David versus Goliath showdown
The coveted Australian Open women’s singles final will see an experienced campaigner taking on a relative newcomer in what people are calling a David versus Goliath battle. The coveted Australian Open women’s singles final will see an experienced campaigner taking on a relative newcomer in what people are calling a David versus Goliath battle.
Australian Jackaroo Natasha Scott will contest her first Australian Open singles final tomorrow at 11.00am against Broadbeach local Dee-Anne Robertson, a former Tropical North Queensland representative with nothing to lose.
Natasha Scott started her semi-final against fellow Australian Jackaroo Lynsey Clarke with a score of four and three; Clarke fought back in front of her home crowd at Club Helensvale and after the scores were locked at 17 apiece, Scott again put her foot down to claim the win 21-17.
At the conclusion of the Australian Open, Natasha Scott will be named Australia’s number one ranked bowler for the second consecutive year and will be hoping she is one of the 10 Jackaroos called to represent the nation later this year in the World Bowls Championships team.
On the other end of the scale, Robertson only relocated to the Gold Coast two years ago and prior to her achievements during this year’s Australian Open, her highest achievement was clean sweep of Zone titles in the far north.
Robertson had a similar start to Scott in her semi-final against youngster Molly Wilton from Raymond Terrace; Robertson led the match 11-0 before Wilton started to make a comeback.
Wilton scored on the next four consecutive ends to trail 6-11 however Wilton’s run came to a screeching holt with Robertson winning the six ends straight to win the match 21-6.
The advantage of a home crowd at Broadbeach Bowls Club for the coveted women’s singles final will be in Robertson’s favour and going head-to-head with the country’s number one ranked bowler will only allow her to attack the $19,500 Australian Open final with a nothing to lose attitude; this match will be an exciting encounter between two players in very different stages of their careers.
Defending men’s fours champions, South Australia’s Steven Dennis, Nathan Pedersen, Wayne Ruediger and Scott Thulborn are now one game away from creating Australian Open history as the first team to win back-to-back men’s fours titles.
The South Australians were impressive in their semi-final encounter with Neville Hill, Ray Pickard, Neil Probyn and Geoff Hawken, charging into their second Australian Open fours final with a 22-8 victory.
The team that stands in their way is skipped by Australian Jackaroo Barrie Lester, who survived a neck-and-neck battle with Max Kleinig in a quality semi-final encounter.
Neither team could break away in the early stages of the match; however it was Josh Thornton, Jerome Coles, Wayne Wilson and Barrie Lester who finally jumped away, leading by 6 playing the final end of the match.
Kleinig’s team never gave up, they were holding five before Lester’s drive managed to reduce the count.
Barrie Lester has contested five Australian Open finals and is looking to etch his name onto the trophy on Friday in his sixth appearance.
