Joel Parkinson continues golden run at J-Bay Open to set up clash against 2015 finalist Julian Wilson

JOEL Parkinson has set up a clash against the forgotten man of Jeffreys Bay after an impressive win in his knockout heat at the J-Bay Open yesterday.

Joel Parkinson in action.

JOEL Parkinson has set up a clash against the forgotten man of Jeffreys Bay after an impressive win in his knockout heat at the J-Bay Open ­yesterday.

Former world champion Parkinson overcame a niggling knee injury that forced him out of the last tour event in Fiji to beat fellow Aussie Matt Banting and continue an impressive run at the South African event.

In his 15th start at J-Bay, Coolangatta surfer Parkinson continued a run that has handed him two titles at the event. Despite being beaten in the opening round, Parkinson moved comfortably through his knockout heat against Banting, winning 15.17-12.17 to set up a Round 3 showdown with Julian Wilson.

Banting’s best chance against Parkinson was to take to the air in the 1-1.5m conditions but he played a conservative game, attempting to beat the 2012 world champion at his own game.

“If you get in a rail battle with Joel Parkinson you’re going to come out second best,’’ commentator Ronnie Blakey said during the heats yesterday.

While plenty has been made about Mick Fanning’s return to J-Bay after his shark encounter last year, less has been said about Wilson, who was in the water with Fanning when it occurred.

The incident was horrific for the Sunshine Coast surfer, who saw Fanning knocked off his board by the great white before losing sight of him as a wave rolled through.

But, like Fanning, the 27-year-old knew he would be back at J-Bay.

“Right after everything happened last year I knew I was going back there,” Wilson told News Corp earlier this year.

“It’s an incredible place. It’s so special. It’s one of, if not the, best right-hand point breaks in the world.

“It was unfortunate what happened last year but it’s just a part of what we do. We’re in their house when we’re out in the water. ‘’

Parkinson and Wilson will fight out the sudden-death round for the right to advance to Round 4.

In other results as Round 2 was completed last night, Brazil’s Alejo Muniz beat Nat Young to set up a Round 3 showdown against Byron Bay tour leader Matt Wilkinson.

Fanning – who won his opening heat to ­advance directly to Round 3 – will face tour rookie Kanoa Igarashi, of the US.

Tweed product Josh Kerr set up a clash against ­Brazilian Italo Ferreira after beating Gold Coaster Jack Freestone in their Round 2 clash last night.