The National Under 8’s Intercentre continued today in Christchurch, and saw a number of strong battles between the up and coming stars.
First up, Blackjack Development squad members, Ashleigh Jeffcoat (Waikato) and Nicole Toomey (Wellington) met in round three this morning at Burnside Bowling Club. While Jeffcoat took an early lead 11-5 on the 10th end, Toomey crawled back to take the lead on the 14th end, 14-13. Jeffcoat’s experience under pressure saw her pull through and take a fantastic win 21-18.
Jeffcoat, Youth Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, lost to Thames Valley 16-21 in round four, however despite beating Wanganui in the final round 21-2, they were unable to make it through to post section play.
Toomey went on to beat Wanganui 21-11 before falling short to 2016’s Under 18 winner Paris Baker (North Harbour), however with the help of her Wellington team mates they have progressed through to post section play tomorrow. Wellington will face Auckland in the quarterfinals.
Having played for less than eight years, Seamus Curtin and Finbar McGuigan, also representatives in the Blackjacks Development squad, are here in Christchurch playing for Wellington.
McGuigan, Wellington’s Singles competitor had three from a possible four wins in qualifying, losing only to Dunedin’s Ray Webster 11-21.
16-year-old Curtin, led for pairs partner Shane Battock. The duo had a shaky start to the tournament losing to both Dunedin and Wanganui, but found their feet on day two beating Auckland’s Taylor Horn and Jeremy Brosnan 18-12 and drawing with Gisborne East Coast 19-19.
Wellington men’s with the help of the Fours team have too progressed to post section play and will face defending champions North Harbour in the quarter final.
Sarah Scott Dunedin’s singles representative won three of her possible four games during qualifying, losing only to Cait Bassett another Blackjack development squad member from Canterbury 21-20.
Scott and her Dunedin team members came second to Canterbury in their section and have advanced into the quarterfinal rounds tomorrow starting at 8:30am at Burnside Bowling Club.
