Jackaroos dealt the same hand, but in alternate disciplines
The Australian Jackaroos have been dealt another two defeats in the penultimate round of the World Championships, but remain likely to progress in all disciplines. The Jackaroos endured another two hitches in the penultimate round of sectional action at the World Bowls Championships this afternoon.
The team suffered two defeats in this morning’s round, in the men’s singles and women’s triples, and were dealt the same hand this afternoon, although it was the other two teams that were on the receiving end; the men’s fours and women’s pairs.
Aron Sherriff bounced back from his shock upset to India with a clinical 21-10 win over Guernsey to keep his hopes of a post-sectional berth alive and well.
Sherriff’s sixth victory after eight rounds ensures he has a chance to progress to the elimination rounds in third spot regardless of whether he wins this afternoon.
A win against top-placed Ryan Bester, from Canada, would guarantee he advances, but should he lose, and Japan’s Kenta Hasebe defeats Hong Kong China, the third spot will be decided by a count-back of shot differential.
The women’s triples team of Carla Krizanic, Natasha Scott and Rebecca Van Asch also bounced back from their morning loss, to Scotland, with a comprehensive 25 shot win against Brunei, 30-5.
The trio are a game clear of second-placed Wales, and likely can’t be knocked off the top spot regardless of whether they lose to Ireland and Wales beats Zimbabwe this afternoon – given they have a 93 shot better differential.
The team, who has already secured a gold medal at the event, will in all likelihood, earn a reprieve tomorrow morning and progress directly to the afternoon semi-final.
The men’s fours team of Barrie Lester, Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson and Mark Casey suffered their first loss during sectional play, to Ireland 10-21, which has seen them fall to second spot on the ladder.
Given they are already two games clear of fourth-placed Malaysia, they too are a certainty to play in the post-sectional stages, but their last game will be a battle for the top-of-the-table honours, against England.
The quartet must also hope for a result to go their way in the Ireland versus Spain encounter, given they are 11 shots behind Ireland.
Australia’s Kelsey Cottrell and Karen Murphy also dropped their eighth round encounter, against Cyprus 14-21, and are now unable to finish the sectional rounds in top spot.
They have a round nine contest against Canada, with a win assuring them of second place, but if they lose, they could fall as far as fourth, but it’s a rather unlikely scenario, given England and Cyprus would need to win, against New Zealand and Philippines respectively, and make up a big shot difference.
Click here for full results and ladder from the men’s event.
Click here to see the full results and leaderboard from the women’s event.
Click here to go to Bowls Australia’s World Bowls Championships page.
Round 8: 10.15am – 1.15pm AEDT
Men’s singles (section 1): Australia (Aron Sherriff) def Guernsey (Todd Priaulx) 21-10 (Papanui)
Men’s fours (section 2): Australia (Barrie Lester, Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson, Mark Casey) lost to Ireland (Simon Martin, Neil Mulholland, Ian McClure, Martin McHugh) 14-21 (Fendalton)
Women’s pairs (section 1): Australia (Kelsey Cottrell, Karen Murphy) lost to Cyprus (Frances Davis, Linda Ryan) 10-21 (Fendalton)
Women’s triples (section 1): Australia (Carla Krizanic, Natasha Scott, Rebecca Van Asch) def Brunei (Amalia Matali, Esmawandy Brahim, Nurul Nabillah Chuchu) 30-5 (Burnside)
