World Team Cup – Day 6

Ireland became the first team to book a place in the men’s final of the World Team Cup with a win over England today (22/5) at Tweed Heads Bowls Club.

Martin McHugh overcame England ’s Mark Walton in a tie-breaker to claim the singles rubber and give the Irish team an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the best-of-three-games contest.

Cheered on by team-mates Ian McClure and Jeremy Henry, who defeated England in the pairs on Sunday, McHugh jumped out of the blocks with a 9-3 result in the first set.

Walton hit back hard to take the second set by five shots and force the game into a three-end shoot-out, but McHugh had the answers when it counted most. The final score was 9-3, 6-11, 3-1.

Ireland will meet the winner of the semi-final clash between Australia and Canada Invitational that will conclude tomorrow (23/5) morning.

Attention now turns to the deciding triples rubber in the women’s final round encounter between Australia and New Zealand which will determine who finishes top of the preliminary round standings. The game begins at 2.00pm.

Australia stumbles into World Team Cup final

After recording five outstanding wins the Australian women’s bowls team stumbled into the final of the World Team Cup with a loss to New Zealand today (22/5).

The defeat saw the Kiwis jump over Australia to take top spot on the standings at the end of the preliminary rounds and firm as favourite for the final to be played on Thursday and Friday.

New Zealand’s Val Smith, Wendy Jensen and Jo Edwards outclassed Australia in the triples rubber to claim the best-of-three-games encounter 2-1 at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club.

The Kiwi trio secured the first set 6-5 and closed out the game against Australia’s Julie Keegan, Kelsey Cottrell and Karen Murphy with a count of four on the last end of the second for a 10-4 result.

Earlier this week the Kiwis won the singles rubber and Australia was triumphant in the pairs.

Australia will face New Zealand in the final and according to coach Cameron Curtis today’s (22/5) loss proves that the Australian players need to lift if they are to hold the inaugural World Team Cup trophy.

“This result certainly gives New Zealand all the momentum going into the final,” Curtis said.

“Our players now know that nothing but the three of them playing at their best will be good enough.

“We need to lift about 10 per cent and that could prove the difference. We know we can improve on that performance.”

Curtis will take some comfort from the form of 16-year-old Cottrell and Murphy in the pairs as they have been outstanding in the preliminary rounds and will take a perfect record into the final.

The Australia triples combination has also performed well, winning four from six preliminary round games, however Keegan will be hoping she can turn things around in the singles after winning just two games.

After the triples clash Curtis praised the performance of the Kiwi skip.

“Jo Edwards was sensational and is playing at her absolute best,” he said.

Earlier today (22/5), Ireland became the first team to book a place in the men’s final with a hard fought win over England.

Martin McHugh overcame England’s Mark Walton in a tie-breaker to claim the singles rubber and give the Irish team an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the best-of-three-games contest.

Cheered on by team-mates Ian McClure and Jeremy Henry, who defeated England in the pairs on Sunday, McHugh jumped out of the blocks with a 9-3 result in the first set.

Walton hit back hard to take the second set by five shots and force the game into a three-end shoot-out, but McHugh had the answers when it counted most. The final score was 9-3, 6-11, 3-1.

Ireland will meet the winner of the semi-final clash between Australia and Canada Invitational that will conclude tomorrow (23/5) morning.

Day Session - 22 May 2007

MEN: First Semi-Final: 

ENGLAND v IRELAND (incomplete)

Singles: M McHugh (Ire) bt M Walton (Eng) 9-3, 6-11, 3-1.

WOMEN: Rd 7: 

ENGLAND INVITATIONAL v IRELAND (incomplete): 

Singles: C Ashby (Eng Inv) bt M Johnston (Ire) 10-5 12-4.

NEW ZEALAND 2 bt AUSTRALIA 1 

Triples: V Smith W Jensen J Edwards (Nzl) bt J Keegan K Cottrell K Murphy (Aus) 6-5, 10-4.

Evening Session - 22 May 2007

WOMEN: Rd 7:

SCOTLAND 2 bt SOUTH EAST ASIA INVITATIONAL 1 

Triples: M Witheridge R Greenless R Shek (SEA Inv) bt K Moran K Dawson M Letham (Sco) 12-5 2-11 2-1.