Tasmania on the improve vs the ACT
The Tasmanian men have taken the lead in the 5 test series with victories in the second and third tests. Our women have ensured that the 4th test is alive with a victory in the second test but due to losing the third test, will now need to win both Day 3 encounters to take the series.
The second test saw a similar pattern in both the Men’s and Women’s matches with Tasmania jumping out to a great start only to see the ACT peg back the margin and be right back in the game. The Tasmanian’s kicked again for convincing wins and levelled the series at 1-1.
Lee Schraner’s 32-8 victory, really put the men in the box seat and ensure that the other rinks only needed to keep their games close. Not only did they keep it close but they were also victorious. Nitz winning by 6 shots & Sims remained undefeated with a 2 shot win.
The Women also won every rink but it was once again Bree Mabb’s rink who were the stars. A 33-10 win backed up their efforts in the first test and gave the rest of the team confidence to play well and that victory was within reach. Rebecca Van Asch returned to the winners circle with a 25-17 victory whilst Lyn Triffitt put a bad first test behind her with a 4 shot win.
The 3rd test was delayed in the same way the first test was due to the extreme heat, with a 6pm start, giving the players a lengthy rest between matches.
For the Men, this match took on a very similar storyline to the 2nd test. Lee Schraner’s rink of Scott Summers, Andrew Whitmore & Robert McMullen broke out to a great lead and made the other ACT rinks play catch up. Their end margin of 19 shots set the side up really well and took the pressure of the other rinks. This time Sims was unable to avoid the loss but only went down by 2 shots. Nitz was the last to finish and a 4 on the last few ends ended any hope for an ACT miracle. Another 4 on the last end gave Nitz a 7 shot win.
The Women were unable to match their stellar 2nd test performance and were defeated. Van Asch’s rink performed very well but it was Mabb’s rink who had previously been untouchable that suffered a heavy defeat that couldn’t be covered for. Van Asch’s rink ran out 13 shot winners but Mabb’s 22 shot defeat & Triffitt’s 3 shot loss gave the ACT the test and the upper hand in the series.
The final two tests should prove very entertaining tomorrow with the Tasmanian Men and ACT Women hoping that they can wrap the series up. Stay tuned to the Bowls in Tasmania Updates Facebook group for live scores of the fourth & fifth tests.
2nd Test
Women
R Van Asch def S Harmer 25-17, B Mabb def R Moore 33-10, L Triffitt def M Bacchetto 21-17
Men
M Nitz def M McLean 20-14, L Schraner def D Thomas 32-8, M Sims def I Whybrow 19-17
3rd Test
Women
L Triffitt def by S Harmer 16-19, B Mabb def by M Bacchetto 6-28, R Van Asch def R Moore 27-14
Men
M Sims def by M McLean 16-18, M Nitz def D Thomas 25-18, L Schraner def I Whybrow 32-13
By David Genford
