U18 Vics battle Tasmania in Launceston

by Team BV

UPDATED WRAP UP BELOW

Tests 1 – 5 – Down to the Wire in Tassie!
With five tests completed, the battle is on in earnest for bragging rights for the next twelve months between the Under18 Victorian and Tasmanian teams. After two days of competition on the Kings Meadow indoor green at Launceston, the contest couldn’t be more even and it will come down to the final two tests to decide the winners of the individual trophies.
In the girls division, the Victorians could have wrapped up the series in yesterday afternoons final game after a strong showing in winning the first two games in the morning. With Victoria leading 3-1 and up early on both rinks in the Fifth test, Tasmania hit back in the final stages to record a narrow victory to keep alive their chances of winning the Bev Shannahan girls trophy. Victoria now leads 3-2 and need to regroup in the remaining couple of tests to retain the trophy.
Strong performances by some of the more experienced players have helped the new and younger members of the girls team play reasonably consistent on a green that has a number of variances across each of the rinks.
For the boys, they have had some cracking games especially the singles match between Curtis Hanley and Lachie Sims (TAS) which turned out to be a cliff-hanger with a close win going to Curtis 25-24. This game could have gone either way in a high quality match that was worthy of being televised.
Most of the games have been tight contest, but so far the Tasmanians have played a number of big conversion shots at the right time and after winning the fifth test yesterday afternoon now lead the Victorians  3-2.
The boys have had a number of debutants in this series and all have acquitted themselves well.
With only two tests to go today, it is a case of who wants it more. Like in most games of bowls it will come down to which front end team can get on the jack first and put pressure on the back end of the opposition.
We will wait with baited breath to see which team applies that pressure and who will crack under it??

Tests 6 – 7  – Well…what a finish!
The Victorian boys fell agonisingly short of a series win by 6 shots in the 7th and final test of the Victoria v Tasmania U18 series in Launceston.
Both the Victorian girls and boys teams came out firing in the morning game with both titles on the line. In a comprehensive display, the Vics won on all 6 rinks which gave the girls a series win and tied the boys group up 3 all.
In the final test, with nothing riding but pride for the girls, both teams were “boy” watching as a titanic struggle was unfolding on the neighbouring rinks. For the record, the Vic girls won on all three rinks to take the series 5-2.
As the boys final test unfolded, the Vics held a slender lead on two of the rinks with the other rink down by 9. With two ends to go on each rink, the Vics had one rink down by 2, one up by 2 and one rink a draw. But it was the Tasmanians who held their nerve in the final stages to run out the winners and fully deserve a series win 4-3.
The series was an outstanding success and was played in very good spirit between the players. The hard task now for selectors from both teams is to reduce the seven players down to a team of five for the National U18 Championships in September. Congratulations to all players on a wonderful series.

Articles provided by Mark Cowan.

Congratulations to players who achieved mile stones during this series. Curtis Hanley played his 50th Test match for the Victorian Under 18s and Tayla Morison reached her 100th Test appearance whilst representing Victoria in Tasmania. The Under 18s also unearthed some new talent with four representatives making their debut for the Vics; Lisa Trewarne, Jarryd Davies, Cooper Wescombe and Lauchlin Davies.
 

For full results please click here.