World Team Cup – Day 1

England today (17-5) snatched the early ascendancy from host Australia with a thrilling 2-1 win in the opening men’s match of the World Team Cup.

The Australians lost the deciding triples encounter 7-7, 7-6 at Tweed Heads Bowls Club this afternoon after a quality first day of play.

Australia seized the early advantage with a 9-5, 8-4 win to Nathan Rice and Wayne Turley before England ace Mark Walton tied the clash with a tie-break win over debutante Aron Sherriff in the singles rubber.

The encounter went down to the wire in front a near-capacity crowd with the English invaders kick-starting their charge in a heart-stopper.

Robert Newman, who skipped the pairs and played second in the triples for England, was relieved to sneak away with a win.

“We just got over the line, we only just made it,” Newman said after the triples tussle.

“You couldn’t ask for a much tougher task than Australia on their home turf first up. Fortunately Mark (Walton) kept the match alive in the singles and we found a way to win a really competitive game just then.”

Newman is convinced the dream start against the hosts would hold his team in good stead for the remainder of the event.

“We’ve got away with a tough one first up, but there’s not going to be an easy game anywhere because of the quality of players here,” Newman said.

The Australian women’s side opened its World Team Cup campaign in style with comprehensive victories across the board against the English invitational side.

Julie Keegan edged out the glamour girl of bowls Carol Ashby (10-5, 8-9, 4-1) then teamed with Karen Murphy and teenager Kelsey Cottrell to take the triples (9-3, 15-4).

Earlier in the day Murphy and Cottrell were far too good for the English invitational pairing of Catherine Popple and Katherine Hawes (15-3, 13-5) to round out the clean sweep.

Each clash is decided by a singles, pairs and triples match.

In other matches completed on day one, Malaysia beat Scotland and New Zealand were too strong for Ireland in the women’s section.

Canada, led by young gun Ryan Bester, crushed Wales 3-0 in the men’s event.

Results from the opening day of the World Team Cup at Tweed Heads Bowls Club today:

MEN: Sec 1: CANADA INVITATIONAL 3 bt WALES 0 

Singles: H Bhartu bt A Fleming 10-6 4-10, 4-1. 

Pairs: K Roney R Bester bt K Peregrine C Williams 11-5 8-6. 

Triples: R Bester K Roney H Bhartu bt C Williams K Peregrine A Fleming 5-9 15-3 3-2

Sec 2: ENGLAND 2 bt AUSTRALIA 1 

Singles: M Walton bt A Sherriff 6-9 10-7 3-1. 

Pairs: R Newman M Walton lost to N Rice W Turley 9-5 8-4. 

Triples: N Brett R Newman M Walton bt A Sherriff N Rice W Turley 7-7 7-6.

WOMEN: Rd 1: AUSTRALIA 3 bt ENGLAND INVITATIONAL 0 

Singles: J Keegan bt C Ashby 10-5 8-9 4-1. 

Pairs: K Cottrell K Murphy bt K Hawes C Popple 15-3 13-5. 

Triples: K Cottrell J Keegan K Murphy bt C Ashby K Hawes C Popple 9-3 15-4

MALAYSIA 2 bt SCOTLAND 1 

Singles: S Ahmad bt K Moran 9-7 7-8 3-0. 

Pairs: N Ismail A Arshad bt K Dawson M Letham 12-6 10-6. 

Triples: S Ahmad N Ismail A Arshad lost to M Letham K Moran K Dawson 5-10 7-6 4-1. 

NEW ZEALAND 3 bt IRELAND 0 

Singles: V Smith bt M Johnston 3-14 11-5 5-0. 

Pairs: W Jensen J Edwards bt M Cunningham D McNally 10-6 14-3. 

Triples: W Jensen V Smith J Edwards bt M Cunningham D McNally M Johnston 7-15 10-5 7-0

Evening Session - 17 May 2007

MEN: Sec 1:

SCOTLAND 2 bt IRELAND 1 

Singles: G Archer bt M McHugh 11-2 8-3. 

Pairs: A Lauder A Hainey bt I McClure J Henry 12-3 12-6. 

Triples: G Archer A Lauder A Hainey lost to M McHugh I McClure J Henry 7-11 12-5 4-2

Sec 2:

MALAYSIA 3 bt NEW ZEALAND 0 

Singles: S Said bt A Forsyth 9-6 8-10 5-0. 

Pairs: M Yusof F Muin bt A Todd R Girvan 11-5 1-13 5-3

Triples: S Said M Yusof F Muin bt A Forsyth A Todd R Girvan 10-9 7-5).

WOMEN:  Rd 2:

AUSTRALIA 2 bt IRELAND 1 

Singles: J Keegan lost to M Johnston 10-5 8-6. 

Pairs: K Cottrell K Murphy bt D McNally M Cunningham 14-4 10-3. 

Triples: K Cottrell J Keegan K Murphy bt M Johnston D McNally M Cunningham 8-7 8-10 3-0

ENGLAND 2 bt NEW ZEALAND 1 

Singles: C Ashby bt V Smith 13-6 4-7 5-0. 

Pairs: K Hawes C Popple lost to W Jensen J Edwards 11-6 10-3

Triples: C Ashby K Hawes C Popple bt V Smith W Jensen J Edwards 6-8 12-9 8-1

MALAYSIA 3 bt SOUTH EAST ASIA 0 

Singles: S Ahmad bt M Witheridge 10-5 11-6

Pairs: N Ismail A Arshad bt R Shek R Greenless 15-3 16-2. 

Triples: S Ahmad N Ismail A Arshad bt M Witheridge R Shek R Greenless 7-6 15-7).