Bowls Australia-Southern raiders come out shooting
World number 13 Joyce Lindores has advanced through to the second round of the Australian Indoor Championships after surviving a tricky first-up encounter at Tweed Heads today.
Pitted against an in-form Gail Waitai, who had reached the semi-finals of the past two Bowls Australia grand prixs, Lindores raced through the opening set before the Broadbeach ace hit back to open up a 7-2 lead with just three ends to play in the second.
But with a capacity crowd in attendance at Tweed Heads, Lindores hit back in characteristic fashion as she closed within two playing the final end and grabbed a double to take the win 9-2, 7-7.
Joining the former Scottish superstar in the round of 16 was fellow Victorian Lisa Phillips, who dug her way out of a spot of bother to register a 6-7, 13-7, 3-1 triumph over Moama’s Sandra Connolly.
Having captured the Australian Open crown earlier this year, Phillips is hoping to become the first female player to secure the coveted double with victory at the Indoors this week.
One of her major challengers may be Kate Carriage, however, with the reigning NSW Indoor champion looking full of purpose as she downed Australian under-25 representative Sarah Boddington.