Pairs ablaze in quarter-finals
Rice and Selby take out the pair's quarter-final
The quarter-finals of the men’s pairs have produced some stunning displays of camaraderie with the tournament favourites advancing through to the semi-finals of the $125,000 Australian Open.
Australian Squad representative Nathan Rice and world number one Leif Selby proved too strong in their finals clash, blazing past Victorian young-gun Dylan Fisher and Clayton’s Todd Simmons in straight sets 10-9, 7-4.
The dynamic duo looked all the goods from their first bowl in hand, picking up continuous shots throughout both sets to advance through to tomorrow’s semi-finals.
The pair are now set to battle it out against Western Australia’s Glenn Pauling and Scott Walker after they ousted Victoria’s Rod Nicholson and Phil Haynes from the draw in a stunning tie-break performance prevailing 8-5, 7-8, 3-1 when the game was on the line.
In other games NSW Junior Champion’s Jesse Noronha and Aaron Teys were stretched in their quarter-final encounter against Shepparton’s Dennis McHarry and Malcolm Williams, ultimately coming up triumphs with a clean sweep in the tie-break, 6-9, 9-8, 3-0.
The doubles outfit have now secured a semi-finals berth against Clayton’s Ash Rowan and Mark Challman after they proved too strong for their opponents Wesley Falconer and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jeremy Henry.
The formidable forces clinched victory in a nail biting thriller lasting two hours long, to prevail 8-8, 7-7-, 2-1 on the scoreboard and inching them one step closer to a finals appearance.
Catch all the action from the semi-finals live from 12pm AEST tomorrow at the Darebin International Sports Centre.
Story provided by Courtney McKenna for bowlsaustralia.com.au.