Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler and Ali Forsyth have ensured their path into post section

With still one round of section play remaining, three of the Blackjacks four combinations have already qualified for Saturday evening’s quarterfinals after polished performances on day two of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

The men’s pairs and triples and the women’s fours all remain unbeaten, and emphatically so, meaning Saturday’s last section play games will not affect their qualification.

But a 21-17 loss on Friday to 22-year-old Englishwoman Katherine Rednall has put a serious dent in Jo Edwards’ campaign to repeat her 2014 singles gold medal.

While Edwards rebounded in her second match of the day, beating Fiji’s Litia Tikoisuva 21-10, it has left the top-two positions in the section wide open ahead of Saturday morning’s final round.

Edwards rebounded in her second match of the day, beating Fiji’s Litia Tikoisuva 21-10

Edwards meets Malaysia’s Emma Firyana Saroji, who has four-straight, with a plus-39 differential. Edwards and Rednall, both on three wins apiece, have differentials of plus-21 and plus-16 respectively. So even if Edwards wins her match, to absolutely guarantee a place in the quarterfinals, she must beat Saroji by at least nine shots. Failing that, Edwards will need to rely on a favourable outcome from Rednall’s last game.

The Edwards-Rednall match was a cliff-hanger, with the duo evenly matched throughout. With Rednall on 19, Edwards held two, but the Englishwoman pushed through the shot bowls, trailing the jack for two herself and the game.

Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler and Ali Forsyth, the Blackjacks men’s triples, beat Niue 36-8 and Canada 18-13 to ensure their path into post section.

Both Para sides suffered narrow defeats on day two to now have one win and one loss each

The men’s pair have now completed four comfortable wins from as many games. From 8-5 down, Blake Signal and Shannon McIlroy powered away from the Cook Islands to win 26-12. They were equally dominant in downing Fiji 18-11, after they had shot out to 7-0 early on. Meanwhile, the Canadian pair, skipped by Ryan Bester, suffered a 26-12 hiding from Malta and are now in serious doubt of missing the playoffs.

The women’s four of Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch and Mandy Boyd beat Zambia 21-8 and Norfolk Island 28-5 to remain on course to repeat their podium finish from four years ago.

Both Para sides suffered narrow defeats on day two to now have one win and one loss each. They each have three further round-robin games to come in the six-team events and need a top-four finish to make the semifinals.

In the B2/B3 mixed pairs David Stallard [with Peter Blick] and Sue Curran [with Ann Muir] lost to South Africa 14-12. Remarkably, all six countries have the same one-win, one-loss record in that event.

The B6/B7/B8 triple of Bruce Wakefield, Barry Wynks and, Mark Noble fell to England 13-12. The side were always in trouble, trailing 11-4 after nine ends, and while the margin had been reduced to three shots playing the final head, they could only muster a brace to come up one point shy.

BLACKJACKS IN ACTION

Results day two – Friday, April 6.

Women’s singles (Jo Edwards): lost to England 21-17; beat Fiji 21-10.

Men’s pairs (Blake Signal, Shannon McIlroy): beat Cook Islands 26-12; beat Fiji 18-11.

Men’s triples (Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler, Ali Forsyth): beat Niue 36-8; beat Canada 18-13.

Women’s fours (Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch, Mandy Boyd): beat Zambia 21-8; beat Norfolk Island 28-5.

B2/B3 mixed pairs (David Stallard [with Peter Blick], Sue Curran [with Ann Muir]): lost to South Africa 14-12.

B6/B7/B8 triples (Bruce Wakefield, Barry Wynks, Mark Noble): lost to England 13-12.

Draw day three – Saturday, April 7. NB: all times are NZT.

Women’s singles (Jo Edwards): 11am v Malaysia; 9.30pm Quarterfinals.

Men’s pairs (Blake Signal, Shannon McIlroy): 2pm v England; 9.30pm Quarterfinals.

Men’s triples (Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler, Ali Forsyth): 11am v Namibia; 6pm Quarterfinals.

Women’s fours (Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch, Mandy Boyd): 2pm v South Africa; 6pm Quarterfinals.

B2/B3 mixed pairs (David Stallard [with Peter Blick], Sue Curran [with Ann Muir]): 6pm v Australia.

B6/B7/B8 triples (Bruce Wakefield, Barry Wynks, Mark Noble): 9.30pm v Scotland.