Australia fight back to snatch women’s pairs gold – Michmutters
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Australia fight back to snatch women’s pairs gold

10 hours ago

England appeared to have the gold secured after storming into an 11-2 lead after the sixth end.

Australia completed a remarkable fightback to win gold in the women’s pairs after a thrilling contest against England.

Skip Ellen Ryan delighted the Australian fans in attendance at Victoria Park with a final bowl which knocked out England’s lie and claimed the gold medal.

Ryan sprinted to celebrate with lead Kristina Krstic after the most dramatic of comebacks.

England appeared to have the gold secured after storming into an 11-2 lead after the sixth end.

But the Australian pair fought back in fine fashion, winning the next four ends before the match was level at 12-12 after 12 ends played.

Australia entered the final end trailing by one but were in position to steal the match before England’s Amy Pharoah forced the match to an extra end by knocking out one of Australia’s two bowls, with the match tied at 18-18.

But it was to be heartbreak for England pair Pharoah and Sophie Tolchard as Australia’s final shot proved decisive.

“My stomach is still churning. I can’t describe how I’m feeling. This is just a dream come true for us,” Krstic said.

“Like Ellsy (Ryan) said after winning her singles, we’re not just doing it for ourselves, we’re doing it for the whole crew, all the Australians and everyone that’s supporting us.”

My stomach is still churning. I can’t describe how I’m feeling. This is just a dream come true for us

Kristina Krstic

Tolchard reflected on defeat by saying: “Amy played brilliantly throughout, but it was bit of a game of two halves really. We came back at them at the end, and it went to the extra end, and we lost the toss, so we didn’t have the last bowl.

“We put them under pressure as much as we possibly could, and it just wasn’t meant to be. But I’m so proud of Amy.

“We’ll probably never experience playing in front of a home crowd like that again. They really gave you that will to carry on, especially when I was a bit scratchy at the start of the game. They spurred me on to play better bowls Amazing to have that support.”

In the bronze medal match, New Zealand came out 20-15 winners over Malaysia.

Northern Ireland celebrated their second gold of the Games in the men’s fours after an 18-5 victory over India.

Lead Sam Barkley, second Adam McKeown, third Ian McClure and skip Martin McHugh began the stronger and were leading 7-0 by the fourth end.

India’s Sunil Bahadur, Navneet Singh, Chandan Kumar Singh and Dinesh Kumar finally got on the board by the fifth end but never really threatened Northern Ireland’s dominance and the score was 12-5 by the 10th end.

India failed to score again as the title went to Northern Ireland after 14 ends.

In the bronze medal match, England clinched third on the podium with a 17-12 comeback victory over Wales.

It was another gold for Australia in the men’s singles as Aaron Wilson coasted to a 21-3 victory over Northern Ireland’s Gary Kelly.

Wilson made a quick start and took control as he moved into a 12-0 lead by the end of the eighth end.

Kelly finally got on the board in the ninth end but was still left with a mountain to climb.

Wilson stretched his lead to 18-1 after 12 ends as he moved within three points of victory.

Kelly won the 13th end 2-0 but the Australian soon wrapped up victory with a 2-0 win in the 15th end to seal it.

Scotland’s Iain McLean took the bronze medal with a 21-11 win over Malaysia’s Fairul Izwan Abd Muin.

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