Marauding Maroons batter the Blues
A shell-shocked NSW were put to the sword by Queensland’s girls. New South Wales’ star-studded women’s team was humbled by a new-look Queensland side at South Burnie Bowls Club this morning.
Queensland’s girls have moved to fourth on the Australian Sides ladder following the win, which saw them dominate the Blues 69-53 despite winning only two rinks.
The result could have been much worse for NSW, with Natasha Scott’s 28-14 victory over Louise Witton’s girls saving the Blues from total embarrassment.
But while she might have made the scoreline more respectable, Scott couldn’t save the match, with Queensland skips Pam Rowe and Lynsey Clarke drubbing their NSW rivals.
Clarke’s young and relatively inexperienced team of Kristy Thatcher, Bolivia Millerick and Charlie Harkness blasted Karen Murphy’s all-star side off the green, 31-17.
At one stage Clarke was up 21-5, before her Commonwealth Games teammate launched a comeback.Rowe had an equally impressive win over another Comm Games rep, taking down Kelsey Cottrell’s side, 24-8.
It’s a fourth consecutive win for Rowe’s outfit of Natasha Jones, Christina Pavlov and Rosie Lovelock, with the foursome currently second on the overall rink ladder.South Australia’s Breeanna Dickson leads the field with five rink wins from five, while Clarke’s girls are third with four from five.
“The girls played brilliantly out there this morning, I’m very happy with the performance,” state coach Bill Cornehls said.
“NSW have current and former Australian players throughout the side, including a few Comm Games reps, so I’m sure they were favourites going into the match.
“But our girls proved they’ve got the goods to mix it with the best in the world and win. I’m very proud of them.”
Queensland’s girls still potentially have a shot at the title, if some results go their way in rounds six and seven.
Victoria and SA are currently one match win ahead of Queensland on the ladder, while NSW are slightly ahead on rink wins.
If the Maroons win their remaining two games against WA (this afternoon) and SA (tomorrow) and if Victoria and SA lose their remaining two games (and NSW loses one), Queensland will leapfrog into first place.
If Queensland win both games, but Victoria and SA lose just one, or NSW wins both, the title will go to a count back, where Victoria are currently three rink-wins clear at the top of the table.
As Bill Cornehls said, “with just two rounds to go, it’s still all to play for.”
