Wednesday is crunch day for New Zealand’s young representatives at the World Youth Championships held at the Gold Coast’s Broadbeach Bowls Club.

With the final round of the Mixed Pairs and the last two rounds of the men’s and women’s Singles taking place, the Kiwis are in the hunt in all disciplines but will need all the wins they can muster to secure their finals spots.

Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Australia

Keanu Darby has seemingly risen from the dead to give himself an outside chance of qualifying in the men’s singles. Finding himself without a victory after four rounds, he has now won his last 3 matches on the trot. If he is successful in his final two games against Ireland and Hong Kong he will give himself a shot at qualifying but will probably need to rely on another result or two.

Similarly, Rory Soden sits on three wins and three losses and will require victories in his last two games to qualify. He faces third placed India and Hong Kong’s James Po but will also probably rely on other results going his way.

The women’s singles equation is a bit brighter, with both Commonwealth Games Blackjacks Tayla Bruce and Katelyn Inch sitting second in their sections. A disastrous final two rounds could see them both miss out, although they have superior margin than the chasing bunch.

A single win in the final two rounds would seal their quarter final spots and although there is a mathematical chance they could both top their sections and receive a bye into the semi finals, it is unlikely.

The final round of the Mixed Pairs also takes place on Wednesday, with a win crucial for the Tayla Bruce/Keanu Darby and Katelyn Inch/Rory Soden combos.

World Youth Championships – Broadbeach BC, Gold Coast

Mens Singles Section 1 with 2 rounds remaining

Australia 6 wins +70

Wales 5 +38

India 4 +17

Scotland 3 +27

NEW ZEALAND R SODEN 3 +2

Canada 2 -23

Hong Kong 2 -25

Guernsey 2 -46

Papua New Guinea 1 -60

Mens Singles Section 2 with 2 rounds remaining

Australia 5 wins +40

Malaysia 5 +26

Papua New Guinea 4 +25

Hong Kong 4 +23

NEW ZEALAND K DARBY 3 +18

Namibia 3 -12

Canada 3 -16

Ireland 1 -24

Turkey 0 -80

Womens Singles Section 1 with 2 rounds remaining

Australia 5 wins +41

NEW ZEALAND K INCH 5 +33

Australia 4 +25

Malta 4 +17

Canada 3 +1

Guernsey 1 -39

Wales 0 -33

Hong Kong 0 -45

Womens Singles Section 2 with 2 rounds remaining

Australia 6 wins +62

NEW ZEALAND T BRUCE 5 +67

Norfolk Island 4 +21

Ireland 4 +18

Malaysia 4 +12

Canada 2 -4

Papua New Guinea 2 -27

Hong Kong 1 -42

Turkey 0 -107