Heavy hitters remain in contention
A host of heavy hitters have advanced to the second round of the men’s pairs.
A host of heavy hitters have advanced to the second round of the men’s pairs at the $125,000 Australian Open.
Defending champions Neville Rodda and Lee Schraner were the first to assure themselves a position, with duo looking in magnificent form as they blitzed their way to a 17-5, 10-8 win against Coolum Beach’s Michael Keegan and Lee Fitzhenry in just under two hours.
The pair will face steep competition in the discipline though, with a star studded list remaining in contention for the ultimate glory.
World number two Brett Wilkie and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mark Casey survived a tightly contented battle against Strathfieldsaye’s Geoff Walsh and Bendigo’s Torie Babitsch.
The Helensvale duo broke out of the gates early, picking up 6 over as many ends to set a comfortable lead, but faced a more difficult task over the last three ends as Walsh and Babitsch closed the gap with a score of 3 and 2.
The Victorians looked like staging a come-back in the second set, taking a 5-2 lead into the fifth end before they were halted by the Australian teammates as they reapplied the pressure and converted at every opportunity, claiming multiple shots on three ends to secure the set and record a 7-5, 8-7 win.
World number one Leif Selby and Asia Pacific Championships gold medallist Nathan Rice, reuniting after securing the Queensland Open triples trophy last year, looked at ease on the Darebin greens as they raced to a 11-6, 10-4 victory against Burwood’s Jeffery Bolch and Damon Di Florio.
2010 NSW Open men’s pairs winners Matthew Flapper and Aaron Wilson will also advance after an 8-6, 10-4 victory over local Darebin hopes David Styles and Kevin Boughton and will now be pitted against Queanbyan’s Josh McLennan and Peter Crowe in their round three battle.
Australian A squad member Nick McIntyre and New Zealand star Ali Forsyth, who made up two thirds of last year’s winning triples team alongside Flapper, succumbed to Heathmont’s Mike Henderson and Michael Kaczynski by the slimmest of margins, 7-6, 7-6.
While Burwood’s Rowan Sharp and Yarra Glen’s Danny Simons proved too slick on the day for Capalaba’s Brendon Egan and former world champion Steve Glasson OAM, with the pair producing a 6-8, 7-5, 3-2 win.
Click here for full results from the men's pairs round one.