The Blackjacks have made an impressive and perfect start to the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, emerging through the first day’s play without a loss.
And while some could argue they are yet to run into the sport’s heavyweights, like the hosts and the sides from the United Kingdom, there is nothing like a loss-free start to a competition.
Across the rinks, for example, Australia were defeated by Jersey in the men’s triples, while three English combinations also went down during the day.
The evening two sessions were relatively trouble-free for the Kiwis. Mandy Boyd’s four and both Para sides won their matches, while Blake Signal and Shannon McIlroy were decisive in two large wins.
They saw off Botsawana 27-8, after leading 18-3, and then eased home 24-11 against Papua New Guinea. Signal and McIlroy had the game well in hand by the conclusion of the eighth end, holding a 13-2 lead. On day two, they meet the unbeaten Cook Islands duo, whose lead Aidan Zittersteijn plays in Taranaki. The Cook Islands defeated England in their first match.
There were some anxious moments for the women’s four in their opening encounter against Jersey. Ultimately, a massive seven on the seventh end proved the difference as Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch and Boyd won 20-15.
The seven came after the scores had been locked at 5-all. NZ appeared in complete control when leading 19-9 after 12 of the 15 ends, but by taking a four and then a two, Jersey gave themselves a chance on the last end, needing a four to tie. But the Kiwis took a single to hold on.
In the Para games, Bruce Wakefield, Barry Wynks and Mark Noble sounded a very early warning sign to their fellow B6/B7/B8 competitors by trouncing Wales 26-5.
It was much closer in the B2/B3 mixed pairs, where David Stallard [with Peter Blick] and Sue Curran [with Ann Muir] also overcame Wales 14-11, after leading by two shots playing the final end.
In the two earlier sessions, Jo Edwards won twice in the women’s singles, while Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler and Ali Forsyth were decisive in their only game in the men’s triples.
BLACKJACKS IN ACTION
Results day one – Thursday, April 5).
Women’s singles (Jo Edwards): beat India 20-16; beat Niue 21-11.
Men’s pairs (Blake Signal, Shannon McIlroy): beat Botswana 27-9; beat Papa New Guinea 24-11.
Men’s triples (Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler, Ali Forsyth): beat Singapore 28-6.
Women’s fours (Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch, Mandy Boyd): beat Jersey 20-15.
B2/B3 mixed pairs (David Stallard [with Peter Blick], Sue Curran [with Ann Muir]): beat Wales 14-11.
B6/B7/B8 triples (Bruce Wakefield, Barry Wynks, Mark Noble): beat Wales 26-5.
Draw day two – Friday, April 6). NB: all times are NZT.
Women’s singles (Jo Edwards): 11am v England; 2pm v Fiji.
Men’s pairs (Blake Signal, Shannon McIlroy): 6pm v Cook Islands; 9pm v Fiji.
Men’s triples (Michael Nagy, Paul Girdler, Ali Forsyth): 11am v Niue; 2pm v Canada.
Women’s fours (Tayla Bruce, Val Smith, Katelyn Inch, Mandy Boyd): 6pm v Zambia; 9pm v Norfolk Island.
B2/B3 mixed pairs (David Stallard [with Peter Blick], Sue Curran [with Ann Muir]): 6pm v South Africa.
B6/B7/B8 triples (Bruce Wakefield, Barry Wynks, Mark Noble): 9pm v England.
