2023 WORLD BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAY 10 RECAP
Three of the four finals in the second weekend of the 2023 World Bowls Championships have been decided with men’s singles sectional rounds concluding on an epic day across the Gold Coast (writes Val Febbo, Bowls Australia).
Women’s pairs
History could be on the line in the women’s pairs as Malta’s Rebecca and Connie Rixon stormed through to the final where they will face Malaysia’s Aleena Nawawi and Ain Nabilah Tarmizi.
The Maltese duo commenced their day with a sensational 20-9 win over Norfolk Island’s Carmen Anderson and Shae Wilson to set up a semifinal clash with England’s Sophie Tolchard and Amy Pharoah.
The English pair were the winners in the sectional rounds, but it was the Rixon sisters who sprinted away to a 20-7 victory as they look to bid for Malta’s first ever gold medal at the tournament.
Malaysia enjoyed a closely fought salutation against Ireland in the quarterfinal, overcoming Ashleigh Rainey and Sarah Kelly 16-14.
Scotland’s Emma McIntyre and Carla Banks would await in the semis and it would be all Nawawi and Tarmizi as they clinched a 17-10 win to set up a shot to win the country’s first gold medal at the tournament since 2008.
Women’s Triples
Australia’s Dawn Hayman, Lynsey Clarke and Kelsey Cottrell have won through to their second final of the event after a sensational day that will see them meet New Zealand’s Leeane Poulson, Tayla Bruce and Val Smith.
The Jackaroos would take on South Africa in the quarter-finals and take a 20-13 victory to set up a clash with Ireland’s Sophie McIntyre, Shauna O’Neill and Chloe Wilson, who overcame an 11-shot deficit against England to score a three on the final end and take an epic 19-18 win.
The semi would have the Australians in front early before another spirited Irish comeback saw the score levelled at 12-12 with two ends to play.
Cottrell managed to convert a two in the penultimate stanza before Wilson was unable to draw a second in the decider to give the home nation a 14-13 victory.
New Zealand’s opening contest against Malaysia was a titanic tussle, with the lead changing hands on a plethora of occasions.
With their northern counterparts scoring to level the match at 13-13 heading into the final end, it was up to Smith to rectify the situation with her final bowl of the contest.
The 58-year-old duly obliged as she killed the jack with a scintillating shot to give the Blackjacks the win.
The semi was much more routine as they accounted for Canada’s Emma Boyd, Baylee van Steijn and Joanna Cooper 20-9 to set up the Trans Tasman decider.
Men’s fours
Like the men’s triples a week ago, Australia will meet Scotland for ultimate glory at Broadbeach this weekend.
It was a case of deja vu for Corey Wedlock, Carl Healey and Aron Sherriff, as they and their teammate Aaron Teys would overcome the likes of the USA in the quarterfinals and Ireland in the semis, just as it was in the triples last week.
Scotland’s Jason Banks, Derek Oliver, Paul Foster MBE and Alex Marshall MBE were heavily tested against against the Cook Islands in the morning session, falling to a 6-12 deficit before powering home to record a 20-12 win.
The semifinal against New Zealand was much more routine as the Scots took home an 18-8 win to move through to the gold medal match.
Men’s singles
The concluding sectional rounds of the men’s singles saw Ireland’s Gary Kelly storm through his final matches for the concession of just three shots to top section one ahead of his namesake in New Zealand’s Andrew Kelly.
Section two saw Sam Tolchard progress after an undefeated run, with 2016 runner up Ryan Bester also making his way through.
Malaysia’s Izzat Dzulkeple topped section three ahead of Scotland’s Iain McLean, with Aaron Wilson and Tony Cheung emerging from section four with the quarterfinals to take place at Broadbeach tomorrow morning.
Caption: Alex Marshall MBE, Scotland
View the day tenresults HERE
Day 11 of play commences from 9am AEST across the Gold Coast on Saturday, with all of the finals to be broadcast on Fox Sports, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.
The 2023 World Bowls Championships is proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast.
