Australia and Ireland lead both their respective sections of the Overseas Qualifying match after the opening exchanges in the JUST. World Pairs qualifiers which swung into action at the Hopton on Sea bowls powerhouse earlier today (Thurdsay 10th Jan).
After 12 hours of action, the Aussies – Kyle McIlroy and Dave Rankin sit at the top of Group A with 4 points and are 10 shots in credit while second placed Mike McNorton and Dan Le Messurier from the USA, who will be their opponents in the concluding Group match Friday 11th, have 2 points and 19 shots in their account.
Ireland’s Derek Smith and skip Ian McClure top Group B with 2 points/13 shots and meet second placed Beverley Polantinski and Boaz Marcus from Israel in their ‘winner take all confrontation’ in their last Group match. Israel have 1 point after finishing all square with New Zealand.
The World Singles qualifying stages commence Friday at 2.15pm. USA’s Charlie Herbert has withdrawn and his countryman Dan Le Messurier is his replacement.
OPEN PAIRS PRELIMINARY QUALIFYING ROUND MATCHES (Thursday 10th Jan)N
*South Africa withdrew from the Championships.
PP1 Dave Rankin/Kyle McIlroy (Aus) bt Eric/Rob Galipeau (Can) 4-1, 11-1;
PP7 Beverley Polatinski/Boaz Marcus (Isr) w/o SA (Marc Rogers/Bruce Manning Scr;
PP4 Mike McNorton/Dan Le Messurier (USA) bt E/R Galipeau (Can) 9-1, 18-1;
PP10 Derek Smith/Ian McClure (Ire) w/o SA Scr;
PP3 Rankin/McIlroy (Aus) bt Lychee Lai/Wagner Chan (HK) 5-4, 5-3;
PP9 Polatinski/Marcus DREW with Helen Carman/Mario Sopp (NZ), 5-7, 9-6;
PP6 Lai/Chan (HK) bt McNorton/Le Messurier (USA) 8-3, 7-6;
PP12 Smith/McClure (Ire) bt Carman/Sopp (NZ) 14-3, 7-5;
PP5 E/R Galipeau (Can) bt Lai/Wagner (HK) 9-2, 7-2;
PP11 Carman/Mario (NZ) w/o SA Scr;