Northern Hemisphere Invasion

Internationals Ryan Bester and Jeremy Henry yesterday started their Victorian Masters Singles Championship campaign at Richmond Union in a manner that indicated they were probably late for an important appointment.

Bester, 26, a world champion for Canada at Ayr in 2004,  was first off the green, having taken only 39 minutes to dispatch former Victorian singles champion Mal Reilly in 12 ends.

The Yarraville Footscray bowler did pick up two counts of three in the 25-8 demolition he copped from the Cabramatta champion.

Northern Ireland’s Jeremy Henry, now on the staff of the powerful Warilla club in New South Wales, was putting his bowls back in the bag a minute later after charging over Ferntree Gully’s Paul Wooten 25-5.

And to complete the northern hemisphere invasion, Englishman David Holt belted Geoff Aldous (Whittlesea) 25-2.

It was a telling return to RUBC for Holt (Cabramatta), who won the Victorian Masters title two years ago.

Australian representative Anthony Kiepe (Helensvale) was another to have a quick first match at the Gleadell St club, crushing  Ian Smethurst (Drouin) 25-3 in 15 ends.

Bester claimed his place in tomorrow’s knockout rounds later in the day when he accounted for Clive Padgham (Warragul) 25-8. Bester now meets Tim Hill (Somerville).

Henry was on the neighboring rink and got through to the final 64 with an emphatic 25-9 victory over Castlemaine’s John Kays, while Holt had a slightly tougher second-game task against Hamilton’s Rodney Sambrook. Holt won 25-12.

The big Ulsterman will have the home crowd against him tomorrow when he meets Richmond Union’s Chris Hampshire, while Holt now plays John Leitch (Mulgrave Country Club).

Kiepe defeated Lalor’s Terry Bain 25-13 to set up a knockout clash with Essendon’s Colin Marsh, who was lucky to make his section on Monday after getting his dates mixed up.

Article kindly provided by the RUBC.