Hewson and Millerick Skip Fours to Victory
By Kelsey Cottrell
The 2022 State Champion of Club Champions started with the tournament heavy weights firing the first shots in the fours discipline.
Club Pine Rivers combination of Michael Breen, Stephen Kaefer, James Schiulaz and Aaron Hewson overcame their challenges in both sectional play and the final to secure gold, whilst in the women’s event Rachel Davies, Karen Goldsworthy, Kelsey Cottrell and Bolivia Millerick from the Broadbeach Bulls went through the tournament undefeated, but with their own hurdles to jump during the two days of competition.
The Broadbeach combination overcame the eventual bronze medallist in the opening round of sectional play, a game worthy of a final came down to the final bowl with Millerick holding on for a tender one-shot victory over Hamilton’s Lauren Carpenter (nee Wilson), Pamela Rowe, Jacinta Weier and Wendy Wilson.
On the other side of the draw, Cheryl Lorkin, Beck Payne, Aymee Bellert and Dianne Reed from Tansey, had sailed through sectional play with a whopping 3 wins plus a margin of 94!
In the Gold Medal Match, despite being behind for most the game, Tansey finally got their noses in front with fours ends left to play; however, this only brought out the best in the Broadbeach combination who accepted the challenge that was being thrown at them.
A killer blow for Tansey was a deadly accurate drive from Millerick, killing the 20th end whilst Tansey were holding two. A double on that end would have put Tansey three in front playing the final end, but instead on the replayed end, Cottrell and Millerick conjured up 3 shots with their final 3 bowls giving Broadbeach a two-shot lead playing the final end.
A fine attempt from Dianne Reed went ever so close to forcing an extra end but Broadbeach held on for gold, a first State Champion of Champion gold medal for Rachel Davies and Kelsey Cottrell, and back-to-back golds for Goldsworthy who claimed the Pairs in 2021.
On the live streamed men’s Gold Medal match; the local favourites from neighbouring Mackay club Glenn Luck, Ross Blanchard, Tony Gibson and Michael Walsh were throwing the kitchen sink and some at the more fancied Pine Rivers side.
The crowd was certainly playing a big part with over 100 locals coming down to the South’s Suburban Bowls Club to cheer on the gents from Mackay.
The difference in the match was the outstanding lead’s display from Michael Breen which helped turn a heavy deficit back in favour of the pirates.
Another major turning point was a big conversion from Hewson to remove Mackay’s two shot bowls to pick up three and then the tactical change up of playing minimum length ends gave Pine Rivers all the momentum in the final third of the match.
In the playoffs for bronze, Mt Isa (Nathan Barrett, Alex Murtagh, Duane Cahill and Damien McGee) came from behind against Burleigh Heads in the men’s match whilst Hamilton (defeated Marlin Coast 30-24 in the women’s match.
We look forward to four more exciting days on the greens in Mackay with the pairs competition kicking off on Monday October 24th and the coveted singles titles being contested this Wednesday and Thursday at Souths Suburban Bowls Club.
Thank-you to our sponsors, in particular the support we have received from the Mackay Regional Council.
To view all results, click here.
