Noronha rolls to state title

ALBION Park's Jesse Noronha is the 2007 NSW Junior Bowls Singles Champion after winning the title at Warilla Bowling Club recently.

Noronha, who plays for Albion Park, defeated Park Beach's Matt Miles in the decider.

The 16-year-old cruised through his three sectional matches before defeating Cabramatta's Ben Morthorpe in the semi-final.

Noronha skipped out to an early lead in the final and held his nerve to prevail 31-22.

The Albion Park High student joined bowls luminaries such as Cameron Curtis and Aaron Sheriff as past NSW junior singles champions.

Noronha said the victory was the highlight of his short but promising bowls career.

"It was pretty tough but it felt good to win," he said.

"I wasn't expecting to win the whole event " I would have been happy to win one game but it just kept on running my way."

Noronha earned his tilt at the junior titles after winning the Zone 16 (Illawarra) junior singles, a crown he also snared in 2006.

This year he also won the Zone 16 Junior Fours title and will represent the zone in seven-a-side championships in August.

The NSW junior squad member has also represented the state and South Coast CHS.

He was introduced to the bowls by his brother, Ashley, who took Jesse for a roll in 2004.

The youngster was soon hooked and even quit playing rugby league to focus on his bowls.

His first championship came in 2005, before a powerhouse season in 2006, including a number of tournament victories and representative berths.

That year he won the Zone 16 junior singles for the first time and was selected in the city versus country challenge.

Noronha's long-term goal is to represent Australia at Commonwealth Games and his idol is Brett Duprez, son of his coach and Albion Park Bowls Club Organiser Mick Duprez.

Duprez senior is full of praise for the promising youngster.

"He's committed to his practice routine is always looking to learn," Duprez said.

"He's a student of the game and has a mature head on his shoulders for a young bloke.

"Jesse is always looking to improve and is asking questions about the game and how to get better.

"I can't see him being too far from a berth in the Zone 16 senior sides " that's one of his goals."

In other bowls news, Albion Park will be hosting an invitation triples classic on Monday and Tuesday. Play will start each day from 9am.

A number of recognised triples teams will compete at the event, including players from local clubs.