Jackaroos priming for post-sectionals
The Australian Jackaroos are well positioned to feature in the post-sectional rounds of the World Bowls Championships – headlining two disciplines, while coming second and third in the others, leading into the penultimate sectional rubber. The green and gold contingent have enjoyed a blistering start to the final day of sectional rounds at the World Bowls Championships, with four straight victories ensuring all disciplines are placed within the top three of their sections.
Brett Wilkie and Aaron Wilson have solidified themselves as the team to beat in the pairs competition, after upstaging England’s top-of-the-table Sam Tolchard and Louis Ridout this morning.
The pair, who prevailed by 1 shot, 16-15, are now in pole position courtesy of their earlier draw, and have already defeated second-placed England and third-placed defending champions Scotland.
The Jackaroos duo look destined to advance directly to the semi-final, and avoid the dreaded post-sectional match for the second and third place finishers, provided they can account for tenth-placed Cyprus and fifth-placed Canada, which features the in-form Gold Coast-based Ryan Bester, in the last two rounds today.
Karen Murphy is also in the prime position to secure a direct semi-final spot in her discipline, after a 21-9 win against Guernsey this morning, which sees her on sit 12 shots better than Canada’s Kelly McKerihen and a game clear of New Zealand’s Jo Edwards and Netherland’s Saskia Schaft.
Murphy, Australia’s most capped international combatant, will notch up another unprecedented accolade in the next round, when she plays in her 550th official international encounter.
It’s somewhat fitting that her opponent for the milestone match is Edwards, who celebrated her own 500th international game for the Blackjacks this morning.
The two have enjoyed many intense contests on the world stage over the years, and are often difficult to split, but Murphy will be eager to secure victory to aid her chance for a direct semi-final berth in her quest to defend the blue-ribbon women’s singles world title.
Murphy faces not one but two tough propositions to conclude sectional play, with a final rubber against the surprise-packet Schaft, who put a holt to Edwards’ milestone match celebrations with a stunning victory this morning.
The men’s triples team of Barrie Lester, Mark Casey and Aron Sherriff aren’t quite in prime position to avoid a post-sectional match, but they are hot the heals of first-placed New Zealand.
The trio enjoyed a comprehensive 28-4 win against Jersey, which has eased the pressure following last night’s shock loss to Namibia, and are now one game behind the Blackjacks, but 26 shots better in differential.
The contingent play third-placed Ireland and ninth-placed Canada to round out their sectional matches, but must rely on the Blackjacks coming unstuck to either Namibia or Malaysia, to leap-frog their way to the top position.
In a stunning return-to-form, the women’s fours have now won their last three matches, after adjusting their positional order, with a 26-13 victory against Fiji skyrocketing them into the top three for the first time in the tournament.
The quartet are one-game behind Wales, and two wins behind New Zealand, but are 41 shots better than the fourth-placed South Africa, going into the penultimate rubber.
The in-form Jackaroos face Singapore, who are fifth, and last-placed Canada over the next two rounds.
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.
Thursday, December 1 (day three)
Round 7: 6.15am – 9.15am AEDT
Women’s singles (section 1): Australia (K. Murphy) def Guernsey (Jackie Nicolle) 21-9 (Burnside)
Women’s fours (section 1): Australia (Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott, Kelsey Cottrell) def Fiji (Loreta Kotoisuva, Elizabeth Moceiwai, Sheila Mar, Litia Tikoisuva) 26-13 (Papanui)
Men’s pairs (section 1): Australia (Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson) def England (Louis Ridout, Sam Tolchard) 16-15 (Canterbury)
Men’s triples (section 1): Australia (Barrie Lester, Mark Casey, Aron Sherriff) def Jersey (Gregory Davis, Michael Rive, John Lowery) 28-4 (Papanui)
