Bowls delivers SA’s first gold medal
South Africa bagged their first gold of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday when Herman Scholtz and Gyndolene Nel outplayed the host nation 14-10 in the para mixed pairs visually impaired competition.
(L-R) Annatjie van Rooyen, Herman Scholtz, Geoff Newcombe and Gwen Nel of South Africa pose after winning the gold medal in the Para-Sport Mixed Pairs B2/B3 match at Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre during day three of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 26, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the pairing, who worked with their directors, Geoff Newcombe and Annatjie van Rooyen.
“Before the game I said, ‘this is what we came to Scotland for. We’re going to play the team and the crowd’,” said Newcombe.
“At 10-10 we thought it was slipping away but we knew we could do it. They [Scholtz and Nel] have big match temperament. It was a fantastic achievement.”
Nel put the duo three up going into the fourth end, giving them a commanding position.
Gwen Nel celebrates with Geoff Newcombe of South Africa after winning the gold medal in the Para-Sport Mixed Pairs B2/B3 match at Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre during day three of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 26, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
“She [Nel] played brilliantly. We knew we just had to cover and everything would be done,” said Scholtz.
“We played well during the round-robin stage and definitely thought we had a chance, but we knew it would be tough.”
Nel said: “I think the Commonwealth Games gold is the most important medal. I have many but I wanted this one after playing for 40 years.”
The bronze went to Australia, who beat New Zealand 14-11.
This is the first lawn bowls medal of the Games, and the first gold for Team SA, but the bowls squad are quietly working their way through the preliminary rounds and are expected to bring more as they move into the final rounds from Sunday.
Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa competes in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Heat 4 at Tollcross International Swimming Centre during day two of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 25, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
South Africa have a realistic chance of bagging more gold medals on Saturday with Ruan Snyman (+100kg) and Zack Pointek (90kg) competing in the judo finals, Cameron van der Burgh taking part in the 100m breaststroke final and Sebastian Rousseau, Chad le Clos and Dylan Bosch competing in the 200m butterfly.
– Sapa
