Silver double for Schraner & Triffitt
Triffitt (New Norfolk) had the easier run of the day, as she had a bye in her section but she got off to a bad start to the day losing to Margaret Bacchetto 25-16 and a shot at Gold looked a long way away. Triffitt knew that to have any success she needed a big win against Judy Monks from NSW and that she did. Triffitt was outstanding from start to finish, never allowing her opponent into the game and running away victor 25-6. This left her with a shots up margin of +10 and now meant that if Monks could turn around her from and defeat Bacchetto, Triffitt would be through to the Gold Medal match. As Triffitt watched the third match, she probably couldn’t believe her luck as Monks did indeed turn her form around, comfortably winning 25-7 and booking herself a spot in the bronze medal match. Krizanic on the other hand had won both her games vs WA & the NT and was in great form.
Schraner (Rosny Park) took to the green with his sore ankle and knew that a tough ask was ahead of him, if he was going to battle through this pain and achieve success. His first match was against Jay Bye-Norris from Victoria, who had already won a gold medal this week in the Fours and it was a very close encounter. Bye-Norris had his nose in front during the middle section of the match but Schraner came through at the business end of the match to win 25-19. His 2nd match against Robert Craven of the ACT was a lot more comfortable winning 25-11. With Bye-Norris winning his 2nd match, Schraner knew a close loss or a win would see him through to the Gold Medal match. But with Craven upsetting Bye-Norris, Schraner only needed to get to 10 to advance. At 7-17 down this wasn’t looking a definite but Schraner really turned it on late and not only got the shots required to make the final but fought back to win 22-21 as time ran out. In the other section Ray Pearse won all 3 matches.
This guaranteed Tasmania their first two medals of the week but Gold was what they were after. Triffitt got off to a slow start with Krizanic jumping out of the blocks early and leading 11-0. This lead was always going to be hard to fight back from & despite some terrific shots from Triffitt, it was too big a margin to come back from, with Krizanic winning 25-15. The bronze medal would go to Kristina Krstic who defeated Monks 25-10.
The Men’s Final was a game for the ages. Pearse and Schraner traded shot bowl for shot bowl, either playing excellent conversions with big weight, controlled weight or simply drawing the shot. The crowd was enthralled and took it all in in an almost stunned silence with the bowls that were being played. Pearse led early but Schraner despite showing the ill effects of his injury dug deep and reduced the lead back to 3, 19-22 with the winner being the first to 25. Dead ends were traded before Pearse made it 23-19 and then on what would be the last end ripped out a bowl that was sitting on the jack to hold the game. Schraner could not repeat his 3rd bowl toucher, crashing in to the front pack and handing Pearse his first National title. Both players have been in tremendous form this year and didn’t disappoint today. “He was a machine tonight” said Schraner about the way Pearse played. “It was tough today, 4 games in a day with a bung ankle was a big effort. I am disappointed but i won’t lose any fans over that. No guts no glory. Go Tassie!” In the bronze medal match South Australia’s Josh Studham won 25-22 against Craven.
My apologies to our Women’s Fours team who played yesterday. Due to illness I wasn’t able to report on how they went. Their first game against NSW saw a convincing win to NSW 14-26. The second game was the highlight of the day for our team. In a very close encounter with the lead being exchanged on several occasions the opposing Western Australian team managed to just get over the line by 1 shot, 11-12. The last game against the ACT saw our team go down 7-23.
The Western Australian team that our girls only lost to by 1 shot, went on to win the Gold Medal defeating SA 16-7 and the ACT won the bronze. In the Men’s competition the Victorian team skipped by Anthony Flapper defeated NSW 16-12 with Queensland winning the bronze.
Well done to Club Sapphire for the hosting of the event. Thanks to Clive Adams & his Bowls Australia team who were able to bring so much live streaming for those of us that couldn’t make it and thanks to Amelia Bruggy for providing some score updates today when we couldn’t see how Lyn & Lee were going. Well done to all of our players, just to qualify for these championships is the dream of many a player and a special congratulations to our two medallists from today!
By David Genford
