Gold medal final comes down to last delivery as Piketh scoops silver
The Rynfield resident won bronze and silver in Australia.
It was a case of close, but no cigar (or gold medal in this case) for Rynfield resident Colleen Piketh in the women’s pairs lawn bowls final at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast on April 13.
The Benonian landed at O R Tambo International Airport on April 15 with two medals around her neck. The bronze, which she won in the women’s singles, and a silver which could well have been gold.
She is no stranger to winning Commonwealth gold (Piketh won gold in the women’s pairs at the Games in Glasgow four years back with then partner Tracey-Lee Botha).
In the final, in the early hours of the morning South African time, Piketh and partner Nicolene Neal were leading 13-5 with five ends to go in their gold medal match against Malaysia when their opponents fought back.
Sadly, the South Africans’ lead started to get eaten into, and against the odds, Malaysia found themselves two shots up with one end left.
South Africa could only draw one shot and went down 15-1; the gold medal slipping out of their clutches.
“We knew Malaysia was going to be tough,” said Piketh.
“We got off to a great start in the final and then the green changed slightly and got quicker.
“They came back at us and when we looked again we were two shots down, playing the last end.
“Unfortunately, I trailed the jack and we lost by the one shot.
“You have got to take the positives out of it and learn from it.
“If it or something similar happens again then you know what you can do or change.
“I’m very proud to bring another medal back.
“To come away with a bronze in the singles and a silver medal in the pairs with a new partner is fantastic.
“I am proud to have represented my country at such a high level of bowls.”
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