Blackjacks go hunting for gold
Coach Dave Edwards says the Blackjacks are on the brink of achieving their tournament goal after qualifying for three gold medal games at the World Bowls championships.
‘‘I’m much happier this Friday than last Friday,’’ Edwards quipped after watching singles specialist Shannon Mcilroy, the women’s pair of Jo Edwards and Angela Boyd, and the men’s four of Ali Forsyth, Mike Kernaghan, Mike Nagy and Blake Signal win their semifinals at Christchurch’s Burnside Bowling Club.
What a difference a week makes. Seven days ago, the Blackjacks were left to lick their wounds after losing four semifinals during the first week of the World Bowls tournament.
They had to settle for bronze medals and watch from the sidelines as arch rivals Australia won three out of four golds.
But Edwards hailed the Blackjacks for showing great fortitude to regroup after an honesty session at a team debrief last Saturday.
‘‘We sat down and had a real good chat about it, as players and coaches.
‘‘They all identified some workons for each individual player.
‘‘One of the key areas was getting a better start. Last week, we were behind early in all the [semifinal] games and never really recovered, so we worked on ways to start better this time.’’
The Blackjacks have eclipsed Bowls New Zealand’s target of five medals at the 2016 tournament – and they have exceeded that by clinching seven.
Edwards said on the eve of the tournament that the team would ideally get ‘‘a couple of gold medals’’.
‘‘We’re delighted to make seven of the eight semifinals.’’
Tournament organisers will be too.
There were a lot of empty seats in the Burnside stands last weekend without any Kiwis to cheer.
Forsyth’s four had the Blackjacks’ biggest win in the semifinals, thrashing a Scotland team headed by Commonwealth and world champions Alex Marshall and Paul Foster, 20-3.
The four will play defending champions Australia in this afternoon’s final after the Jackaroos beat Ireland 22-10.
Mcilroy, a bronze medallist in 2012, beat Australia’s Aron Sherriff, 21-17 to qualify for tomorrow’s singles final. He will meet Canada’s Ryan Bester, who edged out Scotland’s Commonwealth Games champion Darren Burnett, 21-20.
Edwards has been working hard with Mcilroy on technical and tactical aspects in their Nelson hometown, but mental skills coach John Quinn had also made a vital contribution.
‘‘Shannon’s always had the ability with the bowl in hand, but John’s done some fantastic work with him on building selfconfidence and self-belief,’’ Edwards said.
Jo Edwards qualified for her fourth successive world pairs final and has a chance to emulate Ireland’s Phillis Nolan and Margaret Johnson as a three-time champion.
She was in fine form from the start of the 13-11 semifinal win over England’s Ellen Falkner and Sophie Tolchard.
The Kiwi pair will contest the gold medal tomorrow morning against Wales’ Jess Sims and Laura Daniels, who accounted for Scotland’s Lauren Baillie and Lesley Doig (the singles silver medallist), 20-11.
Bester and Burnett produced a real nail biter in the second men’s singles semifinal with Burnett holding a 20-17 advantage after 22 ends.
But Bester stormed home to win the last three ends, scoring two points on the 25th to clinch his place in the finals after Burnett had held the shot after each had delivered their first two bowls.
Wales and Australia will meet in this morning’s triples final after beating Malaysia and South Africa in their semifinals.
Australia’s team – Rebecca van Asch, Natasha Scott and Carla Krizanic – were fours gold medallists last week. Australia will go home with a medal from all eight events after making four semifinals yesterday.