THE PERTH INTERNATIONAL
SUPER SERIES
LAWN BOWLS EVENT
MOSMAN PARK, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
2 – 8 MARCH 2009
March 3, 2009
Australia claims opening day honours
World number five Leif Selby has provided Australia with the early honours after the opening day of the four-nation Perth International at Mosman Park.
Selby, the reigning World Champion of Champions, was instrumental in the host nation’s victory in the men’s pairs, which gave Australia a 2-0 lead after two rubbers of its highly anticipated encounter against Malaysia.
While teen sensation Kelsey Cottrell and three-time Commonwealth Games representative Karen Murphy dropped the third rubber late in the day to Hashima Khairudzi and Zuraini Khalid in the women’s pairs, the Australians remain in the box seat with just the singles and mixed pairs to play tomorrow (4/3).
On the show rink, Scotland was also in a commanding position against England, despite dropping their opening encounter in the mixed triples.
With world number nine Neil Speirs demonstrating his prowess, Scotland was able to claim a 7-4, 8-8 victory against England in the men’s pairs before Commonwealth Games gold medallist Margaret Letham led Caroline Brown to a 15-2, 14-2 hammering of Natalie Melmore and Amy Monkhouse.
As a result, Scotland currently leads it series against England 2-1, with Speirs’ singles clash against world number seven Mark Walton looming as a pivotal rubber in the series.
Speaking after his 10-7, 12-9 victory alongside Coolum Beach ace Robbie Thompson, Selby said his form was a little scratchy early on, but was happy to claim a win against a pair of world-class performers.
“It’s great to be back playing for Australia and you like to perform at the best every time you get an opportunity,” Selby said.
“It really was a team effort today, though.“We picked up a four in the second set and then it started to snowball a little bit and we couldn’t stop the hemorrhaging.
“Once we found our way out of it, we were good to go again.”
The four-nation Perth International, which pits Australia, Malaysia, England and Scotland against each other in a round-robin format, continues tomorrow with men’s and women’s singles, as well as mixed pairs.
Perth International (Round one results):
Australia v Malaysia
(Men’s pairs) Robbie Thompson and Leif Selby (AUST) d Hizlee Rais and Syamil Ramli (MAL)- 10-7, 12-9
(Women’s pairs) Kelsey Cottrell and Karen Murphy (AUST) lost to Zuraini Khalid and Hashima Khairudzi (MAL)- 2-13, 3-11
(Mixed triples) Kelsey Cottrell, Robbie Thompson and Karen Murphy (AUST) d Hizlee Rais, Zuraini Khalid and Syamil Ramli (MAL)- 11-3, 10-8
England v Scotland
(Men’s pairs) Grant Logan and Neil Speirs (SCO) d Mervyn King and Mark Walton (ENG)- 7-4, 8-8
(Women’s pairs) Caroline Browne and Margaret Letham (SCO) d Natalie Melmore and Amy Monkhouse (ENG)- 15-2, 14-2
(Mixed triples) Margaret Letham, Grant Logan and Neil Speirs (SCO) lost to Mervyn King, Amy Monkhouse and Mark Walton (ENG)- 8-9, 4-11
The competing countries are:
Australia-
England-
Scotland-Malaysia
Teams will consist of 2 men and 2 women, playing the sets play format:
Singles (men and women)
Pairs (men and women)
Pairs (mixed)
Triples (mixed)
Games will be played on B Green (TV rink) and C Green (4 rinks)
TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON –
COST $10 PER DAY
A PRO– AM TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY Ist MARCH.
PERTH INTERNATIONAL 2009
SELECTED TEAMS
AUSTRALIA
Leif Selby
Robbie Thompson
Kelsey Cottrell
Karen Murphy
ENGLAND
Mervyn King
Mark Walton
Natalie Melmore
Amy Monkhouse
MALAYSIA
Hizlee Rais
Syamil Ramli
Zuraini Khalid
Hashima Khairudzi
SCOTLAND
Grant Logan
Neil Spiers
Caroline Browne
Margaret Letham
Bob Lahiff at Mosman Park Bowling Club
9384 7951
Or
info@mosmanparkbowlingclub.com.au