16th May 2008

After two days of the Trans Tasman Challenge Series being played in Hamilton this week, Australia maintained their day one advantage after winning nine of the sixteen matches played. The Australian Men’s 40+ team proved to be too classy for their NZ counterparts and secured the gold medal after comfortable 8-3 and 4-1 victories. NZ secured two gold medals in the Women’s 40+ and 45+ divisions. The Women’s 45+ team lost their coach on the eve of the tournament and after a narrow and hard fought 2-1 win, showed remarkable defensive composure and excellent team work to secure the gold with a 3 nil victory. The NZ Women’s 35+ contested better in their second game against a highly efficient Australian side but went down 0-2 and 2-3 to hand Australia their 2nd divisional gold medal. The Australian 55+ men were made to work harder for their gold by having to go to sudden death extra time in both games against NZ 55+, prevailing on each occasion. With three divisions sharing the honours one game each NZ still have a realistic chance of winning the Tasman Cup. Only a goal separates the men’s 45+ and the women’s 50+ sides with the men’s 50+ all square after a 2-1 win and 1-2 loss. The NZ 45+ men bounced back from a 2-4 loss on Wednesday to secure a vital 3-0 win in the late game on Thursday night. The tournament concludes on Saturday.

For the Record
Men’s 40+: NZ 3 (M Gafa, P Williams, C Brett) lost to Aust 8 (S Tanswel 3,A Grummit 2,C Emslie 2,D Shaw); NZ 1 (S Millar) lost to Aust 4 (C Emslie, A Grummitt, A Cabral 2)
Men’s 45+: NZ 2 (S Norton, B Kensington) lost to Aust 4 (T Johnson, B Rogers,
G Rendell 2); NZ 3 (S Norton, R Goulding, P League) beat Aust 0
Men’s 50+: NZ 2 (B Smith, I Smith ) beat Aust 1 (N Same ); NZ 1 (G Chalken) lost to Aust 2 (W Campbell, D Campbell)
Men’s 55+: NZ 3 (M Begg, K Isaac,M Huxford) lost to Aust 4 (D Johnson, RJ Clucas, G Phillips, D Cranston) after sudden death extra time; NZ 1 (M Singh) lost to Aust 2 (D Cranston, D Johnston) after sudden death extra time
Women’s 35+: NZ 0 lost to Aust 2 (D Dorron, E Delanty); NZ 2 (J Mckellow, L West) lost to Aust 3 (L Morgan, E Delanty, S McNicholl)
Women’s 40+: NZ 2 (D Ford, G Donaldson) beat Aust 1 (J Phillips); NZ 2 (J Buntain 2) beat Aust 1 (G Langford)
Women’s 45+: NZ 2 (S Thorne, H Currie) beat Aust 1 (J Keil); NZ 3 (S Thorne 2, P Flynn) beat Aust 0
Women’s 50+: NZ 0 lost to Aust 2 (D Stockdale, B Butterly); NZ 1 (J Travis) beat Aust 1 (J Gray) 4-3 on strokes.