2025 Nationals: Day 6 wrap
Tasmania’s North West coast was buzzing on Saturday as the conclusion of the Para Nationals captivated Burnie while Devonport saw the commencement of the Senior Sides Championships.
Para Nationals
Men’s singles
The final matches at Burnie throughout the 2025 Nationals saw some thrillers with recently crowned World Cup gold medallist James Reynolds enjoying a scintillating victory over his World Bowls Championships winning teammate Damien Delgado to take the singles crown for New South Wales.
Looking for his first Nationals gold since 2022, the pair battled it out early with three lead changes in the opening seven ends before Reynolds pounced with some superb bowling to take the match by the scruff of the neck.
A plethora of multiples saw the 44-year-old take home a 21-9 victory in a career best performance.
Men’s pairs
The final between Queensland’s Brett Sellars and Clive Williams and New South Wales’ Aaron Kelly and Michael Vassallo needed an extra end to decide the gold.
That end went the way of the maroons, with Sellars and Williams playing a scintillating end to take the topsy turvy affair 18-15.
Women’s triples
Louise Hoskins, Cheryl Lindfield and Serena Bonnell would seal their women’s triples title thanks to a runaway 20-9 victory over Western Australia.
The trio went unblemished throughout the week and despite being locked away at 9-9 with five ends to go, the Queenslanders rallied to storm away to the win.
New South Wales would clinch silver with bronze going the way of Victoria.
Men’s and women’s MVP
For the first time, gender specific MVP awards would be bestowed upon the best male and female athlete at the Para Nationals, with Reynolds taking home the men’s medal and Bonnell winning for a third year in a row following her overall gongs in 2023 and 2024.
Clover Lester Encouragement Award
Awarded to a tournament debutant who showed an abundance of quality throughout the week, this medal went to South Australia’s Susan Kruger following her bronze in the women’s singles.
Overall state champion
For the fourth consecutive year, Queensland would be crowned as the overall champion of the Para Nationals, cementing their place as the dominant force in para bowls.
View the full Para Nationals results HERE
Senior Sides Championships
Men
2022 champions Victoria have ended the opening day on top of the table following comprehensive wins over the Northern Territory and ACT respectively, while home state Tasmania has also produced an unblemished record to sit in second on shots thanks to wins over the same opponents.
New South Wales have also gone unbeaten thanks to two pivotal wins across the day, the first being a 58-46 win over Queensland before an enthralling 56-55 win over defending champions South Australia.
The 2024 winners sit in fourth place with Queensland close behind on shots, while Western Australia, the Northern Territory and ACT round out the table.
Women
Victoria’s quest for a fourth consecutive Betty Collins OAM trophy has gotten off to the best possible start thanks to salutations against the Northern Territory and ACT, with Tasmania and Queensland following with unbeaten days.
New South Wales and South Australia follow with split ledgers on day one, with Western Australia, the ACT and Northern Territory making up the ladder.
View the full day one results HERE
Bowls Australia thank and acknowledge Devonport Country Club and Devonport City Council for their partnership in hosting these Nationals, made possible alongside the support of the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.
The 2025 Nationals will run from November 10-28, 2025, with live streaming to take place on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel from the 10th.
