World Bowls Indoor Championships: Day 5 recap
The sectional rounds in Guernsey have concluded with Australia’s contingent to feature in all three quarterfinals at the 2024 World Bowls Indoor Championships.
Samantha Atkinson and Ray Pearse topped their singles group to book direct passage through to the final eight, while the pair finished second in their mixed pairs section and were randomly drawn as the lucky team to avoid having to play an extra knockout matchup and move straight through to the quarters.
Atkinson was up first against Norfolk Island’s Christine Jones, who performed in exemplary fashion throughout the entirety of the contest.
With the scores at 3-3 in the first set, Jones notched up the final three ends to take it 6-3 before emerging from 2-5 down in the second to clinch it 7-6 and more importantly, seal her place in the preliminary knockout round.
Atkinson will wait for those matchups to be completed to find out her opponent for the quarterfinals.
Pearse maintained his unbeaten run in singles play, receiving a walkover victory over the USA’s Loren Dion to ensure his place on top of the section.
With a bye in the final round of mixed pairs action, the Australians were forced to wait on other results to find out whether they would in fact progress, with Wales and Namibia both aiming to topple them.
Both teams recorded victories, with Wales leapfrogging Pearse and Atkinson but Namibia too far behind on net sets and shot difference to ensure their own place in the elite eight.
Following the confirmation of second place, Australia was placed in a hat with Malaysia, Ireland, England and Guernsey to see who would be randomly drawn to avoid the extra knockout match.
The draw came out favourably for Pearse and Atkinson, who gain the bye through to the quarterfinals and await the announcement of the lineup.
View the day four results and standings HERE
The 2024 World Bowls Indoor Championships will take place on April 21-27, 2024, with live streaming via the World Bowls YouTube channel.
View the Conditions of Play HERE
View the schedule HERE
