Sega Mokoto (right) won silver in the fours in 2021. Image: Supplied
Bowls SA Nationals: Weekend showdown expected
The Bowls SA Nationals has reached the crucial stage before the gold medal matches in both the men’s and women’s events.
Sega Mokoto (right) won silver in the fours in 2021. Image: Supplied
The Bowls SA Nationals has reached the crucial stage before the gold medal matches in both the men’s and women’s events.
The men’s event is being place across the Port Natal area while the women’s event is being held in Tshwane under the banner of Bowls Gauteng North.
In the men’s competition, fans are braced for some special matches with many top players still in the mix and a good host of legends and former Proteas internationals vying for a place in Sunday’s finals.
Bowls SA Nationals has plenty at stake
In the fours discipline, there is still a lot of action to get through but Proteas legend Neil Burkett’s combination is safely tucked into the last eight after beating Alan Gordon’s team by a single shot.
They must now wait for the other teams to play their last 16 games before playing their quarter-final. Included inside Burkett’s fours teams is Boland-based Johan du Plessis, who has won gold for South Africa in the triples at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
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The pair’s event is similarly at the last 16 stage but there is plenty to watch out for as rising star Kholwani Khanyile and partner Ashley Kleingeld are still in the mix. A few spots at this stage are still to be decided but safely into the last 16 is another capped South African Nic Rusling, who plays out of the Western Province.
Rusling is one of 16 players into that phase in the Men’s Open singles and it’s going to be an enthralling watch. Joining him is current Proteas No 1 Jason Evans as well as one of the game’s most decorated players Gerry Baker – who is still in the pairs and fours with his teammates.
Reigning champion Shaun Thomas is still fighting for the gold medal and so is the talented Morgan Muvhango. Muvhango has long been on the Proteas radar and comes up against Donny Piketh, a former Protea himself and a winner at the Commonwealth Games in 1994, in arguably the feature match at this stage.
Young local hope Paul White is another who still has a big say in who wins the gold medal later in the weekend.
Proteas in the mix
In the Women’s BSA Nationals in Tshwane, all eyes are on the young team led by Protea bowler Jacqui Janse van Rensburg. Janse van Rensburg has a team of young ladies in her fours side with Emma Murphy, Fran Baleri and Shannon Davis rounding out the team.
They are into the last eight and play Christine Marais’ side for a semi-final berth.
Cruelly for Emma Murphy, she was knocked out by her mom, Esme, in the last 16 of the Open singles. Esme is still in the pairs with Joyce Velempini albeit at the last 16 stage.
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Home town favourite Baleri is having a great event and breezed into the last eight of the Singles where she now faces another bright, young talent in Gillian Young from the Western Cape.
Baleri and her fours’ skip Janse van Rensburg are set for an almighty tussle against Protea Esme Kruger in the last 16 of the pairs. That is no doubt one of the standout fixtures for Friday.
Another player enjoying a successful event in multiple formats is Sega Mokoto. She is into the Singles quarter-finals as well as still being in the fours where she needs to play a last 16 match.
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