17th May 2008

Australia retained the Tasman Cup at the Trans Tasman Challenge Series being played in Hamilton this week. Australia won 16 of the 24 matches played.

NZ secured three gold medals for winning the Women’s 40+ and 45+ and the Men’s 50+ divisions. The most comprehensive winning NZ team was the Women’s 45+ team. After a narrow and hard fought initial 2-1 win, they showed remarkable defensive composure and excellent team work with a 3 nil victory and completed a 3-0 series victory with a 2-1 win. to secure the gold The closest fought contest was between the 50+ men’s sides with NZ requiring sudden death extra time in the third match to clinch the series. The Australian Men’s 40+ team proved to be too classy for their NZ counterparts and secured the gold medal after comfortable 8-3, 4-1 & 4-2 victories. The match of the last day was between the Men’s 45+ teams with victory in the series only decided in the last three minutes.
Australian Men’s players player of the series Trevor Johnson was both saviour and provider. The NZ team were denied a goal by Johnson who brilliantly saved off the line and then converted the late PC with a direct strike to seal the 2-1 series victory.

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); NZ 2 (C Brett, C Percy) lost to Aust 4 (A Grummit, D Shaw, S Tanswell, C Emslie) Australia won series 3-0

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; NZ 0 lost to Aust 1 (Trevor Johnson); Australia won series 2-1

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); NZ 4 (B Ward,G Chalken, I Smith,T Penketh) beat Aust 3 (S Pestana, R Meagher, B Thorne) after sudden death extra time; New Zealand won series 2-1 PHOTOS>>

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; NZ 1 (D Slade) lost to Aust 4 (D Peebles, N French, M Naylor); Australia won series 3-0

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); NZ 0 lost to Aust 2 (L Morgan 2); Australia won series 3-0

Women’s 40+: NZ 2 (D Ford, G Donaldson) beat Aust 1 (J Phillips); NZ 2 (J Buntain 2) beat Aust 1 (G Langford); NZ 2 (L Jansen 2) lost to Aust 2 (L Muldoon-Gadd, S Stoate) 1-3 on strokes; New Zealand won series 2-1

Women’s 45+: NZ 2 (S Thorne, H Currie) beat Aust 1 (J Keil); NZ 3 (S Thorne 2, P Flynn) beat Aust 0; NZ 2 (D Ford, G Donaldson) beat Aust 1(J Phillips); New Zealand won series 3-0

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.NZ 0 lost to Aust 2 (J Stokes 2); Australia won series 2-1