State Champions Week 2016 – Day 1
Being world champion clearly becomes Aaron Wilson.
On his return to hometown Bendigo after winning the World Under 25 men’s singles title the previous day at the Gold Coast, Wilson and his Sandbelt teammates moved into the men’s fours semi-finals at State Champions Week.
Day 1 of State Champions Week featured men’s and women’s fours action, alongside the State Under 25 and Novice Singles titles for both men’s and women.
In the fours, all 16 Regions from around the State sent their best to the tournament on perfect greens and under perfect skies at Bendigo East Bowling Club.
Wilson won his world junior title late on Friday, then flew home to be front and centre for his team’s round of 16 men’s fours clash.
And it wasn’t an easy encounter.
Skip Wilson and Clayton teammates Paul Titcombe, Alan Veitch and Dylan Benwell had to fight every inch of the way to see off Chris Ball’s strong Yarraville-Footscray rink representing Metro West Region 18-13.
Then the Clayton rink had a more comfortable time of it against Wimmera Region, beating the Chalambar rink skipped by Tony Carra 25-8.
Northern Gateway, featuring a four from Essendon skipped by Anthony Flapper, Central Goulburn Murray led by State player Brad Orr and Matthew Flapper’s Ocean Grove four representing Geelong Region also won through to the men’s fours semi-finals.
Northern Gateway won a thrilling night semi-final 17-15 over Geelong to book their men’s fours final berth.
Central Goulburn Murray play Sandbelt in the other semi-final, scheduled for day two.
In women’s fours, Sandbelt have won their way into the final, with the Bowls Clayton rink skipped by Kelly McKerihen beating Geelong Region’s Leopold outfit 24-6 in the semi-final.
The other semi-final scheduled for day two will be between Strzelecki and Northern Gateway.
Strzelecki’s Drouin rink skipped by Denise Hamilton impressed greatly in a 21-6 quarter-final defeat of Peninsula Casey on day one.
But they face a team of young starlets from Northern Gateway, skipped by Australian representative Carla Krizanic (nee Odgers) and featuring three of the best Under 18s in the State – Tiffany Brodie (Fitzroy Victoria), Mikayla Long and Lisa Trewarne (both Glenroy).
Krizanic’s rink had a tough job to overcome Jo Martin’s brave Paynesville four representing Gippsland 19-17 in a tight quarter-final.
The State and national reps were given a real shake by Paynesville’s Martin, Colleen Such, Marge Nathan and Judy Beesley – falling just a couple of shots shy of what would have been some upset.
Results, men’s fours
Results, women’s fours
Under 25 and Novice Singles finals wrap-ups
