Jackaroos book berths in the business-end of Worlds
The Australian Jackaroos have advanced to the pointy-end of all four initial disciplines of the World Bowls Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Australian Jackaroos have progressed to post-sectional rounds of all four initial disciplines at the quadrennial World Bowls Championships, but will have to endure three elimination-finals.
The men’s pairs partnership of Brett Wilkie and Aaron Wilson was the nation’s most successful discipline in the first half of the event, finishing on top of their section and earning direct passage through to the semi-final.
The duo downed Canada’s Steven Santana and Ryan Bester 21-14 this afternoon, to finish with seven wins and a handy draw from nine rubbers, with the 1 point awarded from the draw the catalyst for their top-placing, which also comes with the assurance of a bronze medal as a minimum.
The experienced-hand and fresh-faced partnership will eagerly await to find out their next opponent, which will be the winner of Scotland and Malaysia from tomorrow morning’s elimination final.
While the boys will enjoy a moment of respite, with the morning off, the rest of their teammates will gear up for elimination finals from 7.00am AEDT tomorrow morning in the hope of securing a semi-final placing.
The men’s triples first-round 20-all draw to Wales ended up being rather costly, with the trio finishing second in their section by two points, but would have finished ahead of New Zealand by +32 shots had they prevailed by a single shot in that match.
Regardless, Barrie Lester, Mark Casey and Aron Sherriff did enough to secure second placing, with seven wins and draw from nine starts, and are just one win away from earning that coveted crack at a semi; and the guaranteed bronze medal that accompanies it.
They will encounter Scotland in the elimination-final, and should they win that, will face the host-nation Blackjacks tomorrow afternoon.
Karen Murphy’s quest to go back-to-back in the blue-ribbon singles is alive and well, after finishing in equal second place to Canada’s Kelly McKerihen, after toppling fourth-placed Netherlands in the last rubber.
Murphy, who celebrated her 550th international game earlier today, and New Zealand Blackjack Jo Edwards, who also enjoyed a 500th international appearance accolade a round earlier, could not be split after nine rounds – with both finishing on seven wins and +68 shots.
The defending champion has been drawn to play Malaysia in the elimination, and will contest Canada’s McKerihen, who plays for Melbourne’s Clayton, in the semi-final should she win.
Another good news story for the nation was the tale of the women’s fours team, who overcame tremendous odds to make the post-sectional rounds after finding themselves in eighth spot, with one win and three loses, after four rounds of action.
A quick change of positioning is all that they required to build momentum together, which saw them secure victory in the last five rounds to finish second to New Zealand.
The quality quartet will look to continue their red-hot form against Scotland in the elimination match, and will then face New Zealand if they are triumphant.
Bowls Australia, like the rest of the nation, are cheering for the 10-strong Jackaroos contingent and wish them well in the post-sectional matches.
Click here for full men’s results.
Click here to see full women’s results.
Click here to visit Bowls Australia’s World Bowls Championships page.
Round 9: 1.45pm – 4.45pm AEDT
Women’s singles (section 1): Australia (K. Murphy) def Netherlands (Saskia Schaft) 21-12 (Burnside)
Women’s fours (section 1): Australia (Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott, Kelsey Cottrell) def Canada (Pricilla Westlake, Jackie Foster, Shirley Fitzpatrick-Wong, Leanne Chinery) 18-15 (Papanui)
Men’s pairs (section 1): Australia (Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson) def Canada (Steven Santana, Ryan Bester) 21-14 (Canterbury)
Men’s triples (section 1): Australia (Barrie Lester, Mark Casey, Aron Sherriff) def Canada (Ryan Stadnyk, Cameron Lafrense, Steve McKerihen) 21-6 (Papanui)
Post-sectional matches:
Women’s singles Malaysia vs Australia (winner to play Canada in semi)
Women’s four’s Australia vs Scotland (winner to play NZ)
Men’s triples Australia vs Scotland (winner to play NZ)
Men’s pairs Scotland vs Malaysia (winner to play Australia)
