Juniors edge closer to gold
Four Australian young-guns have progressed to the post-sectional rounds of the World Junior Championships in Broadbeach, opening up the possibility of a gold rush in both singles events.
Victoria’s Dylan Fisher advanced directly to the men’s singles semi-final, after a capping off his campaign with an additional two wins in round eight and nine to finish one game and nine shots clear of Scotland’s Kevin Anderson.
Queensland’s Sean Igham also finished on a high with just one blemish to his name over seven rounds in section 2, to secure second position in his pool to Scotland’s Ryan Burnett, by 28 shots.
Ingham was then drawn into Fisher’s section for his quarter-final bout, and must now face Anderson in order to set up a tantalising encounter against Fisher for a spot in the golden decider.
The chance to secure a gold and silver finish in the women’s discipline remains alive however, with Victoria’ Chloe Stewart and Western Australia’s Kristina Krstic also set for quarter-final action.
Both finished in second spot in opposite sides of the draw, with Stewart just 10 shots shy of Scotland’s Lesley Gordon, with seven wins, one loss and +55 shots, while Krstic finished one game behind Wales’ Jessica Sims, on five wins, two losses and +58 shots.
The pair escaped being pitted together in the random draw allocation, but did switch pools, with Kristic set to face Stacy Laidlow for a chance to face her Scottish country mate Gordon in the semis, while Stewart will encounter New Zealand’s Tayla Bruce for the chance to play Sims.
The singles play-offs will commence at Broachbeach from 12.30pm AEST on Saturday.
Click here to follow the mixed pairs results on World Bowls’ website.
Play-off draw:
Women’s section 1
Kristina Kristic (Aust 2) v Stacey Laidlow (Scot)
Winner to play Lesley Gordon (Scot)
Women’s section 2
Chloe Stewart (Aust 1)v Tayla Bruce (NZ)
Winner to play Jessica Sims (Wales)
Men’s section 1
Sean Ingham (Aust 2) v Kevin Anderson (Scot)
Winner to play Dylan Fisher (Aust 1)
Men’s section 2
Guernsey v Malaysia
Winner to play Ryan Burnett (Scot)
Caption: Sean Ingham and Kristina Krstic are two of Australia’s four chances in post-sectional singles action.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad program.
