Shane Ettridge provided this excellent report on the great performance of the Sturt Four at the Australian Open on Thursday 11 June 2026.
Shane's Report on Day 4:
Day 4 saw the commencement of the fours competition, with the Sturt boys excited to take on a new format and continue their strong showing at the tournament.
The day began with a tightly contested opening match that unfortunately ended in a heartbreaking one-shot loss.
Despite the disappointment, the team remained positive and responded well in Game 2, edging out their opponents by a single shot in another thrilling encounter.
With one win and one loss on the board, the equation heading into the final round was clear. A big victory was required, along with a favourable result elsewhere, if Sturt was to progress to the knockout stages.
The team delivered their part of the bargain in impressive fashion. All four players contributed strongly in a commanding win, producing some excellent bowls and maintaining great energy throughout the match.
Team spirits were high as attention turned to the other results around the group.
Unfortunately, after all the calculations were complete, Sturt fell agonisingly short of qualification.
In a cruel twist, the team missed advancing by just a single shot.
While the result was disappointing, there was plenty to be proud of. The group competed strongly throughout the day, represented the club exceptionally well, and once again demonstrated the resilience and camaraderie that have been a feature of the trip.
As always, the result is only part of the story.
The opportunity to compete against quality opposition, enjoy the company of teammates, and be part of such a well-run event makes this tournament a truly special experience.
It is easy to see why so many bowlers look forward to returning year after year.
Attention now turns to Monday's pairs knockout matches. With both Sturt combinations still alive and confidence high, the players are eager to continue their campaign and see how far they can go.