Strong finish needed to secure four more attempts at gold
As it stands, Australia is a chance at progressing through to the gold/silver medal decider of all four open disciplines, but need to finish strongly in the last round, while the para-sport teams are guaranteed of a spot in the gold medal matches regardless of the last result. As it stands, Australia is a chance at progressing through to the gold/silver medal decider of all four open disciplines of the second half of the 2017 Gold Coast Multi-Nations, but is not guaranteed of any spots.
It’s a contrasting result in the para-sport component of the event, with Australia assured of reaching both para-sport gold medal matches regardless of the last result.
The seven-nation event reaches the conclusion of the preliminary rounds this afternoon, and Australia will need to finish strongly to book a berth in a further four golden finals, after they secured a crack at all of the opposite disciplines’ ultimate finals during last Sunday’s preliminary rubbers.
Australia’s GOLD teams lead the way in the men’s fours and women’s pairs disciplines, but could see their position at the top poached if they falter in this last round.
In an intriguing finish, GREEN team encounters New Zealand, while GOLD team faces Canada in the last round.
The Kiwis lead the GREEN contingent in the men’s singles and women’s triples, and are in an unassailable position at the top of the table while Australia must secure victory to assure themselves of a golden opportunity.
Should Australia lose, they could be overtaken by Scotland in both disciplines.
If the men’s fours green team topple the second-placed Kiwi team, it could be an Australia v Australia gold final.
As a result, New Zealand is the only nation already assured of a gold/silver medal placings irrespective of how the last session plays out, and will get two attempts at gold from these four disciplines.
In the para-sport event, the vision-impaired mixed pairs team of Lynne Seymour and Jake Fehlberg will finish in second position at worst, and are a game clear and 54 shots in the black.
In the athletes with a disability open triples, Australia’s Tony Bonnell, Ken Hanson and Chris Flavel are one game behind New Zealand but the third-placed Wales team have a bye in the last round and won’t get the opportunity to steal their spot.
The final preliminary round is currently underway at Broadbeach, with finals scheduled to take place tomorrow at 9.00am and 1.00pm.
The ladder after the sixth round can be viewed below.
