2021 Australian Open – day eleven wrap
The quarter-final positions are set in the women’s pairs while just four teams remain in contention in the men’s pairs following an enthralling eleventh day at the 2021 Australian Open on the Gold Coast.
Women’s defending champions Genevieve Delves and Dawn Hayman have been knocked out following a sensational display of bowls by Cassandra Millerick and 2017 pairs winner Julie Keegan, who triumphed 19-11.
2013 conquerers Lynsey Clarke and Kelsey Cottrell booked their own passage through to the quarters following two comprehensive victories, while Jessica Srisamruaybai and BCiB Australian Jackaroo Chloe Stewart also made their way through to the final eight.
In-form pair Jamie-Lee Worsnop and Natasha Van Eldik will be among the octad of teams left in the tournament following victories in their two encounters, holding on in both encounters for a combined shot difference of five.
Sending an ominous warning to the rest of the field however are the Jackaroos pair of Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic, who claimed a 25-6 win over Sam Ferguson and five-time Australian Open champion Anne Johns in their opening match of the day, before holding on for a 15-14 victory over former singles runner-up Dee-Anne Robertson and Bolivia Millerick in the round of 16.
The women’s pairs draw continues tomorrow with the quarter-finals set to take centre stage.
In the men’s pairs action, Gary Pearson and Cohen Litfin produced the upset of the afternoon, outlasting the dual Jackaroo team of Ben Twist and Aaron Wilson in an epic 17-16 quarter-final.
Pearson and Litfin will meet the Scottish and Australian combination of the Murray Steamers BPL coach Kevin Anderson and Emerging Jackaroo Matt Lucas in the semi-final contest.
Anderson and Lucas enjoyed a comfortable opening 19-6 win over Dylan Essex and Heath Lewis, before holding on for a 16-14 triumph over the Queensland pairing of Rick Dunn and Peter Blackburn in the quarter-finals to gain their place among the final quartet.
Matt Johnstone and Cody Packer enjoyed a gritty first up 18-17 win over Paul O’Brien and Thomas Nathan before an emphatic 19-5 victory against Greg Helm and Bailey Meti.
Johnstone and Packer will meet John Green and Nick Cahill who reached the quarter-finals by forfeit before enjoying a 21-5 win over Ryan Digby and Jayden Christie to reach the semifinals.
Women’s over-60s pairs commenced their sectional competition today, with knockout draws accessible here, as well as the over-60s men’s pairs, which saw the quarter-final stage set, with the draw available here.
Finally, in the multi-disability open men’s singles draw, Para-Sport Jackaroo Josh Thornton will meet Queenslander Damien Delgado in a clash for the 2021 crown, following wins over Brad Gilbert and Ryan Wood respectively, with the results available here.
A huge day of contests awaits tomorrow, with the quarter-finals of the women’s pairs, alongside quarter-finals and semi-finals of the men’s fours, over-60s men’s pairs and multi-disability pairs, and semi-finals of the women’s singles, women’s fours and men’s pairs, in addition to the commencement of the under-18s and three rounds of over-60s women’s pairs.
The 2021 Australian Open will be staged across the Gold Coast from June 12-25, courtesy of support from Tourism and Events Queensland and City of Gold Coast.
