GRAHAM Shadwell and partner Jamie Chestney, representing England, greatly boosted their hopes of a medal in the men’s pairs at the outdoor 2012 World Bowls Championships in Australia.

Trowbridge’s Shadwell, who plays for Spencer Moulton (Bradford on Avon), and partner Chestney (Kings BC, Torquay), won all four of their group matches in Adelaide over the weekend to move to the brink of qualifying for the play-offs.

England are now locked at the top of the Pool 1 table on 16 points with Wales (+85 shots) and Canada (+81) but they both have a much better shots difference with Shadwell and Chestney only on +57 and with only two matches each to go tomorrow (Monday).

All three countries have won eight matches out of nine for 16 points with New Zealand fourth on 12 points.

One win tomorrow would guarantee England a place in the post sectional play-offs for a semi-final spot.

Two wins would put them in the melting pot and the possibility of an automatic semis berth if the Wales and Canada results went in their favour.

Tomorrow (Monday) sees England play lowly Hong Kong China in the morning and New Zealand after lunch in their final group game. Wales face basement side Japan and then Malaysia while Canada meet Zimbabwe and Japan.

On day three of the pairs competition on Saturday in two extremely tight games Shadwell and Chestney beat Zimbabwe 18-16 and followed that up in the afternoon by edging home on the last end 15-14 against Jersey.

Whereas the England duo had to pull out all the stops on Saturday they had a much easier passage today (Sunday) recording two big wins as they beat Spain 20-6 and then demolished Japan 44-6 to greatly bolster their sagging shots difference.

Round nine in the Pool One matches also saw Canada take away Wales unbeaten record as they recorded a shock 18-8 success to move joint top with them and add some spice to the final day pairs matches in this first group.

The pairs post-sectional play-offs and semi-finals will be played the day after the pool matches have been completed on Tuesday, December 4 at 9am and 1.30pm with the final scheduled for Thursday, December 6 at 10.am at Lockleys Bowls club.

Shadwell and his fours colleagues of Mark Bantock, Richard Newman and Stuart Airey have been drawn against South Africa in the fours post sectional play-offs while Scotland will face Wales.

The winner of England and South Africa will meet Pool 1 victors Ireland in semi-final one and the other play-off winners meet Australia in the second semi-final.

All these matches will be played on Day 12, Wednesday December 5 at 9am and 1.30pm.

The fours final is scheduled for Friday December 7 at 2.30pm.

MORE ON SHADWELL'S PROGRESS AT WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND IN NEXT FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES