chance in the final when they faced off again.
The final was a much closer affair; Lyn Hartley defeated Debbie Logan in the women’s fours but Litfin and Cann Jr both won their respective men’s pairs matches for the All Stars. The overall score was 58-42.
This event has highlighted just how well Algester players have been doing in the past 6 months.
One of their star players during the 8-A-Side Cohen Litfin, was today officially named in the Emerging Jackaroos Squad for the first time, only months after making his debut for Queensland.
Just last week Glen Pitts claimed gold in the State Champion of Club Champion Singles and during the Australian Open Fay Woodward made the semi-final of the prestigious Women’s Singles.
It’s no wonder they were a force to be reckoned with here at Tweed Heads this week.
The highly favoured Hamilton Power side was defeated by Bargara in the playoff for bronze.
These two sides had only just met in the final round of sectional play and the result was reversed. In sectional play Hamilton won 62-47 but Bargara won the game that mattered most, claiming bronze 61-46.
Now the inaugural year has been run and won, Bowls Queensland expects the 8 A-Side to grow in the future. Keep a look out at your clubs for nominations to open in 2023.
Thank-you to the Tweed Shire Council and the amazing Club Tweed for supporting this event.
We are back at Club Tweed tomorrow for the State Division 1 Pennant Finals.
Results
Round 1
Wellington Point 51 def Bargara 44
Hamilton 51 drew South Suburban 51
Algester 57 def South Johnstone 29
Round 2
Wellington Point 45 def Hamilton 38
Bargara 43 drew Algester 43
South Suburban 43 def by South Johnstone 44
Round 3
Wellington Point 50 def South Suburban 35
Hamilton 38 def by Algester 60
Bargara 49 def South Johnstone 47
Round 4
Wellington Point 26 def by Algester 66
Bargara 60 def South Suburban 34
Hamilton 60 def South Johnstone 31
Round 5
Wellington Point 47 def South Johnstone 36
South Suburban 26 def by Algester 50
Bargara 47 def by Hamilton 62
Finals
Gold Medal
Wellington Point 42 def by Algester 59
Bronze Medal
Bargara 61 def Hamilton 46
