Australia Through to Murder-Ball Gold Match

WAIS individual scholarship holder Grant Boxall and his Australian wheelchair rugby team have qualified for the gold medal match at the Beijing Paralympics after defeating Canada 41-40 in a gripping semi-final clash.

Australia again prevailed on the back of some mesmeric work from teenage star Ryley Batt, who scored 23 goals for the match, including the winner with just seven seconds remaining in the match.

Canada had looked likely to upset the Australians in the first half with solid performances from Fabien Lavoie and Mike Whitehead, who both scored 13 each for their country. Canada led 17-16 at half time.

But Batt wielded his influence on the contest in the second half with a series of turnovers and goals as Australia edged Canada into a point for point contest.

Canada had looked set for the last opportunity of the game, attempting to run down the clock at 40-40 but the man dubbed “Batt-Man” again thwarted his opponents with the most telling of his turnovers to shoot Australia to glory and into a showdown for the gold medal.

The Australians will now face the United States for the gold medal, while Canada will play Great Britain for the bronze.