Jackaroos secure passage to a further three semis
The Australian Jackaroos are assured of four bronze medals at a minimum from the initial four disciplines of the World Bowls Championships, but will look to turn those into silver or gold when they contest the semi-finals this afternoon. Australia was in scintillating form in the elimination-finals of the World Bowls Championships this morning, with the Jackaroos securing passage to a further three semi-finals.
The contingent is now assured of four bronze medals at the very minimum from the initial four disciplines, but will look to elevate those medallion colours to silver or bronze this afternoon, when they contest four semis.
The Jackaroos men’s triples team of Barrie Lester, Mark Casey and Aron Sherriff were the first to earn a semi spot, after a sublime 16-13 victory against Scotland’s Ronnie Duncan, Iain McLean and Darren Burnett.
The trio now face New Zealand’s Mike Nagy, Blake Signal and Ali Forsyth, who they defeated 19-9 in the second round of the sectional rubbers.
Karen Murphy is just two wins away from defending her coveted blue-ribbon singles title, after upstaging Malaysia’a Sits Zalina Ahmed 21-14 in her elimination match.
Murphy will now encounter Canada’s Kelly McKerihen in the semi-final contest, who she holds the wood over, after a 21-19 triumph in the sectional rounds.
The women’s fours team of Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch and Natasha Scott have continued their barnstorming of the competition, after a slow start to the event that saw them stranded on one win from four matches.
The quartet eliminated Scotland’s Julie Forrest, Stacey McDougall, Lauren Baillie and Claire Johnston 17-8 to book a clash against the host nation’s Katelyn Inch, Angela Boyd, Kirsten Edwards and Val Smith.
Australia will also contest the men’s pairs semi-final, after Brett Wilkie and Aaron Wilson advanced directly to the match by topping their sectional pool yesterday.
They face a herculean encounter against Scotland’s defending champions Paul Foster and Alex Marshall – but the duo have already earned their stripes against the titleholders with a 16-11 victory last Tuesday.
Click here to view the post-sectional results and draw.
Click here to visit Bowls Australia’s World Bowls Championships page.
Elimination-final results:
Women’s singles (section 1): Australia (K. Murphy) def Malaysia (Sits Zalina Ahmed) 21-14
Women’s fours (section 1): Australia (Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott) def Scotland (Julie Forrest, Stacey McDougall, Lauren Baillie, Claire Johnston) 17-8
Men’s triples (section 1): Australia (Barrie Lester, Mark Casey, Aron Sherriff) def Scotland (Ronnie Duncan, Iain McLean, Darren Burnett) 16-13
Semi-final draw:
Women’s singles (section 1): Australia (K. Murphy) v Canada (Kelly McKerihen)
Women’s fours (section 1): Australia (Kelsey Cottrell, Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott) v New Zealand (Katelyn Inch, Angela Boyd, Kirsten Edwards, Val Smith)
Men’s pairs (section 1): Australia (Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson) v Scotland (Paul Foster, Alex Marshall)
Men’s triples (section 1): Australia (Barrie Lester, Mark Casey, Aron Sherriff) v New Zealand (Mike Nagy, Blake Signal and Ali Forsyth)
