BOWLS
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Young Warilla star Aaron Teys has his sights on representing NSW after claiming a second Zone 16 singles title following an amazing run in recent weeks.
Teys beat clubmate Jesse Noronha 31-18 in the open singles final at a freezing Towradgi Bowling Club last Sunday.
Having beaten Brad Rossiter 31-20 in his quarter-final and clubmate Jeremy Henry 31-18 in the semi-finals the previous day, Teys adapted better to the typically windy conditions and a slowish green.
Teys, 21, is the hottest player in Australian bowls after having helped Warilla clinch a third straight Zone 16 No 1 pennant title and skipping his rink to just one defeat all season.
Teys followed up a dominant performance by Warilla in the pennant finals by winning the Australian Open singles, defeating Canadian star Ryan Bester in the final on Bester's home green Broadbeach BC.
A weary Teys reached the final of the state under 25s singles and returned home to win six matches and clinch a second Illawarra singles title after also winning the crown in 2012.
Teys also skipped his Illawarra Zone 16 rink to three wins in the representative Inter-Zone Challenge at Asquith and could not be in better form as Warilla bid to win the Grade 1 NSW Pennants title, to be hosted by Albion Park and Dapto Citizens bowling clubs from August 1-3.
"It's been a great few weeks and it means a lot to win a second Illawarra singles," Teys said. "I've put in extra work and done extra drills and worked hard on my game recently and it's paying off."
With the whole of Australian bowls watching, including coach and regular Illawarra South Pacific visitor Steve Glasson, Teys won 11 matches to claim the Australian Open singles last month.
He hopes that triumph and a more professional approach will help him win a spot in the NSW open side.
Having subbed for NSW at a recent Test series while playing for the NSW under 25s, Teys knows he is on the NSW selectors' radar.
"I want to be a more consistent player and hopefully get a chance to play for NSW. From there the next goal is playing for Australia, which is every player's dream."
Teys credits extra sessions with world champion club-mates Leif Selby and Jeremy Henry coinciding with the best form of his career.
"Definitely Leif and Jeremy have helped a lot. They have achieved so much and you work with them and realise you need to do that extra work to take that next step."
Teys will play in his third state singles championship in October and isn't short on motivation after being beaten in the first round as both the Zone 16 singles champion in 2012 and Zone 1 champ the previous year.
"I didn't fire a shot both times so I want to do better this time."
Teys' most immediate mission is helping Warilla win the coveted State No 1 pennant flag.
"It's what we've been working towards for a while now. We're really motivated."
England-based world No 1 Alex Marshall will return a week before the State Finals and has proved a revelation for Warilla this pennants season.
Meanwhile, Windang BC took out the other two Illawarra singles titles last weekend with Rick Malley claiming a third Zone 16 Senior Singles title in five years and Paul Cable winning the President's Reserve crown for grade 5-7 bowlers.
Malley won the State Senior Singles in 2011 and beat Dapto Citizens' Warren Haviland 31-11 in last Saturday's final at Corrimal BC.
Cable beat clubmate Steve Sprod 31-27 in the President's Reserve final at Towradgi, to join Teys and Malley in representing Zone 16 at the State Finals in October.