Jackaroos get jump on 2022
THE Australian Jackaroos bowls team have already started their preparations for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games this week in the UK.
Tweed Head’s Chloe Stewart and Helensvale’s Premier League Queensland representative Kelsey Cottrell were among a team of five women and five men to make the journey.
The Aussies started their UK tour against local teams and an England emerging squad at various clubs to get a feel for the slower greens.
They then made their way to the 2022 Commonwealth Games venue at Royal Leamington Spa to challenge England in a two-day series.
Joining them on the tour are this year’s Australian Open singles finalists Bec Van Asch and Kristina Krstic while rounding out the five young stars is last year’s AO singles champ Ellen Ryan.
The men’s team includes Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold medalist Aaron Wilson, Aaron Teys, Corey with Brett Wilkie Wedlock and debutants Ben Twist and Jessie Noronha.
This is the first time playing on the UK outdoor greens for nine of the 10 players with Cottrell the only one with experience.
Aron Sherriff and Nathan Rice were unavailable for the series.
Following the Test against England, the team will travel to Cardiff, Wales to compete in a Multi-Nations Test event including countries such as Wales, Malaysia, South Africa, Canada and Ireland.
This is fantastic experience for this young team who will be looking to stake their claim for return trips to the UK in the coming years.
Gold Coast Tweed Champion of Club Champion Fours was played over the weekend at Musgrave Hill and is now down to the grand final.
Helensvale’s Sam White, Matt Lucas, Mark Casey and Aron Sherriff will play South Tweed’s John Bain, Scott De Jongh-Fitzpatrick, Nigel Smith and Neville Jenkins in the final on a date to be announced.
Helensvale beat Broadbeach in one semi-final while South Tweed defeated Musgrave Hill in the other.
Men’s Champion of Club Champion Pairs will commence this Sunday also at Musgrave Hill.
Pennant commences around the Gold Coast this Friday for ladies, with the men starting on Saturday.
Broadbeach are defending Division 1 titles in both genders.
Apologies to Jessie Cottell after I overlooked her success in the Australian Open U18 Girls Singles in my column last week.
Well done Jessie, check out Thursday’s Bulletin for a feature story on Jessie.