The fine lines of sport at elite level were once again on full display at the SEC Hall in Glasgow on Saturday as Team SA’s women’s pairs lawn bowls duo again suffered the narrowest of defeats at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
They have an unflattering record of played three, lost three in Section B, but sheer statistics can be harsh. They have lost two of those three matches on tie-breaks and Saturday’s result was again decided by one extra end.
Thabelo Muvhango (lead) and Jacqui Janse van Rensburg (skip) lost the first set 7-4 but looked to have turned things around by taking the second set 6-4 against their Namibian opponents, before the one-end shootout which went Namibia’s way and with it Team SA’s realistic chances of getting anywhere near the medals.
Team SA actually started so brightly. They opened up to lead 4-0 after two ends, before leaking seven shots in the next three ends to lose that set 7-4. Muvhango admitted that they, “had fallen asleep and when we woke the set was gone. We came back strong to win the second set but then lost that tie-break.”
Janse van Rensburg said, “unless some miracle happens with England and India losing two in a row, that’s our chances gone. The step up to this level is massive. Being on carpet as opposed to grass brings another element to it, but that’s the way the cookie has crumbled for us.”
In the para mixed pairs (B2-B3), it is also no wins from three matches for Team SA with Princess Schroeder and Keith Orwell losing to England 2-0 (8-2, 6-1).
“They are a quality and classy side, and it’s my first experience playing them. Unfortunately, we will have to come back in four years time and try get into the medals because we’re out of contention here, but it’s not from lack of trying,” a gracious Orwell said.
“It’s been tough getting used to indoors, but it’s been a great ecperience and I also have to say well done to England who played out of their socks.
This is my second Commonwealth Games, after 2018, and it’s all so wonderful to be part of a multi-code Games added Scrhoeder.”
In the men’s singles, Wayne Rittmuller lost his Section B fourth round match after being taken to a tie-break by Liam Hill of Tonga. The two sets had been shared, 8-5, 4-7. The tie-break went to Hill 1-0. Rittmuller had come from 5-0 down in the first set after two ends with eight unanswered points.
Photo: NIC BOTHMA/Team SA