Young Australian guns Nathan Pedersen and Corey Wedlock defend Hong Kong Bowls Classic title
The Jackaroos prove that last year’s win was no fluke, while Filipino pair Rosita Bradborn and Sonia Bruce clinch the women’s pairs title to leave the home side empty handed for 2016
Australia’s Nathan Pedersen and Corey Wedlock successfully defended their men’s pairs title at the Hong Kong International Bowls Classic on Sunday as youth shone yet again at Craigengower Cricket Club.
Pedersen and Wedlock had won last year’s tournament and the pressure was on the young Jackaroos to repeat the feat. But lightning did strike twice at the Classic as the young Aussie pair proved that last year’s victory was no fluke after defeating Scotland’s Kevin Anderson and Ryan Burnett 8-7, 13-1.
“It was a lot harder this year,” said 20-year-old skipper Wedlock. “The greens were trickier to play on and the score didn’t really reflect how tough the final was. We won it twice in a row and hopefully we can come back and try to win it three in a row next year,” he said.
After winning the first set 8-7, the telling factor came midway through the second set when Anderson, trailing 7-1, drove his bowl while trying to save a shot, but he took out his own two shots. It meant the Scots were now trailing 12-1, which paved the way for a straight forward Australia victory.
“It was getting to the point where they [Scotland] were chasing shots. They had to go for it. There was always a chance he [Anderson] could have taken the bowls out but it was a pretty unlucky result,” said Wedlock, who hails from New South Wales.
“We have different tournaments in Australia and playing non-stop really. We both have jobs,” said the Australian, who is a greenskeeper.