Final Four Confirmed in Women’s CoC Singles

What a day of action it was in the Women’s Champion of Champion Singles. From huge comebacks to nail-biting finishes, the spectators at Port City were treated to it all across the Round of 16 and quarter-final matches.

Karen Murphy (Cabramatta) enjoyed two strong wins, accounting for Kayla Courtin (Padstow) 25-10 and Cheryl Douglas (Belmont) 25-16. The five-time Women’s CoC Singles champion will now face Sarah Boddington (Tuncurry Beach) in the semi-finals after she edged Halekulani’s Michelle Treadwell 25-19 in a titanic struggle. In the earlier Round of 16 match, Boddington proved too consistent for Jeanette Swan (North Epping) winning 25-17 in a high quality match.

On the other half of the draw, Claire Kelly (Forster) will go up against two-time defending champion Dawn Hayman (St Johns Park). Kelly has been in fine form recently, fresh from a win in the State Mixed Pairs with clubmate Shannon White. Switching to the singles discipline has not proven to be an issue as she recorded wins over Christine Cadman (Wenty Leagues) and Sharan Hubber (Cowra). For Dawn Hayman, herself a recent runner-up in the Australian Open earlier this month, it was a tough day on the green in the windy conditions. She produced an impeccable display of bowls in the Round of 16 to defeat Jessica Fisher (Maitland City) 25-9. Her quarter-final clash against Cathy Verdich (South Tamworth) however was a completely different story.

Verdich jumped out to a 14-4 lead, forcing Hayman to change game plans and shorten her jack lengths. It proved to be a stroke of genius as Hayman roared back to lead 17-15, but an errant jack roll trickling into the ditch gave Verdich control of the length, which she stretched out to her favoured length. From there, she recorded multiple scores to lead 20-17. Hayman responded with multiples of her own to lead 24-20, which is where things picked up another gear.

Unbelievably, Hayman drew three touchers the following end but still somehow dropped a count of three to lead 24-23. The next end, Verdich piled on the pressure, drawing touchers herself and leaving Hayman match down with one bowl to play. With shot bowl only two feet away, Hayman elected to draw on the backhand. The bowl she played will go down as one of her best, as she negotiated short bowls and picked a perfect line to just draw shot and win the match 25-23.

Click here to view the Women’s CoC Sectional Draw and Results