2022 Commonwealth Games: Day 7 wrap
It was another day of ups and downs for the Jackaroos at Leamington Spa, with more finals spots booked and another campaign coming to an end.
The para mixed pairs side fell short in their semi final, but will still have a crack at a medal in the bronze medal playoff on Friday.
Aaron Wilson continued his fine form, going undefeated into Friday’s singles quarter finals.
The women’s triples side bowed out of the competition, having won their way through to the quarter finals before suffering defeat.
Check out how each discipline fared below.
Para Mixed Pairs
Australia’s para mixed pairs side will playoff for bronze after going down to Wales in their semi final on Thursday evening.
Helen Boardman and Jake Fehlberg took on Wales looking to book a spot in the final, going into the match having beaten their opposition in a tight one-shot win earlier in the week.
It was the Welsh who were able to bounce back however, working their way to the lead over the Jackaroos.
Trailing by eight with two ends remaining, the Australians collected a four on the penultimate end to give themselves a glimmer of hope heading into the final end, but managed just a one to go down by three shots.
Australia will now play England in the bronze medal final, after they lost to Scotland in their semi final.
They will face off at 12pm local UK time on Friday afternoon, with the match broadcast on the secondary rink.
SF: def by Wales 10-13
Bronze medal playoff: Friday, August 5 @ 12pm v England. Broadcast on secondary rink.
Men’s Singles
Aaron Wilson’s defence of his 2018 Commonwealth Games singles gold medal continues after advancing to the knockout stages of competition at Leamington Spa.
Wilson made it through his group of five undefeated, with two victories on Thursday to secure his place in the quarter finals.
Needing a win in his first match of the day against Guernsey’s Todd Priaulx, Wilson was up to the task right from the outset.
His opponent threw plenty at the Jackaroo, but the reigning gold medallist looked in good touch to have the answers in a 21-7 victory.
It was a similar story in his second contest against South Africa’s Jason Evans, with Wilson proving too strong in a 12-shot win.
Wilson will now face off against England’s Jamie Walker in a quarter final on Friday morning UK time. The match is scheduled for rink 14, a non-broadcast rink.
R4 result: def Guernsey 21-7
R5 result: def South Africa 21-9
Quarter final schedule: Friday, August 5 @ 8.30am v Jamie Walker (England)
Women’s Triples
Australia’s women’s triples gold medal defence is over, after a narrow quarter final loss to New Zealand.
The Jackaroos took on Northern Ireland in their final pool match, with a victory enough to secure their place in the quarter finals.
The Northern Irish side ran right with the Jackaroos, trailing 10-9 after 14 ends, but the experienced Australians pulled away to qualify for the knockout stages.
That set up a Trans Tasman clash against the Kiwis, with a tight contest on the cards.
New Zealand started the better, but the Jackaroos worked their way into the contest, with Lynsey Clarke leading nicely, Natasha Van Eldik supporting well in second and Rebecca Van Asch skipping with poise.
With scores level after 15 ends, it was New Zealand that capitalised when it mattered most. Tayla Bruce was superb while Val Smith’s experience was worth its weight in gold to edge out a strong Australian unit and advance to the semi finals.
Australia’s women’s campaign is now down to Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic, who feature in the women’s pairs quarter finals on Friday.
R5: def Northern Ireland 19-9
QF: def by New Zealand 10-14
