Seven debutants among SA lawn bowls teams set for Australian Sides Championships in NSW
Rachel Krebbekx says she was “gently forced” into trying lawn bowls despite protesting it was a sport for the elderly. Six years on, her rapid rise will be rewarded when she joins six other SA debutants at the Australian Sides Championships.
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It took the insistence of a family member for Rachel Krebbekx to try lawn bowls and convince her it is not an elderly pastime.
Six years on, the Adelaide bowler’s rapid rise would be rewarded when she lined up for SA at the Australian Sides Championships for the first time.
“I really didn’t think I would ever be in this spot, because I’m actually a bit older than a lot of these guys,” Krebbekx, 50, said.
“It wasn’t a sport I wholeheartedly went and picked, it was gently forced on me by my father-in-law.
“He bought some bowls for me and said, ‘people that play (bowls) together, stay together’.
“I was much the same as many people under the belief that it’s an old person’s sport.
“But I very quickly took to it and became very passionate about it.
“It’s hugely exciting and kind of surreal that I’ve been given an opportunity to play with and against Australia’s best bowlers.
“There’s also a little bit of trepidation because you want to do well for your state.”
Krebbekx was part of the 12-strong women’s state team which, along with its male counterparts, would take on the cream of Australian bowls in Ettalong, NSW, from Thursday.
It was a long way from her first taste of bowls, when she reluctantly followed her husband, Jeff Krebbekx, to Payneham Bowling Club at the instruction of his Dad, Matthew Krebbekx.
She would be in good company as one of seven tournament debutants for the Croweaters.
“I go through moments where I think ‘do I actually belong here with the calibre of people I’m playing against?’” Krebbekx, of Glynde, said.
“But being so new to it, I’ve been fortunate enough for some selectors to see that I’ve got potential and I’ve got something to build on.
“I feel like I’m still learning an awful lot – it’s like a baptism of fire these last 12 months.”
Karen Kneebone (Murray Bridge RSL), Patria McGrath (Marion) and Bailey Rafferty (Grange) would join Krebbekx in the women’s side as nationals newcomers.
Tony Lucas, brother of Adelaide Lightning basketball mentor Chris Lucas, would make his tournament debut as coach.
The SA men’s line-up had also undergone significant surgery, having ended a 28-year title drought in 2017.
Out went state team retirees Max Kleinig, Ashley Klose and Simon Dorr, to be replaced by Josh Chopin (West Lakes), Tyson Wilson and Kevin Stock (both Grange).
Ascot Park youngster Jack Hateley would pull on senior colours for the first time in place of former Australian Open singles champion Nathan Pedersen, who was unavailable due to work.
But third Mark Haines said the new-look combination had the talent to challenge, two months on from downing reigning champion Victoria on the road for the first time in a decade.
“We’re quietly confident,” said 10-year state team veteran Haines.
“We’re going in with a less-experienced side than we’ve had in the past, but all the boys are ready to go and give it another crack.
“We’ve proved over the last few years that we can match it if we play to our best and hopefully we can do that.”
Originally published as Seven debutants among SA lawn bowls teams set for Australian Sides Championships in NSW
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