Media Release: Thursday, February 22, 2007

KIWI COLLUSUS MOVES INTO SINGLES FINAL

A pair of Commonwealth Games gold medal heroes will clash in an all-international final of the women’s singles at the ABN AMRO Australian Open in Melbourne.

Kiwi colossus Jo Edwards today (22-1) won her way into the singles play-off with a calm win over one of the games freshest faces, 26-year-old Anne Watson.

The event’s number 10 seed, Edwards won through to Saturday’s final with a classy display against fellow Merrylands Bowling Club member Watson at Darebin International Sports Centre.

Edwards, the reigning world pairs champion, survived a late challenge from the Scotland-born Sydney resident to book her place in the $100,000 Open’s final.

The New Zealander flew out of the blocks and raced to an 11-5 win in the first set before a nervous Watson settled and clawed back into the contest in the second.

Facing elimination as she delivered her last bowl of the second set Watson produced a stirring shot to send the match into a tie-break decider.

Despite having her chances Watson failed to reproduce her excellent form of the second set and bowed out of the title race 11-5, 7-9, 2-0.

Edwards described her opening set as the best she’s played in the tournament to date.

“I was really happy with the first set. My form has been getting better as the week has gone on and that’s very pleasing,” Edwards said.

“I got the fast start I was after but to Anne’s credit she played an excellent second set and played a stunner shot to force a tie-breaker.

“It’s good to get through to a final anywhere and this is a big one for me.”

Edwards said the greens had taken some getting used to.

“It has been tough out there but the rink we were on today was the best I have played on all week,” she said.

The New Zealand international will look to improve on her head-to-head record with Siti Zalina Ahmad of Malaysia in the singles showdown on Saturday.

“She’s beaten me a few times. I am not sure of the record but she has the wood on me,” Edwards admitted.

“It’d be nice to get one back over her and this would certainly be a nice one to win.”

As for the vanquished, Watson said her Open experience had been a memorable one.

“It’s the first time I have played on the television green and the crowd and noise … I just didn’t handle it well early and Jo was doing everything right. Every shot she played was right on target,” Watson said.

“It was brilliant to be out there though. Jo is such a great player to play against, I am sure she will do well in the final. She’s such a nice girl as well.”

Watson moved to Australia from Scotland four years ago and will now focus on pushing for selection in her adopted country’s national squad.

The Scotland under-25 representative has a strong supporter in Australian star Karen Murphy.

“Anne would be the perfect player for our squad,” Murphy said this week.

“She’s definitely talented and is the right kind of person you’d want to have around the team. Her results in Melbourne this week will certainly help her cause.”