Wilson and O’Neill make bowls semi-finals in dramatic fashion

For those that think there’s no drama in bowls then they weren’t watching Chloe Wilson and Shauna O’Neill qualify for the semi-finals of the women’s pairs.

The scenario heading into the final group game against Dawn Hayman and Kelsey Cottrell from Australia was if you were going to lose in straight sets, do not lose by ten shots.

The Australians started on fire and took the first set 9-4 and suddenly for the first time in the competition the Northern Ireland pair were under real pressure.

When they found themselves 1-4 down heading into the final end the margin of error had been reduced to two shots.

With her final two bowls, O’Neill came close to taking shot but were either closer than the second Australian bowl?

Out came the official to measure, one shot to the Australians and to the relief of Wilson and O’Neill, they held second shot.

Australia won the set 6-1 to match Northern Ireland on points and sets won but the next tiebreaker, shots difference went the way of Wilson and O’Neill +59 to +58.

They have no time to celebrate, instead they will have to be better this evening in the semi-finals when they face Malaysia.