Medals in sight for Blackjacks

The New Zealand Blackjacks are well positioned at the end of week ones section play at the World Bowls Championships. All four disciplines are in medal contention after comfortably making the post section rounds that will start tomorrow at Burnside Bowling Club.

A discouraging start for Jo Edwards in her 500th game against 2014 Champion of Champion singles runner up Saskia Schaft from the Netherlands, going down 16-21.

However, after an emotional celebratory press conference for the presentation of Edwardss 500 cap, she fought back- as only the greats can do- to have a nail biting win over defending World Bowls Singles champion Karen Murphy (AUS). It was somewhat fitting that that this game saw Murphy reach an unprecedented 550 international appearances for Australia, following Edwards milestone the game before. Edwards was down 17-11 in the race to 21, only to find herself at a 20 all battle for the last end. Edwards won the game 21-20.

Kelly McKerihen from Canada has booked herself a place in the semifinals tomorrow, having only lost to Murphy in round six. Edwards finished second equal with Murphy on the ladder and will play Carmen Anderson of Norfolk Island in tomorrows pre semi-final game. Murphy will play Siti Zalina Ahma of Malaysia. Despite Schafts win against Edwards this morning, she has narrowly missed out on qualifying for post section play.

New Zealands Mens Triples (skipped by Ali Forsyth), Womens Fours (skipped by Val Smith) and Mens Pairs (skipped by Shannon McIlory) have not looked back from their upsets on day one. Heading their respective sections at the end of round nine, these three teams have automatically qualified for the semi-finals and will play these games at Burnside Bowling Club at 1pm tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrows pre-semifinals games will be as follows:

Womens Fours:

New Zealand Bye Australia v Scotland Wales v Philippines England Bye

Mens Triples:

New Zealand Bye Australia v Scotland Japan v Ireland England Bye

Mens Pairs:

Australia Bye Scotland v Malaysia Ireland V England New Zealand Bye

Womens Singles:

Canada Bye

Malaysia v Australia

New Zealand v Norfolk Island Scotland Bye

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Bowls New Zealand