Mixed results for Jackaroos in fourth round
It was a morning of mixed results for the Australian Jackaroos at the World Bowls Championships in New Zealand, with two very narrow defeats marring the contingent’s two other victories.
It was a morning of mixed results for the Australian Jackaroos at the World Bowls Championships in New Zealand, with two very narrow defeats marring the contingent’s two other victories.
Defending champion Karen Murphy put yesterday’s shock third-round defeat to Kenya’s then winless Susan Kariuki behind her, bouncing back with a comprehensive 21-3 victory against Fiji’s Sainiana Walker in her fourth rubber this morning.
Murphy, who now has three wins, jumped up to second spot on her section’s ladder, but faces one of her toughest challengers in her next encounter – pitted against Canada’s Kelly McKerihen from 10.15am AEDT.
McKerihen, who bowls out of Clayton in Melbourne, claimed the bronze medal from the discipline four years ago in Adelaide and is currently leading the charge in the section, after upstaging New Zealand’s world champion Jo Edwards in the second round yesterday.
Murphy, who has a +34 shot deferential, 10 better than McKerihen, could take the top position from the Canadian with a victory.
The Jackaroos men’s triples, which features Barrie Lester, Mark Casey and Aron Sherriff, continued their winning way with a clinical performance against the United States of America’s Phil Dunn, Scott Roberts and James Flower, 29-10.
The trio, whose only blemish came in the form of a 20-all draw to Wales in the opening round, retained their top of the table standing, and are the only team in their section who have not suffered a loss.
Their next contest will be Malaysia’s Mohamad Fairus Abd Jabal, Mohammad Syamil Syazwan Ramli, Zulhilmie Redzuan, who are highly regarded but are languishing in eighth position.
However, the session wasn’t as joyous for their teammates, Brett Wilkie and Aaron Wilson.
After securing a stellar victory against the defending champions, Scotland’s Paul Foster and Alex Marshall, in their last round yesterday, the pair came unstuck to Singapore’s Chia Tee Chiak, Christian Huang this morning, by one shot.
As a result. Wilkie and Wilson dropped to fourth spot on the standings, falling back behind Scotland, who have three wins compared to the Jackroos’ two and a draw.
The pair will look to make amends against Fiji in the next round.
Australia’s women’s fours team, of Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott and Kelsey Cottrell, continued to do it tough in the event.
The quartet suffered their third loss this morning, with a slender 1 shot loss to South Africa, which has relegated them to eighth spot in their section for the time-being.
The players will look to respond by claiming their second victory against Hong King China in the next rubber.
The fifth round of sectional play continues in Christchurch from 10.15am AEDT.
Click here to view the full men’s results.
Click here to see the full women’s results.
Click here to go to Bowl Australia’s World Bowls Championships page.
Wednesday, November 30 (day two)
Round 4: 6.15am – 9.15am AEDT
Women’s singles (section 1): Australia (Karen Murphy) def Fiji (Sainiana Walker) 21-3 (Papanui)
Women’s fours (section 1): Australia (Carla Krizanic, Rebecca Van Asch, Natasha Scott, Kelsey Cottrell) lost to South Africa (Sylvia Burns, Susan Nee, Nici Neal, Elma Davis) 13-14 (Canterbury)
Men’s pairs (section 1): Australia (Brett Wilkie, Aaron Wilson) lost to Singapore (Chia Tee Chiak, Christian Huang) 15-16 (Fendalton)
Men’s triples (section 1): Australia (Barrie Lester, Mark Casey, Aron Sherriff) def United States of America (Phil Dunn, Scott Roberts, James Flower) 29-10 (Fendalton)
