Crackerjack result for Blackjacks contingent
THE New Zealand Blackjacks have clinched bowls’ Trans Tasman honours for just the third time in a decade, after a scintillating final day effort at Broadbeach Bowls Club.
The Kiwi contingent stunningly claimed the Overall Senior Trans Tasman Trophy on a count-back of results, by virtue of securing the women’s event and only narrowly losing the men’s after three days of competition.
The Blackjacks prevailed in the women’s event two-tests-to-one, after winning successive tests across the weekend, while the green and gold army were triumphant in the men’s competition by the same margin, winning Friday’s and last night’s tests.
As a result, Australia surrendered its stranglehold on the competition’s silverware, with New Zealand successful in the count-back of games won across the three tests in both genders, 60-points to 45.
New Zealand had last claimed the overall honours six years ago, on home soil, and prior to that, claimed the bragging rights in 2009 in Brisbane.
While the Blackjacks will take the Overall Senior Trans Tasman Trophy and Women’s Senior Trophy back to their shores, there wasn’t any further cause for celebration for the international raiders.
The host country collected the remaining five pieces of silverware, the Men’s Senior Trophy, after securing their second test, and had already procured the Development Overall Trophy, Development Men’s Trophy, Development Women’s Trophy and Parasport Trophy after the consecutive test wins on Saturday.
The result bodes well for both nation’s chances at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, to be played on the same Broadbeach greens.
With the Trans Tasman the last international hit-out before the Games, attention now turns to the selection of each nation’s teams.