2023 Nationals: Day 13 recap
New South Wales reigned supreme in both fours events at the 2023 Australian Championships as part of the 2023 Nationals in Perth.
The state suffered just one loss for the day at Joondalup Bowling Club, ensuring that some familiar faces earned more silverware for their illustrious trophy cabinets.
Men’s fours
Craig Donaldson, Mathew Pietersen, David Ferguson and Ben Twist were able to conquer the men’s competition thanks to a 12-7 victory over Queensland’s Thomas Blaszczyk, Stephen Hayden, Jacob Nelson and Kane Nelson in the final.
New South Wales were in rampant form, progressing from their section with an astonishing shot difference of 30 from their three encounters.
However, it could have looked very different after the second round against Western Australia.
The New South Wales quartet found themselves 9-15 down with five ends to play and were able to reel the score back to win by a solitary shot after a two on the final end.
Queensland all but had their passport to the final stamped heading into the final sectional round against Victoria.
Needing to win or lose by six or less, the foursome managed to take a 13-11 advantage with two ends to play against their southern counterparts.
The Josh Thornton skipped Victorian team was able to net consecutive multiples to take the victory, but it was not enough to claw back the shot difference to their opponents, sending the Queenslanders through to the decider.
In the decider, it was the northern squad that raced away early to take a 5-0 lead after four, before New South Wales clicked into gear to win the next eight ends for an 11-5 buffer.
Queensland were able to take two singles to give the team some hope, but a single to their opponents on the concluding end sealed the title for New South Wales.
Victoria’s Garry McCaig, John Caldwell, Brian Lehmann and Thornton took home bronze with a 14-12 win over Western Australia.
Gold: Craig Donaldson, Mathew Pietersen, David Ferguson & Ben Twist (New South Wales)
Silver: Thomas Blaszczyk, Stephen Hayden, Jacob Nelson & Kane Nelson (Queensland)
Bronze: Garry McCaig, John Caldwell, Brian Lehmann & Josh Thornton (Victoria)
Women’s fours
The powerhouse team of Jamie-Lee Worsnop, Ellen Falkner MBE, Ellen Ryan and Karen Murphy AM proved too strong for Victoria’s 2021 champions of Claire Sanders, Laureen Smith, Anne Miles and Kylie Whitehead, recording a 17-8 win in the final.
The foursome recorded comfortable wins in their opening two sectional contests to set up a showdown with a strong Queensland lineup consisting of both Bolivia Millerick and Katelyn Inch.
Needing to win or lose by less than ten to ensure a place in the gold medal match, the team rallied from a 13-7 deficit to get within three at the conclusion of the contest.
Despite the loss, they were through to the decider to face a red hot Victoria, who had enjoyed some hotly contested battles throughout the day to go undefeated in section two.
In the final it was the northern quartet who raced out to an early 7-2 buffer thanks to a five on the third end of the match, before Victoria got back to within two shots after the seventh exchange.
From there it was all New South Wales, winning five of the last seven ends to take home the gold medal in sensational style.
Bronze would go to Western Australia’s Lisa Smith, Kaitlin Tyrrell, Therese Hastings and Laura Butler thanks to an 18-14 win over Queensland.
The 2023 Nationals will run from October 6-20, 2023, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
The 2023 Nationals in Perth, Western Australia is proudly supported by Tourism Western Australia, City of Joondalup, and the State government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Lotterywest in Western Australia. Sport and recreation creates vibrant, inclusive and connected WA communities.
