McKeown and Kelly claim men's pairs gold after tense tiebreak
McKeown and Kelly won the men's pairs title, beating their English opponents in a dramatic one-end shootout after the final finished level.
After a semi-final that required tiebreak heroics to overcome Malaysia, McKeown and Kelly once again found themselves in a one-end decider in the final. This time, it was an English pair that pushed them all the way, but the duo held their nerve to secure the men's pairs gold.
The first set saw the eventual champions race into an early lead, with a four-shot haul in the third end helping them take the set 6-2. The English response came in a tightly contested second set, where they built a 3-0 advantage and managed to hold on for a 4-2 win, forcing the match to a single-end shootout.
In the decisive end, it was Kelly who came closest to the jack, and his opponent Walker was unable to reply with his final bowl, sparking celebrations from the winners.
"We wish it wasn't always an extra end but we played really well," said McKeown. "We got a huge four shots early on and kicked on from there in the first set. In the second set we lost a three early on in probably the worst end of the game, and then clawed our way back into it."
He also praised his partner's crucial contribution: "Gary had a chance to win the game with his last bowl and unfortunately just missed, but he played an absolute bomb on the tiebreak end to secure the win."
Kelly admitted the pressure was intense but said belief was key. "Obviously there's nerves and there's pressure, but you've just got to have belief and trust. I've been lucky enough in my career that I've done it before, so you've just got to reach into those moments and believe. You have to enjoy and embrace those moments as well, and thankfully I delivered."
