
Jo
Edwards and Gary Lawson have made telling contributions on day five of the
Multi Nations tournament on the Gold Coast.
Edwards, the Blackjacks’ most-capped player, has marched through to the
semi-finals of the women’s pair, winning all six of her round-robin matches
with new lead Tayla Bruce.
They started the day with a 16-13 win over Malta, followed it up with a
convincing 19-9 win over Australia Yellow and then came from 8-1 down to beat
Ireland 18-14.
“We see it the same. A bit of youth and experience. We’ve got the balance right,”
Edwards said.
“It’s going along pretty good at the moment we just need to push on tomorrow.
“Winning’s a habit and we’re going to try and go through unbeaten.”
Also at Broadbeach Bowls Club, Lawson delivered in the crunch to keep the men’s
four’s semi-final hopes alive.
The four of Lawson (skip), Ali Forsyth, Jamie Hill and Chris Le Lievre slumped
to its third defeat from four games to start the day, going down 16-12 to Malta.
They then drew 14-all with Australia Yellow, after dropping a five on the final
end, setting up a virtual quarter-final against Ireland.
They led 13-11 playing the final end, but the Irish held three shots before
Lawson played his last.
The double world champion duly drew the shot to win the match and keep the New
Zealand four in the competition.
“I suppose that’s my job,” Lawson said.
“We’re still a chance which is pretty amazing because we’ve battled.
“We’ve been close in a couple of games, but we just haven’t played good enough
as a unit, too many loose ones.”
Andrew Kelly is another Blackjack on the outside looking in.
Kelly is sitting fifth in the men’s singles after back-to-back defeats at
Musgrave Hill Bowls Club.
After opening the day with a 19-17 win over Malta, Kelly went down 21-7 to
Australia Yellow and 21-12 to Ireland.
He’s three points outside the top four and needs to beat Australia Green in his
final round-robin game and hope other results go his way to sneak into the
semi-finals.
The New Zealand women’s triple is already assured of a place in the top four
after a reshuffled trio won two of its last three round-robin matches.
Katelyn Inch skipped the triple, swapping places with Val Smith, while Selina
Goddard continued as lead.
They got off to a fast start, beating Malta 23-7, before losing 19-14 to
Australia Yellow and then bouncing back to beat Ireland 21-11.
The Blackjacks will play Australia Green in the final round of each of the four
disciplines tomorrow (Saturday, November 23) before the semi-finals in the
evening.
Day five results:
Men’s singles – Andrew Kelly beat Malta 19-17, lost 7-21 to Australia
Yellow & lost 12-21 to Ireland.
Women’s pairs – Jo Edwards (skip) & Tayla Bruce beat Malta 16-13, beat
Australia Yellow 19-9 & beat Ireland 18-14.
Women’s triples –Katelyn Inch (skip), Val Smith & Selina Goddard beat
Malta 23-7, lost 14-19 to Australia Yellow & beat Ireland 21-11.
Men’s fours – Gary Lawson (skip), Ali Forsyth, Jamie Hill & Chris Le
Lievre lost 12-16 to Malta, drew 14-all with Australia Yellow & beat
Ireland 14-11.