Canterbury’s Katelyn Inch will play off for Gold at the World Youth Championships held at her new home club of Broadbeach on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
The 22 year old will face Australia’s Kristina Krstic in the Women’s Singles Final at 1pm local time (4pm NZ time) on Friday 2nd March. The match can be viewed Live on Bowls NZ’s Facebook page.
Inching torwards gold
2015 winner Krstic won her way through to the final at the expense of another Cantabrian Tayla Bruce. The Western Australian dominated the match from start to finish, running out a 21-7 winner after earlier accounting for Gold Coast local and 2014 winner Chloe Stewart in the quarter final.
Bruce was disappointed with her performance, which was no reflection of how she had performed throughout the week, dropping only the one match, topping her section and earning a direct spot into the semi finals.
Although Bruce would not use it as an excuse, perhaps the fact Krstic had played two matches on the green earlier in the day (singles quarter final, mixed pairs semi final) gave her an edge over Bruce who was playing her first and only game of the day.
Krstic’s weight control was superior to Bruce’s, especially with the all important first and second bowls.
Katelyn Inch defeated Shae Wilson in their quarter final clash, using her get out of jail card at 4-16 down, to come from behind and snatch a 21-17 victory.
Wilson of Norfolk Island will contest the mixed pairs final, teamed up with Inch’s partner Ryan Burnett of Scotland. They will face Australia’s Aaron Teys – also in the men’s singles final – and Ellen Ryan, who was Inch’s next victim in the singles semi final.
Ryan went through section play undefeated, including a 21-17 win over Inch – the Blackjack’s only loss. This gave Ryan a bye into the semi final, where Inch got her revenge against the 2016 winner.
Ryan was considered by many pundits to perhaps be unlucky not to make Australia’s Commonwealth Games team. Inch worked hard for her 21-15 win, and her determination on the green was evident. Inch of course will line up for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games alongside Tayla Bruce in the triples and fours – the duo’s run of good form is timely with the Games only a month away.
All eyes will be on Katelyn Inch and she will no doubt have plenty of support both online via the Live Streaming on Bowls NZ’s Facebook page and rink-side at Broadbeach itself on her adopted home greens.
World Youth Championships – Broadbeach BC, Gold Coast
Mens Singles
Quarter Finals
Aaron Teys (Australia) BYE
Corey Wedlock (Australia) defeated Ryan Burnett (Scotland) 21-14
Daeng Dahasry (Malaysia) BYE
Ross Owen (Wales) defeated Jason Choi (Hong Kong China) 21-12
Semi Finals
Aaron Teys (Australia) defeated Corey Wedlock (Australia) 21-13
Ross Owen (Wales) defeated Daeng Dahasry (Malaysia) 21-16
Final- Friday 2nd March 3:30pm local time (6:30pm NZ time)
Aaron Teys (Australia) V Ross Owen (Wales)
Womens Singles
Quarter Finals
Ellen Ryan (Australia) BYE
KATELYN INCH (NEW ZEALAND) defeated Shae Wilson (Norfolk Island) 21-17
TAYLA BRUCE (NEW ZEALAND) BYE
Kristina Krstic (Australia) defeated Chloe Stewart (Australia) 21-17
Semi Finals
KATELYN INCH (NEW ZEALAND) defeated Ellen Ryan (Australia) 21-15
Kristina Krstic (Australia) defeated TAYLA BRUCE (NEW ZEALAND) 21-7
Final- Friday 2nd March 1pm local time (4pm NZ time)
KATELYN INCH (NEW ZEALAND) V Kristina Krstic (Australia)
Mixed Pairs
Quarter Finals
Kristina Krstic/Corey Wedlock (Australia) BYE
Shae Wilson (Norfolk Island)/Ryan Burnett (Scotland) defeated Nur Ain Tarmizi/Daeng Dahasry (Malaysia) 16-14
Ellen Ryan/Aaron Teys (Australia) BYE
Connie Rixon (Malta)/Cabous Oliver (Namibia) defeated Angel So/James Po (Hong Kong China) 19-12
Semi Finals
Shae Wilson (Norfolk Island)/Ryan Burnett (Scotland) defeated Kristina Krstic/Corey Wedlock (Australia) 23-18
Ellen Ryan/Aaron Teys (Australia) defeated Connie Rixon (Malta)/Cabous Oliver (Namibia) 17-16
Final- Friday 2nd March 10:30am local time (1:30pm NZ time)
Shae Wilson (Norfolk Island)/Ryan Burnett (Scotland) V Ellen Ryan/Aaron Teys (Australia)
