AUSSIES CHARGING HARD IN FIGHT FOR FIJI PRO TITLE

THE Australian contingent continues to shine at surfing’s Fiji Pro, with Matt Wilkinson, Connor O’Leary and Bede Durbidge reaching the quarter-finals.

World No.5 Wilkinson won yesterday’s opening Round 4 heat in 1m-1.5m waves at Cloudbreak, beating compatriot Julian Wilson and Brazil’s Ian Gouveia.

Wilkinson’s combined score of 14.27 from his two best waves was enough to automatically qualify for the final eight, sending Wilson and Gouveia into the elimination fifth round.

O’Leary backed up his upset third-round win over Kelly Slater on Tuesday by narrowly beating Frenchman Joan Duru and fellow Australian Joel Parkinson.

Durbidge, ranked 27th in the world, overcame countryman Stuart Kennedy and Hawaiian Sebastian Zietz, with his 11.10.

Wilson will meet Brazilian Italo Ferreira in Round 5, while Kennedy and Parkinson face off in an allAustralian heat.

Picture: WSL Matt Wilkinson was in fine form at the Outerknown Fiji Pro at Cloudbreak yesterday, earning a place in the quarter-finals.