Waikato’s Raika Gregory won the second Australia v New Zealand Professional Bowls Association Challenge at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club on Monday, beating the previously invincible and defending champion Steve Glasson in the final.
Glasson only lost one set on his way to five match wins over the Kiwis at the weekend, but Gregory showed class on Monday, winning the final in straight sets 9-5, 7-5.
This handed the overall Challenge to the men in black after fellow Waikato representative Chris Lourie had won the opening play-off match for 5th and 6th 10-3, 7-10, 2-1 over Brett Wilkie.
The Aussie team fought back in the next play-off match for 3rd and 4th, where Kelvin Kerkow was too good for Hawke’s Bay’s Murray Glassey 10-7, 10-6.
This left the Challenge hanging in the balance with Gregory heading into the final as underdog, but the New Zealander was able to pull off the win and the spoils. Gregory will likely earn an automatic comeback for next year, whatever his end of season ranking on the New Zealand PBA tour will be for 2011.
The four top ranked players and next best performed player from the previous year’s challenge are invited to the Gold Coast to represent the NZ PBA.
Australia v New Zealand PBA Indoor Challenge – Final Day Results:
Play-off 5th and 6th: Chris Lourie (NZ) def Brett Wilkie (Aus) 10-3, 7-10, 2-1.
Play-off 3rd and 4th: Kelvin Kerkow (Aus) def Murray Glassey (NZ) 10-7, 10-6.
Final: Raika Gregory (NZ) def Steve Glasson (Aus) 9-5, 9-7.
New Zealand wins Challenge rounds 2-1.
Waikato’s Raika Gregory won the second Australia v New Zealand Professional Bowls Association Challenge at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club on Monday, beating the previously invincible and defending champion Steve Glasson in the final.
Glasson only lost one set on his way to five match wins over the Kiwis at the weekend, but Gregory showed class on Monday, winning the final in straight sets 9-5, 7-5.
This handed the overall Challenge to the men in black after fellow Waikato representative Chris Lourie had won the opening play-off match for 5th and 6th 10-3, 7-10, 2-1 over Brett Wilkie.
The Aussie team fought back in the next play-off match for 3rd and 4th, where Kelvin Kerkow was too good for Hawke’s Bay’s Murray Glassey 10-7, 10-6.
This left the Challenge hanging in the balance with Gregory heading into the final as underdog, but the New Zealander was able to pull off the win and the spoils. Gregory will likely earn an automatic comeback for next year, whatever his end of season ranking on the New Zealand PBA tour will be for 2011.
The four top ranked players and next best performed player from the previous year’s challenge are invited to the Gold Coast to represent the NZ PBA.
Australia v New Zealand PBA Indoor Challenge – Final Day Results:
Play-off 5th and 6th: Chris Lourie (NZ) def Brett Wilkie (Aus) 10-3, 7-10, 2-1.
Play-off 3rd and 4th: Kelvin Kerkow (Aus) def Murray Glassey (NZ) 10-7, 10-6.
Final: Raika Gregory (NZ) def Steve Glasson (Aus) 9-5, 9-7.
New Zealand wins Challenge rounds 2-1.
