State Pairs Post Sectional Preview – Men’s & Women’s

by admin on January 6, 2018

David Genford gives us another preview of what action there is to come in tomorrow’s play.

The Fours is done and dusted and we now move on to the Pairs. Although we won’t crown our champions we will know who the finalists are going to be! After another 50% effort with my predictions, I’m starting to lose my integrity but I was able to pick the finalists of the Women’s Fours and the eventual champion! But I’m not going to stop now, here goes with the Pairs moving from 16 teams to 2.
We’ll start with the Men’s draw first.
There is a few teams that feature a family combination but not many where they play each other. They do in this first match up with the Springers from East Launceston taking on the Cliffords of Glenorchy Rodman. The Springers can often be the butt of any joke but I think they have the fire power to get through in this match. Selection – W Springer.
Warren Groves & Peter Thow have once again surprised some by advancing into the post sectionals, but these two did make the Semi Finals in 2016 and lead 15-4 before being denied a spot in the final. They face the giant killers in Howrah pairing Danny Neal & Peter Jenkins. I think Groves & Thow will be too wily for their opponents and should get through. Selection – P Thow.
The next combo has thrown the Junior Pairs wide open! With Josh Walker-Davis & Patrick Oldham progressing, they can no longer play in the Junior Pairs but their eyes will be focussed on the open prize. They face the Rosny Park duo of Nick Suttie & Darren Monks. Monks was a replacement player and is only travelling for this event, I know I might be biased but I’ll take the Rosny Park duo in a close battle. Selection – D Monks.
The next matchup sees Peter Barrett & Drew Berwick take on Phil Mundy and Chris Dudman. Barrett/Berwick took it right up to Lee Schraner coming away with a draw and will need to be at their best again to challenge Mundy and Dudman. I can’t look past Dudman in this one, he is always there abouts and will continue to put pressure on his opposition. Selection – C Dudman.
An interesting sitiation arises with section winner Geoff Buchanan & John Seaton taking on the lucky losers from their section Mark Illingworth & Barry Hunt. Despite losing the section Illingworth was victorious in their head to head match up and I favour them to do the same again this time around. Selection – M Illingworth.
Philip Moore & Graham Hay did a great job eliminating David Minns from the competition but their reward is a match against father son due Ricky & Luke Richardson. I’d favour the Richardsons but Hay has shown that he has the ability to compete at this level. Selection – L Richardson.
An intriguing match in the next clash with brothers David & Tim Douce taking on Peter Zoon & Aaron Page. Tim has been having a strong week but Page will be keen to show he means business. Zoon will continue to give Page bowls in the head and I think this could prove the difference. Selection – A Page.
Lee Schraner would have been disappointed to now make it through in the Fours but will have a chance to atone in the Pairs with Josh Appleyard. They take on the Dover RSL duo of Brad Carver and Jarrah Allan, Allan progressing in the Pairs and Singles, the only events he entered. I think Schraner will be too strong here but Allan has nothing to lose and will play the game with no abandon. Selection – L Schraner.
Now for the hypotheticals, Springer vs Thow I go Springer, Monks vs Dudman I go Dudman, Illingworth vs Richradson should see Richardson advance and Page vs Schraner should be a great battle with Schraner to get through. My final prediction Dudman vs Richardson in an all North West clash.
Now for the Women’s Post Sectional play.
Annie Lewis & Maureen Zoon will back up after playing in the Fours will take on Marjorie McFarlane & Kerry Bebbington. I’ll favour the Lewis/Zoon combination with Zoon a very consistent player at this level. Selection – M Zoon.
State players Amelia Bruggy & Lyn Triffett come up against Judy Hope & Gail Thow. Bruggy could prove the difference here having settled into very well to the Saturday Premier League in Hobart. She has won two Australian Open titles and I expect her to set the heads up very well for Triffett to take advantage of. Selection – L Triffett.
The next match is wide open with Rose’Anne Howard-Smith & Shiron Beavis taking on Lyn Page & Sally Ridgeway. This really could go either way but I’ll just take the Page/Ridgeway combination with no confidence what so ever! Selection – L Page.
Denise Middap will join Sophie Fletcher when they take on June Guy & Janet Rutherford. Fletcher has been on good form this week and I think will be too strong for Guy & Rutherford. Selection – S Fletcher.
The next match is my pick for the match of the round. Mary Beaumont & Judy Reeve take on the Buckley sisters, Yvonne & Peri. All four players have demonstrated through the years that they are quality players and I feel bad for not picking someone! I’ll have to go with the Buckley sisters but this could go to an extra end! Selection – Y Buckley.
I do like the look of pairing Deb Lee & Sonia Martyn. They should prove too strong for Judy Gurr & Marge Strochnetter but Gurr/Strochnetter did also play in the fours post sectional play. Lee went on to win the fours and should be too good in this match. Selection – S Martyn.
Two matches to go and the Kingborough paring of Carmel Rainbird & Vicki Bannister will be very pleased to be through to the next round of matches. They will face stiff opposition in Bronny King and Jean Claridge. The King/Claridge combo is one that looks like they could gel really well together and might threaten for a spot in the final. I’ll pick them in this match. Selection – J Claridge.
The last match sees the defending champions Dee Harman & Alison Venn take on Vicki Winley & Nicole Smith. Another cracker of a match between four quality players. I haven’t really tipped against a defending champion this week and I’m not going to start now, Harman & Venn to progress. Selection – D Harman.
I feel like the next predictions might be a waste with so many close games but here goes nothing! Triffett to beat Zoon, Fletcher to beat Page, Martyn to beat Buckley & Harman to beat Claridge. My Finals prediction, Triffett to play Harman. Only time will tell if this even gets close!
Good luck to all players!
By David Genford