Taihape Tickler has the edge in fitness 
  
FITNESS versus class will be the test in tonight's Great Northern Stakes at Alexandra Park. 
Last season's juvenile of the year, Matai Mackenzie, returns in the $20,000 feature and will be looking to extend 
his superb record of never having been out of the first two. 
With three big race wins under his belt and $229,500 in stakes, he stands head and shoulders above his rivals. 
But he will lack for race fitness, even though he has been performing well at the trials in strong fields. 
From barrier eight any fitness concerns could be exploited, particularly by Taihape Tickler. 
The gelding has a huge reputation and has been unlucky in his last two starts after winning his debut by more than 
seven lengths. 
He my not have the gate speed to lead in a small but hot field but is fit enough to work and still test the favourite. 
Tonight's other feature, the $8000 Dixon And Haddon Trot, is dominated by the clash of Mountain Gold and Last 
Sunset. 
Mountain Gold looked back to something like his best when flying home for second here last start and sprinted a 
brilliant last 400 metres at the workouts last Saturday. 
The small field should help negate his handicap tonight and he may have too much finishing punch for Last 
Sunset, even though Last Sunset will be better for his recent comeback race. _ NZPA 

 

 
Marsh hails his 3yo as Bayer hope 
  
TALENTED three-year-old Hail should add his name to the growing list of Bayer Classic prospects today. 
Hail will be on trial for the $150,000 Bayer (1600m) when he contests the class one 1300 at the Rangitikei meeting 
at Awapuni. 
The Stark South gelding, who is trained by Bruce Marsh, has looked above average in a brief career. 
He was untested when winning a 1000-metre maiden on his debut at Otaki on September 7, and made a quick step 
up in class and distance when he took on the Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) only nine days later. 
The guineas was not an easy assignment but Hail coped well, finishing fourth and less than 1<<1/2>> lengths from 
the winner in a 16-horse field. 
Those finishing behind him included Tit For Taat, Quesada, Kings Honor, Cousteau and St Therese. 
Hail then contested a special-condition maiden (1400m) on Kelt Stakes day at Hastings and finished second to 
subsequent Wellington Guineas placegetter Kings Honor, with My Happiness third. 
The form from that race has been strong and Prince Amaizing, Cilantro, Over The Limit and Folshom Street, who 
all finished behind Hail, have won a race since. 
Hail is having his first start for seven weeks today but will be a strong winning chance. 
"I would be disappointed if he doesn't go close to winning," Marsh said yesterday. 
"If he can't win this, he can't win the Bayer. 
"The one factor against him is that he has been trained up with a mile race in mind rather than have him fresh for 
1300 metres. But he's fit enough for 1300." 
Marsh originally engaged Opie Bosson for most of his runners today but had to make some quick changes after 
Bosson was hurt at Riccarton on Wednesday evening. 
As a result, Jim Walker will have a rare ride for Marsh when he partners Hail today. 
"He [Walker] has very seldom ridden for the stable and has never ridden a winner for me," Marsh said. "He's a 
very good rider and is riding as well as ever, but we have usually had our stable riders." 
Marsh has a strong team at the Rangitikei meeting and his four other runners _ Shooter (r4), Paddy Maloney (r5), 
Mr Esteem (r7) and Stan Getz (r8) _ also rate highly. 
Padddy Maloney, who is being aimed at the Auckland Cup, will be a short-priced favourite in a seven-horse field. 
The six-year-old is stepping up to 2000m after a bold run for third, behind Seeking and On Call, over 1600m at 
Trentham on Melbourne Cup day. 
"There's no such thing as a certainty but he [Paddy Maloney] looks close to it," Marsh said. 
"He's come up very, very well and is a better horse than last year. 
"His work has been good and everything seems spot-on with him. 
"The more seasoned horses might get to him over the last bit and he can race a bit keenly first up over ground, but 
we expect him to win." 
Paddy Maloney, who is racing in class four company today, was one of the stars of the New Zealand Cup meeting 
a year ago, winning the Gold Cup (2500m) on the first day and finishing second in the New Zealand Cup. 
He also finished fourth in the Manawatu Cup, fifth in the Auckland Cup and sixth in the Wellington Cup. 
After today's race he is likely to race at Trentham on December 9 and will have his first big test for the season in 
the $100,000 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa a week later. 
 
 
  Statistics can be misleading 
  
  
 
HOLMES D G finished 10th in the New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tueasday, beaten by 14 lengths, which is proof 
that statistics that can be misleading. 
For the cup run confirmed trainer Barry Purdon's view that Holmes D G is in peak physical condition and ready to 
redeem himself in today's $100,000 New Zealand Free-For-all (2000m) at Addington. 
Holmes D G virtually lost his chance in Tuesday's cup when he broke at the start. 
To make matters worse he was caught three wide over the last 1600 metres after being pushed out by New South 
Wales visitor Zyuganov Leis in a race won in world record time of 3:59.1 for the 3200m from a standing start. 
"The horse went huge," Purdon said yesterday. "But you can't give them an 80-metre start and then sit three wide 
for the last mile when they break four minutes." 
Holmes D G won last year's New Zealand Free-for-all after being pipped into second by Homin' Hosed in the New 
Zealand Cup. 
Purdon sounded a warning when he said the horse was in better shape than a year ago. 
"He's probably a bit better than last year. The horse is flying _ I'm thrilled with him. The horse is 100 per cent, in 
fact he's 110 per cent." 
Holmes D G would, however, need to be at the top of his game to win today. He has drawn 10, which with the 
scratching of Chloe Hanover would see him start from the outside of the front line. 
New Zealand Cup winner Yulestar is drawn one place inside him and the highly impressive cup day winner Agua 
Caliente is a likely leader from barrier five. 
"We are just going to need a bit of luck," Purdon said. 
"From that draw he's probably going to end up last and we just have to hope something tows us into the race at the 
right time." 
Holmes D G appears the only New Zealand horse in contention for an invitation to run in next week's A$300,000 
Miracle Mile in Sydney. 
Holmes D G won last year's Miracle Mile, which is restricted to six runners, but it seems he needs to just about 
win today to earn a place in the invitation-only field. 
Purdon said if he had his way he would bypass today's free-for-all with Holmes D G and go straight into the 
Miracle Mile. 
"If they rang me now and said the horse has got a start we would probably scratch. But it's not going to be that 
way." 
The other high point today will be Lyell Creek's appearance in the $50,000 Trotting Free-for-all, which should 
provide the champion trotter with his 21st successive win. _ NZPA 
 
 
  Herd riding Java Siang in NZ Cup 
  
  
 
AWAPUNI jockey Bruce Herd will have his first New Zealand Cup ride tomorrow. 
Herd has gained the mount on Matamata mare and second favourite Java Siang, replacing suspended rider Vinny 
Colgan. 
Colgan rode Java Siang when she finished solidly for fifth, beaten 2<<3/4>> lengths, over 2500 metres on 
Riccarton's first day. It was only the third run for Java Siang this campaign and she should be a fitter horse this 
weekend. 
Herd was also offered the cup ride on his first-day mount, Imps Love, who finished one place ahead of Java Siang 
last weekend. 
"I wasn't sure which way to go, because it was a good cup trial by Imps Love as well," Herd said. 
"But Roger [Java Siang's trainer, Roger James] has been good to me in the past. He also has a proven record in big 
races and I'm sure there will be a little bit of improvement in Java Siang." Herd combined with James to finish 
third, on Danamite, in the Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on Wednesday, and won the 1997 Two Thousand 
for the stable on Foxwood. 
Herd's other feature wins at Riccarton include the Canterbury Cup (twice) and Churchill Stakes, but the weights 
have usually been too low to allow him to ride in the New Zealand Cup. However, with a 53-kilogram minimum in 
the cup this year, there are more chances for senior riders. 
James was confident Java Siang would parade at her best tomorrow. "She was set for this race a long time ago and 
has peaked for the day," James said yesterday. "There might be a question about whether she has the class, but 
she's had the right preparation and is dead ready. Her work at Ashburton this morning was excellent and I don't 
have any doubt about her getting the distance [3200m]." 
Java Siang got well off the pace last weekend but James expected the Desert Sun mare to be handier tomorrow. 
"She got squeezed back early last weekend and ended up with only two behind her and we will want her ridden 
closer to the pace this time." 
Java Siang, who is from a Sir Tristram mare, has had only 17 starts and showed ability as a stayer last term. She 
ran fourth, beaten less than 1<<1/2>> lengths, in the New Zealand St Leger at Trentham and was the runner-up in 
the Great Autumn Handicap (2500m) at Riccarton last Easter. 
Soldier Blue was the cup favourite on the fixed-odds market last night, at $4.50 with Java Siang at $6 and Count 
Cristo at $8. Soldier Blue's odds were cut after a $4000 bet last evening. 
James is represented in feature races on both sides of the Tasman this weekend, with Cronus running in the 
A$600,000 Sandown Classic (2400m) in Melbourne tomorrow. 
Cronus failed in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap (2000m) last weekend but James expected a better effort this 
weekend. "He lost his possie at the 1200 last week and seemed to lose interest a bit after that. Glen Boss was 
enthusiastic about riding him again this week and felt the run would improve him. 
"He backs up well, is racing over his perfect distance, and will go into the race at his peak." 
Before the Queen Elizabeth Cronus had run third, behind the Melbourne Cup stars Yippyio and Brew, in the 
Moonee Valley Cup. 
 
 
  Soldier Blue `has done the miles' 

New Zealand Cup favourite Soldier Blue gets into the swim of things at Riccarton yesterday morning. 
  
  
 
IT takes less than three minutes and 20 seconds to run the New Zealand Cup, but a lot more than three months and 
20 days to prepare for it. 
Cambridge trainer Royce Dowling, something of a "pied piper" among New Zealand horsemen, knows what is 
required. 
What is more, he supports the philosophy of legendary Melbourne Cup trainer Bart Cummings when it comes to 
preparations for 3200-metre races. 
Dowling has already won two New Zealand Cups (with Double Take and Mercator) and hopes to land a third with 
Soldier Blue tomorrow. 
"I started thinking about it and planning in the autumn and it has been his focus since July," Dowling said. 
He is such a gifted equine manipulator there is a constant stream of requests from stables for him to treat horses 
with problems. 
Fortunately Soldier Blue does not need it. 
"Everything's gone pretty right for him. I originally wanted to aim him at Melbourne but when the time came he 
hadn't done enough." 
Soldier Blue has done enough now. 
He won the Metropolitan Trophy on the first day over 2500m and with a good draw will be one of the favourites in 
the most open cup for years. 
Dowling backs up the Cummings theory that the average stayer should have about 10,000m in race conditioning 
going into a 3200m race. 
"Some horses get caught short of that coming through the spring, when tracks change. This horse has done the 
miles." 
The only flaw in his prep was when he was beaten at Pukekohe in October. 
"I thought he would win and qualify for a cup start. 
"He was beaten so I had to go on to Wellington and then run here the first day. Ideally it would have been a bit 
different." 
 
 
  Hawtin all smiles over Walker's choice of mount 
  
  
 
CHAMPION jockey Michael Walker tipped Waikato trainer Keith Hawtin a winner last week, and Hawtin liked 
what he heard. 
It came after the running of the $40,000 Metropolitan Trophy at Riccarton last Saturday, when Walker rode the 
Hawtin-trained Smiling Like into second placing. Hawtin said the run prompted Walker to immediately claim 
Smiling Like as his mount for tomorrow's $160,000 New Zealand Cup at Riccarton. 
"He said `I'm riding this _ it wins'," Hawtin said, "That's what he told me. I hope he's right." Smiling Like's effort 
was probably the run of the race. The winner, Soldier Blue, also registered a top performance after being back in 
the field but he had the advantage of receiving a good run along the inside. 
Smiling Like, on the other hand, was briefly held up for a run and was switched to the outside before storming 
home to be only a length from Soldier Blue at the finish. Hawtin said Smiling Like had long shown the potential to 
win a big race. _ NZPA 
 
 
   
  
 







 
    
 
 
  Colling learning Ferns' new style 

 Colling 
  
FORMER captain Belinda Colling has been feeling her way since being recalled to the New Zealand netball team 
that leaves today for a tri-nations series in South Africa. 
As Silver Ferns captain, Colling ran the show at last year's world championships in Christchurch, but only four 
other players from that tournament are in the team that will play two tests against South Africa and one against 
Australia later this month. 
"It is very different, very strange. A whole new scene," Colling said yesterday as she prepared for a final warmup 
game against New Zealand A. 
"The last time I played for the Ferns it was in a well-established team. Now it is a case of me re-establishing 
myself after being away for a year, finding connections with the new faces." 
Besides the different personnel in the Silver Ferns, other things have been happening to Colling since Australia 
beat her New Zealand team by one goal in the world championship final. 
A knee injury put her out of this year's Coca-Cola Cup competition. She was overlooked by coach Yvonne 
Willering for a one-off test against Australia and for the Fisher and Paykel Series against a World Seven. Colling 
has been to the Olympics with the New Zealand basketball team, and has left her Otago to play for the Canterbury 
Flames in next year's Coca-Cola Cup. 
If that wasn't enough change, Colling is having to adjust to a different style with the Silver Ferns as she partners 
Irene van Dyk in the shooting circle. 
"The shooters I have played with in the past have always been more mobile. We have never had a big target at the 
back of the circle. I have to work out how I can fit my game into Irene's." 
Colling was a member of the New Zealand youth team that visited South Africa in 1995. 
"That was a really memorable, full-on tour and now I will be part of the first senior New Zealand netball team to 
play in South Africa. 
"It is going to be an interesting tour and I wonder who the crowd will be cheering for when we play Australia?" 
 
 
  NZ to play on South Africa's overconfidence 

 Trist 
  
  
 
IN THE best traditions of the David and Goliath story, New Zealand cricket coach David Trist is hoping South 
Africa's opinion of themselves outweighs what they can deliver in Bloemfontein today. 
New Zealand square off in the first test against South Africa at Goodyear Park as huge underdogs, with the first 
task to avoid a repeat of the series whitewash handed out in the one-day series. 
Having spent a large part of the 1980s coaching Eastern Province with some success, Trist knows the workings of 
South African cricket well. 
And though his frontline bowling quartet have only 15 test caps between them, he believes they are still capable of 
frightening the home batsmen. 
"The South Africans perhaps over-rate their own players. It's a side perhaps not as experienced as it has been in the 
past," Trist said. 
"Boeta Dippenaar is new on the scene, Neil McKenzie comes with a reputation but still has to do the job. We 
acknowledge that they're a good side but we'll leave the hype to the local press." 
The difference in experience - South Africa's 346 test caps to New Zealand's 219 - plus the home ground 
advantage and New Zealand's decimated bowling attack, give the home side a big head start. 
The depth of South Africa's batting and bowling also dwarfs New Zealand's, with class allrounders Jacques Kallis, 
Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje at their disposal. 
Pollock's position at No 9 in the batting order gives an indication of their strength. 
"They bat long, and that's been their advantage in the past. We've obviously got very inexperienced players coming 
in from eight onwards, so that tips it very clearly in their favour," Trist said. 
With Scott Styris ruled out of the tour with a knee injury, it leaves a New Zealand tailend of Brooke Walker at No 
8, followed by Daryl Tuffey, Shayne O'Connor and Chris Martin. 
Wicketkeeper Adam Parore is a useful No 7 but from there New Zealand have to cover for the absence of injured 
quartet Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman. 
Much interest has focused on the New Zealand bowling, to be led by left-arm medium-fast swing bowler 
O'Connor, who has played 14 tests. 
Trist was encouraged by the team's first serious training session on Wednesday but was realistic about the task his 
young bowlers faced. 
"They've got to produce a herculean effort. They've got to stay fit, play in the three tests hopefully and test a very 
experienced lineup." 
The high veldt of Bloemfontein, more than 1500m above sea level, will also count against them but Trist implored 
them to put it aside. 
"They may gasp a little . . . but in a test match you've got to do the job. Some of them may have to bowl spells 
longer than they're used to, certainly better than they've been asked for in the past. 
"We've got a good slip cordon and we can generate chances if we bowl in the right places." 
New Zealand's stable batting gives the side some confidence, with all the top six in the runs during the warmup 
games. 
But the onus is on the top four to get the side away to a good start, particularly captain Stephen Fleming, who still 
has question marks over his test form. 
Trist was happy with the pitch, one which should have some pace but suit the batsmen. 
He admitted it would be a dilemma for Fleming if he won the toss. 
"It looks a really good one, it should give nice carry and pace. 
"We have learned a little bit to play on these pitches but certainly it will be a test." 
South Africa assembled yesterday for a light training session. They stuck to their strict media regime and fronted 
only with recalled pair Dippenaar and McKenzie to the press. 
Allan Donald's pursuit of three more victims to reach 300 test wickets in his home town is expected to attract a 
useful first-day crowd nearing 5000. _ NZPA 
 
 
   
    
 
 
  Perkins ready to retire on high note 

 Perkins 
  
NEWLY-APPOINTED Saints captain Kenny Perkins would love to hang up his basketball singlet at the end of 
next season. 
It is not because the 39-year-old American has lost his passion for the game or any of his on-court effectiveness. 
Rather, it would mean Perkins had guided Wellington to a long overdue National Basketball League 
championship. 
"I take it year by year, but it'll definitely be my swansong if we won. I think we'll definitely be up there," he said. 
Though he is nearing 40 and contemplating a 14th season in the top flight of New Zealand basketball, Perkins is 
excited about his new dual captaincy-technical coaching role. 
He is part of a three-man Saints coaching team to be headed by one of the franchise's main shareholders, Michael 
Ogilvie-Lee, and new Basketball New Zealand development officer Jake Cameron. 
Saints have not won a national title since 1988 and though Perkins is confident he can help end the drought, he has 
warned it will come at a price. 
"When I came here [New Zealand], Saints was the team everybody wanted to play for, but we've lost that a bit," he 
said. 
"We've got the talent here but we've got to get the desire out of them. You don't get many young guys just turning 
up at the gym shooting jumpers any more like [former Saints] John Saker and Frank Mulvihill used to. 
"We've got to be mentally harder. All the guys wanted it last year but how much work did they put in? We've got 
to start preparing physically and mentally now." 
Perkins admits that he was not as fit as he could have been at the start of the last season despite his outstanding 
contribution to Saints' cause. 
He knows he cannot allow that to happen again next season with new rule changes designed to speed up the game. 
He hopes a more concentrated pre-season regime, including Saints' plans to enter a touch competition over 
summer, will bolster fitness and morale. 
 
 
    
 
 
  Martinborough cash up for grabs 
  
  
 
AUCKLAND golf professional Stuart Malcolmson heads the field for the fifth event of the New Zealand PGA 
pro-am circuit at Martinborough tomorrow. 
The $5000 Martinborough tournament is a new edition to the NZPGA circuit, which offers prizemoney of more 
than $200,000 at 30 tournaments. 
Malcolmson leads the tour's order of merit after finishing runner-up to former New Zealand amateur representative 
Steven Alker (Hamilton) at the Whitford Park Classic last weekend. The Remuera teaching professional stormed 
home with a second-round course record-breaking 66. 
Auckland trainee professional Blair Clark (Aviation) holds second place on the money list but will bypass the 
Martinborough event. Bryce Mawhinney (Christchurch) and Douglas White (Takapuna), third and fourth 
respectively in the standings, will battle Malcolmson for the $1000 winner's cheque. 
 
 
   
 
   
  Hurricanes have no use for draft 
  
ONCE the dumping ground for everyone's surplus talent, the Hurricanes are expected to have only one draft player 
when the squads for next year's Super 12 are named next month. 
Southland hooker Davin Heaps is tipped to join the Hurricanes, with the rest of the 26-strong squad coming from 
within the franchise's boundaries though prop Tony Coughlin will have transferred from North Harbour to 
Wellington. 
Casualties from this year's squad are believed to include reserve hooker Shane Carter and prop Tama Tuirirangi, 
who makes way for Taranaki teammate Tony Penn. 
Carter's expected dumping for Heaps is a tough call as 1995 New Zealand colt Carter has had few chances to show 
his ability with the Hurricanes or Wellington as he has been a reserve behind Norm Hewitt. 
It is also difficult to know why the Hurricanes have not fought harder against a Rugby Union edict that they take 
Heaps when Waikato sources suggest that Hurricanes coach Graham Mourie successfully rejected a demand to 
accept Glen Jackson. 
The Waikato first five-eighth has been told by new Chiefs coach John Mitchell that he will not make the squad, 
with Counties-Manukau's Loki Crichton and David Hill, who has transferred from Southland to Waikato, preferred 
instead. 
The rest of the likely Hurricanes squad is straight-forward, with Taranaki centre Mepi Faoagali set to replace 
Alama Ieremia. 
All Black centre Tana Umaga will start favourite to wear the No 13 jersey but provides outstanding wing cover. 
Taranaki should have their best representation yet, with the inclusion of halfback Brendan Haami lifting the beaten 
NPC semifinalist's contribution in the squad to seven. 
Wellington players predictably make up the bulk of the squad with 18 from the NPC champions. 
The inclusion of Heaps is the main curiosity as he is hardly an outstanding acquisition. 
The 28-year-old was dropped during the NPC but is rated by the national selectors as he was included in the New 
Zealand A team that was to play Fiji earlier this year. 
Despite that recognition, Heaps cannot be regarded as a better player than Hewitt, who finished the NPC season 
playing probably the best rugby he has played for a few years. 
Heaps also offers nothing to the region in terms of developing players. Carter, or Taranaki's Daniel Smith, would. 
The other point of interest in the squad is what shapes as a small, but exceptionally quick, group of loose forwards 
- Kupu Vanisi, Rodney So'oialo, Campbell Feather, Jerry Collins and Filo Tiatia. 
The rest of the squad is predictable, with veteran Gordon Slater, who is expected to be named captain, joining 
Kevin Yates, Penn and Coughlin as the props. 
New Zealand A's Dion Waller, Wellington teammate Inoke Afeaki, and Taranaki's Paul Tito will again be the 
locks. 
This year's starting backline remains, with the exception of Ieremia, who is moving to Japan. The only change in 
the reserves is Haami replacing Northland's Joggie Viljoen. 
The squad will include six of the All Blacks in France and five players from the New Zealand A squad in Europe. 
The Hurricanes will be named, along with the four other New Zealand Super 12 squads, in Auckland on December 
11. 
 
 
   
  Penn bound for Africa 
  
  
 
Wellington pace bowler Andrew Penn has been given a second chance to join the Black Caps in South Africa. 
Penn, 26, originally ruled out with an injury he sustained in club cricket last month, passed a fitness test last night 
and was confirmed to South Africa today to replace the injured Scott Styris. Injured spin bowler Paul Wiseman 
will also return home with Styris. 
 
 
  Hero's welcome for Tua 
  
   
 
More than 500 people crammed Auckland International Airport late last night to give beaten world heavyweight 
boxing contender David Tua a rousing welcome home. A large section of the Samoan community from Manukau 
and Mangere were there to greet him. They arranged welcome songs and speeches for Tua, who they clearly 
regarded as a homecoming hero. 
 
 
  Exemption for Paddison 
  
 
New Zealand's top amateur golfer, Wellington's Gareth Paddison, has received an exemption to play in the Ford 
Open at Cooyong in Adelaide starting on December 7. The left-handed Paddison leaves tomorrow to try to qualify 
for the Australian Open in Melbourne, which starts on November 23. 
 
 
  Testud confirmed 
  
French tennis star Sandrine Testud, the world No 11, will line up at the international women's classic at Stanley St 
in January. Testud is one of the highest-ranked players to have turned out in Auckland and her placing on the 
WTA Tour will almost certainly ensure her top seeding for the ASB Bank Classic, starting on New Year's Day. 
Testud played the tournament in 1996. 
 
 
  Cricket selectors wait 
 
  
 
Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson and his fellow selectors Greg Hooper and Bruce Taylor have delayed till 
Monday naming their cricket teams for two matches next week against the visiting New South Wales side. By then 
Wellington will have completed the Shell max finals in Auckland at the weekend. 
 
 
  Hockey juniors on fire 
  
  
 
The New Zealand men's under-21 hockey team made a stunning start to its three-match series against Australia 
with a shock 6-1 upset in Hobart last night. Phillip Burrows grabbed a hat-trick and Ryan Archibald struck two 
goals as the New Zealanders surprised themselves with their margin of victory over the junior World Cup holders. 
 
 
  Vunibaka Fiji's best 
  
Crusaders Super 12 wing Marika Vunibaka has been named Fiji's rugby player of the year. The Fiji sevens team, 
which beat New Zealand in the final of the Wellington sevens tournament, was team of the year. Vunibaka scored 
a Crusaders' record 11 tries in this year's Super 12. 
 
 
  Funding sinks challenge 
  
  
 
One of the first yachting syndicates set up to challenge for the next America's Cup has folded, citing a lack of 
funding. Swiss entry Watchout has ended its campaign after raising just half of the US$30 million (NZ$76.33 
million) it estimated it would need. 
 
 
  Otaki winnings would be handy 
  
 
 
BRENT PHILLIPS will be seeking some expenses to see him through the next fortnight when he rides at Otaki today. 
Phillips was suspended at Hastings on Thursday and today's meeting will be his last till after June 10. 
However, he has some reason to be optimistic about his prospects today. 
He has seven rides, including strong winning chances in Sa Ke Star, Al Fatah and Taylorman, and Loot and Shy Tella also make 
some appeal. La Montrachet, a previous winner at Otaki, and the inexperienced Noble Kavalier complete the book. 
Taylorman and Sa Ke Star are trained by David and Sarah Haworth, who will also have winning prospects today with Sir 
Saranac. 
Taylorman, an improving four-year-old by Val d'Arno, has produced two good runs in a new preparation and should have the 
wood on his rivals in the class one 1600. 
Sa Ke Star is still a maiden after 11 starts but it is hard to fault her form this year, with three seconds and two thirds from five 
starts. She is well drawn in the Ocean Ranch Maiden (1400m) and set for a deserved win. 
Al Fatah, who tackles the class one 1300, won a maiden at Trentham fresh-up in the style of a horse who will make further 
progress through the grades. 
Loot has not lived up to his early reputation but meets a moderate field in the open 2100 today and will be suited by an easy 
track. He failed on a heavy track at his last start but was the runner-up to Global Dee, who is a rival again today, at his previous 
attempt.
 
 Little Bro expected to produce big effort 
  
 
 
LAST week he looked like the milkman's horse. 
Now Little Bro stands out as a great bet in the $20,000 Racing Minister's Hurdles at Ellerslie today. 
The dashing Takanini jumper was the first beaten in last week's Waikato Hurdles, but today's race is about as far removed from 
that as you can get. 
The distance is 440 metres shorter, but more importantly the footing will be more like racing on an airport runway than last 
week's Waikato paddock. 
Yesterday the Ellerslie track was bordering on firm, something that filled trainer Blake Naden with enthusiasm. 
At Te Rapa Little Bro dropped rider Wayne Hillis late in the race, but the horse was well beaten at the time. 
"The track was right against him. He's too brilliant for that sort of heavy, sticky footing," Naden said. 
"I know he was starting to drop off a fair way out, but it wasn't the distance, it was the ground. 
"This week's race suits him much better." 
Little Bro will be ridden this time by the relatively inexperienced Jason Peake, who scored his first totalisator win on Little Bro at 
Counties on April 12. 
Wayne Hillis is committed to Limerick Lad, his mount for next week's Northern Hurdles, a race Little Bro will miss. 
"The Northern is too far for him," Naden said. 
"He's not experienced enough for it _ he's had only the seven jumping races. Next year, perhaps." 
Naden had a full bank of tests caried out on Little Bro after last week's race. 
They came out perfect. 
"He's worked well this week, too." 
Kings Court has not had a hurdle race since last winter, but could be a danger. _ NZPA
 
  
 Playful Fingers put to the test 
  
 
A REQUEST by Takanini jockey Matthew Williamson will be put to the test with Playful Fingers in the $35,000 Champagne 
Stakes at Ellerslie today. 
Williamson has ridden Playful Fingers in each of her four starts and though he has won twice on the Defensive Play filly, he has 
always thought there was room for improvement. 
"Matthew has wanted us to try her in blinkers and we're going to do it this week," co-trainer Frank Ritchie said. 
Playful Fingers led all the way at her debut at Te Awamutu on December 8, then disappointed Ritchie with her effort for seventh 
of nine in the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie a month later. 
She then just battled in her next start when fifth of nine behind Spring Rain at Avondale 12 days later, after which she was given 
a break. 
Playful Fingers resumed at Dargaville on May 7 and tracked the pacemaker, Secret, to the home turn, then kicked away for a 
comfortable win. 
The filly has done well since then and is likely to press on for a tilt at the $25,000 Breeders' Stakes at Ruakaka on July 15 if she 
performs well today.


Kiwi side arrogant, say South Africans 
  
THE New Zealand under-23 soccer side has been branded arrogant ahead of their do-or-die Olympic qualifying return match 
against South Africa on Sunday. 
South African captain Matthew Booth, who scored the winning goal in the first leg at North Harbour last Friday, and midfielder 
Dillon Sheppard have told South African media that they want to teach their arrogant opponents a lesson in the second leg. 
Booth told The Star newspaper that he was appalled by the behaviour of the New Zealanders, saying that they "strutted around 
like peacocks" on the flight to South Africa the two teams shared. 
He also said the Kiwis claimed that they were robbed in the first leg as Quinton Fortune's goal which helped South Africa to a 3-
2 win should have been adjudged offside. 
Sheppard told The Independent: "I just could not believe how arrogant these guys are. We'll go out and finish off the job we 
started in Auckland." 
He said he felt the New Zealanders had made a big mistake by opting to train in Durban at sea level for the match to be played at 
altitude at the Vosloorus Stadium in Johannesburg. 
"The second half will be very important as I believe that is when the Kiwis will crack. The altitude will get to them and players 
like Siyabonga Nomvete will tear holes in their defence." 
New Zealand hope to overcome the altitude factor by flying to Johannesburg around 24 hours before kickoff, some New Zealand 
rugby teams have done in recent years. The Kiwis must win the return leg by two goals to grab the 16th and final qualifying 
position for the 2000 Sydney Olympics in September. 
The blow of losing key striker Paul Urlovic through suspension for New Zealand has been softened by the news South Africa 
will be without star forward Benni McCarthy and teammate Aaron Mokoena for the same reason. 
Urlovic picked up a yellow card last Friday - his second of the qualifying round - and is suspended for one match. He is likely to 
be replaced by Kris Bouckenooghe, who played in midfield in the first leg, while Central United's Josh Stick will probably start 
on the left in midfield. 
South African coach Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba will have to watch the match from the stand after being sent from the dug-out at 
North Harbour. _ NZPA
 
 For Davies, the Olympic rings remain intact 

Incoming New Zealand Olympic Committee president John Davies ponders the future 
  
 
John Davies talks to Lindsay Knight about his new position with the Olympic Committee. 
-------------------- 
EVEN though its image has been tarnished in recent years by performance-enhancing drugs and the corruption of some top 
officials, John Davies's faith in the Olympic movement remains unshaken. 
Davies was appointed to head the New Zealand Olympic Committee earlier this month, succeeding Sir David Beattie. 
For all its problems, the Olympic Games remain one of the world's most positive forces - and not simply for sport, Davies says. 
"Olympism as an ideal isn't only about sport. It is about promoting peace, bringing humanity together and understanding and 
tolerating other peoples and their cultures. 
"Through sport an enormous amount can be achieved in enhancing values and ideals. The sad thing for me is that some members 
of the International Olympic Committee have not lived up to those standards and principles." 
Davies has read about all of the misdemeanours in books such as The Lords of the Rings and while disturbed by some of the 
revelations of what he calls "human fraility", he wonders whether the overall picture is quite as bleak as has been painted. 
He is aware, for instance, that the IOC itself is now well aware of the need to stamp out corruption and has put in place many 
effective reforms by trying to involve current athletes and more international federations on the IOC. His greater concern is the 
damage done to sport's credibility by drug cheats and says he still is not confident the problem is being tackled properly. 
It appears the legal rights of offenders are given greater priority than dealing with the offence itself. 
Davies believes a solution may come only from athletes themselves. 
"Somehow they have got to lift their own ethical standards, a little like golfers do, and realise that it is in their own interests as 
well as the sport's to have it drug-free." 
In track and field, in particular, Davies believes that women competitors may already be setting an example. 
"Since 1988 women's sport seems to have been cleaned up a lot." 
Indeed, a barometer of this may be the fact that in mainstream women's track and field events there has not been a world record 
since 1989. 
Davies points out one of the aims of true Olympism is to develop the mind and character as well as the body. For that reason, he 
has always encouraged athletes he trains to have outside careers and interests. 
The other big challenge to the Olympic ideal would appear to be the sheer size of particular Games, and the impacts of ever-
increasing commercialism. 
But Davies is not worried about the size and has no difficulty with even team sports being part of the Games - provided they have 
a global impact and a strong ethical base. 
"Personally, I thought it was fantastic that rugby sevens was at the last Commonwealth Games and the way high profile players 
like Jonah Lomu got into the spirit of the event and interacted with other athletes was marvellous." 
The IOC recognised there was a need to keep a control on the Games and was limiting the programmes for both swimming and 
track and field. Swimming, for instance, wanted to have 50-metre events for all disciplines besides freestyle, but had not won 
IOC approval. 
Davies does not take up his position till October and will work from Auckland. In the meantime, he is taking advice from Beattie 
and is holding his counsel on the important issues confronting New Zealand sport. 
In any review of New Zealand sport, however, Davies believes it is important for the Olympic movement and affiliated sports to 
retain independence and autonomy. 
While there are obvious crossovers, he sees no reason why the NZOC cannot co-exist with the Sports Foundation and the Hillary 
Commission. He is anxious, too, for the NZOC to be able to continue its focus on those sports easily recognisable as part of the 
Olympics. 
He does not necessarily think that Olympic Games selection in New Zealand should be limited to just those with a realistic 
chance of being in the medals. On that basis his great running contemporary Peter Snell, then an unknown, might not have got to 
the 1960 Rome Olympics, he says. 
He would like to see New Zealand sport as a whole take on some of the attitudes of Australia, not simply in setting up institutes 
and the like, but having more professional coaches. He believes that is the main reason why Australia, per head of population, is 
now undoubtedly the world's foremost sporting nation. 
Track and field will remain Davies's passion even though as head of the NZOC his interests will embrace other mainstream 
Games sports. He plans to continue coaching (his most prominent protege in recent years is middle distance runner Toni 
Hodgkinson) and he will still promote track and field meets with Dick Quax. 
In the 1960s Davies, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 1500m won by Snell, was one of the many stars in 
what was New Zealand track's golden age. 
While it is unlikely that sort of era will ever be known again, Davies is not necessarily pessimistic about the future of track and 
field. 
"I think it is still a sport that has a family appeal and there is still a recognition there that it is the basis of all sport, be it football, 
cricket or tennis. They all involve running, jumping and some sort of athleticism. 
"The advantage we had in the 1960s was in the best coaching techniques which have been known in middle distance running and 
which have become the basis for every other country. Because of Arthur Lydiard we were not necessarily the most talented, but 
we were always the best prepared. 
"I do not believe in indulging in envy, but sometimes I wish that in New Zealand track and field we had the same access to TV 
as, say, rugby and cricket. 
"Like so many others we have to pay for what time we get. Yet our ratings are still not bad. The Marley Games, for instance, 
outrated tennis, cricket, except for one day internationals, and netball, except for internationals against Australia." 
The 1964 Tokyo Olympics were the first he attended and since then Davies has either been a coach or television commentator at 
Montreal in 1976, Los Angeles in 1984, Seoul in 1988, Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. He will be at Sydney in what 
could be his swan-song as a television comments man.
 
 South Africans wary of Kiwis 
  
 
THE South African under-23 soccer side is taking nothing for granted ahead of tomorrow's Olympic return qualifying match 
against New Zealand despite being favourites to fill the last berth at Sydney. 
"Beware the wounded Kiwi" is the catch-cry for the team coined "Amagluglug" in the run-up to the second leg clash at 
Vosloorus Stadium in Johannesburg. 
Though South Africa won the first leg in Auckland 3-2, they are wary of a New Zealand side which needs to win by two clear 
goals. 
The South African side have never lost at the stadium - and they can count on fanatical support. 
The New Zealand camp headed to Johannesburg yesterday. Coach Ken Dugdale still had concerns over captain Ryan Nelsen who 
twisted a knee during the first leg in Albany, Auckland, last Friday and has missed training. 
"He's progressing well, we'll make a decision before kickoff but Ryan is confident he'll be playing," Dugdale said. 
The suspension of Paul Urlovic - for two yellow cards - was a blow to the preparations, he said. 
The striker, who opened the scoring in Auckland, was ruled out by Fifa on Thursday. Belgium-based striker Kris Bouckenooghe 
is expected to move up front from midfield. 
South Africa, featuring a core of world class players including Manchester United's Quinton Fortune, are a class above on 
reputation but captain Matthew Booth, scorer of the winner at Albany, said they were treating the Kiwis with respect. 
"Matches are not won on paper and we have to do the job on the field," he said. 
The New Zealanders' performance in Auckland dispelled any notion the South Africans would stroll to Sydney. 
South Africa also have a couple of changes to their lineup. Benni McCarthy and Aaron Mokoena will miss the match through 
suspension. 
South African coach Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba has also been suspended after arguing with officials in Auckland. Midfielder 
Stanton Fredericks replaces McCarthy while Musa Mntakwende comes in for Mokoena. _ Sapa
 
 Seattle syndicate chasing Phipps 
  
 
 
TEAM NEW ZEALAND bowman Dean Phipps has two weeks to decide his sailing future after receiving offers from a Seattle-
based America's Cup syndicate and Team NZ. 
Speaking from Auckland, Phipps said he was approached by the Seattle syndicate three weeks ago and was leaning towards an 
overseas move. 
He had been looking for new endeavours, he said. 
His choices had been made more difficult by "a reasonable offer" made by Team NZ last Friday. 
But the 36-year-old, whose America's Cup involvement stretches 17 years, said the American offer was not as extravagant as 
many people thought. 
"It's on par with TNZ excluding the bonus, but TNZ is not in a position to put a bonus in. 
"I suppose from my point of view I'm looking at what will give the most value further down the track," Phipps said. 
His decision would also be guided in part on where fellow sailors went, he said. 
"It's a pretty long road to hoe if you head into the Louis Vuitton Cup knowing you have a slow boat." 
The Seattle offer involved a management position, a role Phipps said he would like to see himself in. The Team NZ offer was a 
sailing position. 
When asked if he was leaning towards the foreign offer he replied: "maybe". 
"It comes down to whether I can see myself adding to my CV and what I can learn offshore. Realistically, I can't see that 
happening working for TNZ. 
"Maybe I am leaning towards that [overseas offer]. Even if I take it there are people coming up to replace me and they could 
easily step up and do the job. It's what I want to get out of the sport at the end of the day," he said. "I realise I have one cup left 
and what happens next? I have to look to my future. Sooner or later I will have to stop and there's lots of young people coming 
through." 
Phipps, along with other Team NZ members, expects to make a decision over the next two weeks. 
The recent bombshell that Team NZ skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth will leave New Zealand to join a 
Swiss-based syndicate polarised the country but Phipps said he was not particularly worried by their departure. 
"I've known them both a long time and obviously they struggled with parts of the transition. We are all professionals and have to 
make what we can while we can." 
New Zealand had a huge pool of sailing talent and it was obvious overseas syndicates would target experienced Kiwi sailors, he 
said. _ NZPA
 
  

 
 
 Marist dangerman Perenara could be handful for Porirua 
  
 
 
PROMISING Marist-Richmond second rower Henry Perenara looms as the dangerman tomorrow when Porirua seek to build on 
their surprise win over Wainuiomata last weekend in a national rugby league match at Porirua Park. 
The Junior Kiwi last year is attracting strong interest from Australian clubs, with his contract at the Auckland Warriors ending 
this year. 
Perenara's father and Marist-Richmond coach Bernie Perenara said last night it was likely his son would join NRL clubs 
Brisbane or Melbourne. 
The youngster has caught their attention with his displays this season for Warriors' feeder club, Brisbane Souths. 
Last weekend Perenara, who will captain Marist-Richmond tomorrow, played a strong hand in the team's 26-14 victory over Mt 
Albert, who the previous week had toppled Wainuiomata. 
Marist have two others at the Warriors, centre Francis Meli, who has made three first-grade appearances, and prop Fa'avae 
Kalolo. 
Marist's victory over Mt Albert was just their third of the season, and placed them 10th, one point ahead of Porirua. 
Porirua have lost standoff Tenga Pickering and prop Tino Brown as a result of injuries they received against Wainui. 
Porirua will also be without loose forward Ray Fidow because of a family bereavement. The absences will allow standoff Phil 
Bergman, and forwards Ta'ani Lavulavu and Henry Luapo to start. 
There will be much interest in Bergman. In his two appearances off the bench since coming out of semi-retirement in Nelson, 
Bergman has looked to have the allround skills to enhance Porirua's performance. 
Despite their lowly position on the table fullback Christian Smith is the third highest points scorer with 82, seven behind the 
leader Carl Doherty (Mt Albert). 
The third-placed Wainui have moved captain and centre Heston Patea into the second row for their away game against 
Auckland's Eastern Tornadoes tomorrow. 
The move is designed to add extra sting to the forwards, and put Patea in a better position to provide direction, and add 
desperately needed discipline. 
The powerful Patea was happy to be in the pack coach Ralph Moore said. He has played there on a number of occasions. 
After two successive losses Wainui are badly in need of a victory. 
The teams: 
  
  
 

 
 PIC 1 to take on Wellington East in battle for first-round honours 
  
 
AFTER six rounds of the premier one Wellington club netball competition it all comes down to today's match between unbeaten 
sides PIC 1 and Wellington East. 
The winner will take out the first round of the competition with the loser having to settle for second place. 
Both teams have been convincing and it was always expected that today's game would turn out to be the decider. 
According to player-coach Gail Parata, PIC 1 have an 11-year unbeaten record to preserve and that will provide incentive, as will 
the fact that the team wants to prove it can succeed without its stars from the Capital Shakers. 
"The game is crucial for the girls' personal development and belief in themselves, and when the Shakers get back they may be 
moved out so the girls are vying for places," Parata said. 
In training this week Parata has been concentrating on minimising basic mistakes and working on taking the necessary step up 
for the big game. 
There is a quiet confidence in the Wellington East 1 team with coach Pauline Yemm believing a win is possible if her side sticks 
to the basics well. 
Yemm is expecting a close game and says it is important her team does not get overawed by the occasion. 
In other matches today, Johnsonville play St Catherine's Old Girls, PIC 2 meet SCOG and St Mary's Old Girls play Wellington 
East 2.
 
 Shakers sure to have a few surprises for Flames 

Sting goalkeep Bernice Mene and goal defence Jo Tapper go up for the ball against Force goal attack Tania Nicholson during last 
night's semifinal 
  
 
 
WITH wily veteran coach Lois Muir at the helm it is a fair bet that the Capital Shakers netball team will have some surprises up 
their sleeve when they take on the Canterbury Flames at Christchurch's Cowles Stadium tomorrow. 
At stake is a place in the Coca-Cola Cup final and while the Flames have been installed favourites it is no foregone conclusion 
despite the Canterbury side having home advantage and 1600 parochial supporters roaring them on. 
When the teams met in the round-robin Shakers, at home, won by two goals. Since then the Flames are unbeaten, while the 
Shakers in their last game were given a bath by a hitherto unheralded Auckland Diamonds. 
Muir believes the loss to Diamonds, which she described as a hiccup, made the Shakers indulge in some critical self analysis last 
week when they had the bye and the benefits of that should be seen today. 
"We made full use of the bye weekend to sort a lot of things out," Muir said. 
"I am sure it will be very close and there will be no free lunches handed out but I am happy with the preparation. 
"We are at peace with ourselves. I am happy with the umpires [Joan Hodson and Janice McKerchar] because they are two of the 
best. 
"Throughout the league, umpiring has been up and down and inconsistent, but Joan and Janice will be consistent." 
The Shakers let themselves down badly against Diamonds with what can only be described as an inept performance, and they felt 
even worse when news came through that the Flames had drawn with the Otago Rebels. 
That result meant the Shakers would have got a home semifinal had they beaten the Diamonds and within minutes the players 
were vowing to atone against the Flames. 
Muir said the Shakers had made the top four through working as a team and that had to continue tomorrow. 
"We haven't got players such as Belinda Charteris and Julie Seymour," Muir said. 
"Sure we have got Irene [van Dyk] and Noeline [Taurua] is just coming right following a horrific knee injury, but we rely on our 
ability to play as a team. 
"Early in the competition Irene was like a beacon in the circle and we sometimes tried to throw the ball to her from all over the 
court and put her under pressure. 
"How we feed the ball to her on Sunday is important because it will be tight." 
Muir is likely to begin with what has become a familiar starting line up of Lisa Bogiwalu (GK), Debbie Matoe (GD), Helen 
Lonsdale (WA), Amanda Dunlop (C), Kathy Newman (WD), Taurua (GA) and van Dyk (GS). 
It is vital that the defence gets a grip on the Flames attack, in which Symour will be influential, early because the Shakers attack, 
despite its talent, will find the Flames defensive trio of Anna Veronese, Charteris and Fijian goalkeep Valimaina Davu difficult to 
penetrate. 
The Shakers have been something of a Jekyll and Hyde team this season, with good performances often followed by bad one. 
If that pattern continues Mr Hyde had his day in Auckland and Dr Jekyll should emerge tomorrow. That would be bad news for 
the Flames but music to the ears of Shakers supporters. 
* The winner of tomorrow's game will play the Southern Sting in next Saturday's final. 
The Sting had to come from behind to beat the Force 48-44 in their semifinal match in Invercargill last night. The Force led 25-
20 at halftime.
 
 South African main threat to Cope's hat-trick hopes 
  
 
 
SOUTH AFRICAN Linley Avant-Smith looks the big threat to Aucklander Nicole Cope's dream of the national duathlon 
championship three-peat in Palmerston North tomorrow. 
Avant-Smith, 29, represented South Africa at last year's world championships in North Carolina but has since settled in 
Auckland. 
She is expected to push Cope over the 10km run, 42km cycle, 5km run course centred around Massey University. 
Nelson's Amanda West, an age-group representative at the world triathlon championships in Perth last month, is another threat to 
Cope, who backed up her 1998 win in Dunedin with a race record 2h 2min 57s in Motueka last year. 
Rotorua Graeme Pearson, 40, is back to defend the men's title. Pearson's strength is his cycling - he designed the New Zealand 
team's bike frames for the last Commonwealth Games - though Aucklander Nick Hogg and Australian Denis Perry are dangers. 
Kawerau cross-country specialist Aaron Strong should push the big guns with his ability to run a sub-30min 10km, while 
Auckland 16-year-old Terenzo Bozzone is an age-group favourite and could even be a dark horse in the elite men's race. 
Pearson won in 1h 50min 32s last year but will need to dip under two-time winner Tony Olsen's 1h 49min 30s effort at Hamilton 
in 1997 to pick up the cash bonus for a new race record. 
Tomorrow's race is a selection trial for the world championships in Calais, France, in October. 
Past champions include present world triathlon No 1 Hamish Carter, New Zealand Ironman medalists Karyn Mills and Sue Clark 
and Wellington multisporter Jill Westerna.
 
 Golden couple of NZ rowing selected for Olympic team 
  
 
 
SONIA WADDELL joins husband Rob in the Olympic Games rowing team confirmed by the New Zealand Olympic committee 
yesterday. 
The Waddells and the men's coxless four - Rob Hellstrom (Waikato Rowing Club), Toni Dunlop, Scott Brownlee and Dave 
Schaper, all from the Avon club - make up the team for Sydney. 
However, three more crews - a women's eight, a women's double sculls and a men's coxless pair - will attempt to qualify for the 
Sydney Games at the Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, from July 10-12. 
New Zealand Olympic Games secretary Michael Hooper said he was impressed with the quality of the rowing team selected so 
far. 
"There's not much more you can say about Rob Waddell [world champion sculler] after his back-to-back world titles. Sonia 
Waddell proved that she is a competitor of international class in finishing fifth at last year's world championships and the men's 
coxless four were unlucky not to win a medal in the same championships. 
"We believe that if all the crews perform to their best then the Olympics rowing regatta should prove immensely satisfying," 
Hooper said. 
Rowing New Zealand chief executive Mike Stanley said the team was one of the best prepared for an Olympic campaign. The 
team had benefitted from training fulltime on Lake Karapiro, he Team

 
 Embarrassed Ryan wants an apology from Australia 
 
  
 
 
NEW ZEALAND League president Gerald Ryan is to seek a written apology from Australia after what he and his family 
considered was insulting behaviour from Australian officials at the Anzac test in Sydney on April 21. 
Just as Ryan was about to walk down the steps on to the field for the formalities before the test started he was restrained from 
doing so. 
"It was unacceptable and embarrassing behaviour, and I'll not be satisfied till I receive an apology," Ryan said. 
"I was told by an Australian official's personal assistant I could not go out on the field when there were Australian representatives 
out there. 
"I regarded it as a deliberate and unnecessary snub. It was almost as though the Australians had forgotten we were part of 
Anzac." 
Ryan was unsure who he needed to write to, the Australain League, or the increasing powerful National Rugby League. 
Ryan, a former seviceman, had provided the trophy, the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy, for the Anzac test. 
He is related to Kelly, one of only two players to have played a league test for New Zealand and Austrlaia. 
Kelly went on to become a successful coach in Sydney. 
A possible move to unseat Ryan at yesterday's New Zealand board meeting in Auckland never eventuated, the league's general 
manager Gary Allcock said.
 
 Graham may miss match because of son's death 
  
 
AUCKLAND Warriors coach Mark Graham may miss today's National Rugby League encounter against Newcastle at Marathon 
Stadium after the death this week of a son. 
Matthew, 13, one of three sons from Graham's first marriage, was found dead in Sydney on Tuesday night. No one else is being 
sought in connection with the death. 
"It is a tragedy for Mark, and the club feels for him at this time," Warriors chief executive Trevor McKewen said. 
"It is unclear when the funeral will be. If it is Saturday Mark won't be in Newcastle, but if it is not till Monday there is a 
reasonable chance he will be at our game." 
In Graham's absence fellow coaches Mike McClennan and Trevor Clark would take over, McKewen said, with help from 
football manager Hugh McGahan. 
McKewen is hoping that opposition by the Newcastle fans to the likely loss from the club next season of five-eighth Matthew 
Johns will play into the Warriors' hands. 
Newcastle's statement that they could not retain Johns because of problems with their salary cap has incensed the fans. Despite a 
public meeting with Johns and the club management on Thursday to try and ease the concerns McKewen understood there would 
still be a march today, and a boycott of the game. 
There were fears too that Johns's brother, and New South Wales State of Origin star Andrew Johns, would also be leaving. 
"A smaller crowd would not bother us," McKewen said. 
"The Newcastle crowd is recognised as one of the most difficult to play in front of in the competition, and any drop in numbers 
would help us." 
The stadium has been a graveyard for the Warriors. In two visits there they have come away with a 48-6 loss in 1995, and a 33-4 
defeat two years ago. 
The Warriors are seeking their third consecutive win encouraged in that they are just two points away from being in the top eight. 
Subduing the Johns boys will be the key for the Warriors. Andrew Johns turned the Origin game off the bench on Wednesday 
night in Brisbane, sparking NSW to a 28-10 win over Queensland, which clinched the series with a match remaining. 
Last year the Warriors staggered Newcastle in winning 42-0 in Auckland, and the sides drew 18-18 earlier this season. 
Prop Terry Hermansson has been named by the Warriors subject to passing a fitness test on a leg. He suffered the injury warming 
up for last weekend's game against the Canterbury Bulldogs. 
Should he fail the test Talite Liavaa will play. 
Meanwhile McKewen said the club would have to adjust to the scrapping of the unlimited interchange bench. 
The NRL board voted to ditch the current unlimited interchange ruling next season in favour of a maximum 12 replacements 
from a four-man bench. 
The 12 replacements include all interchanges, as well as blood bins and head bins. 
When talk of losing the current system was first raised Auckland threatened legal action, saying they had bought players such as 
Mark Tookey as specific off-the-bench forwards. 
The teams: 
  
 Kiwi sevens out to avenge Paris loss 

 Tony Monaghan . . . determined to win Paris sevens 
  
 
THE New Zealand rugby sevens team wants to erase the memories of its Paris effort two years ago when it lost to Australia in 
the final. 
Goalkicker Tony Monaghan said even if Fiji win the inaugural world sevens title by reaching the final in Paris on Monday 
morning, New Zealand are out to win the final at the Charlety stadium. 
"I was here two years ago and we lost to the Aussies in the final," Monaghan said in the New Zealand camp in Paris yesterday. 
"We under-estimated them a bit. We were up 14-0 and thought we were home and hosed but they fought back and we couldn't 
finish off. 
"We don't want to make that mistake again." 
New Zealand won in Paris last year, but are six points behind rivals Fiji in the inaugural series. 
Fiji have 172 points after nine tournaments, New Zealand are on 166 and Australia third on 106. 
Fiji will win the world sevens crown if they reach the final in Paris - the 10th and last tournament in the inaugural world series. 
However, Monaghan said New Zealand have had an outstanding year having won at Hong Kong, in Fiji, South Africa and Dubai. 
The sevens side only called on Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen in the Wellington leg of the series and have relied mainly on 
players outside the Super 12 scene. 
"We will approach this like any other tournament taking one game at a time and our first goal is to win our pool against 
Morocco, the United States and Argentina," Monaghan said. 
"We have had six weeks off since the last tournament but I've been working hard in Whangarei with squad member Jared 
Going." 
Monaghan was concussed in the Hong Kong sevens and missed the Japan tournament the following week. 
He has fully recovered, is happy with his goalkicking, and said the team is determined to play to their potential. 
"We want to be consistent, not make any mistakes and hopefully go all the way. 
"It's a great honour playing for the sevens side. The guys are pretty close and we would like to finish the season on a high note." 
Fiji are fielding a strong side despite missing Filimone Delasau, Fero Lasagivibau, Jope Tuikabe, Sailosi Naiteqe and Taniela 
Qauqau. 
French-based Waisale Serevi and Viliame Satala will lead their bid of only needing to make the final to win the world sevens. 
  
Fiji turmoil might hinder rugby tour 
  
 
 
A PROPOSED tour to New Zealand by Fiji could be affected by the political coup in Fiji, Rugby Union chairman Murray 
McCaw said yesterday. 
Fiji are scheduled to play Mid-Canterbury in Ashburton on June 18 and New Zealand A in Timaru on June 22. The coup could 
also affect Fiji's participation in the Southern Hemisphere under-21 tournament in Auckland in June, but McCaw said no 
decisions had to made at this stage. 
He said the coup did not have any implications on New Zealand's participation in this weekend's sevens tournament in Paris 
which was run by the IRB. 
Meanwhile, Fiji's Pacific Rim match against Tonga today has been moved from Suva to Nuku'alofa in Tonga.
 
 Clubs desperate to avoid relegation 
  
 
WHILE most attention will be on tonight's Super 12 final and tomorrow's All Black announcement, the battle to avoid relegation 
in Wellington club rugby is just as intriguing. 
Marist-St Pat's and Petone will play to win the Swindale Shield today with MSP the favourites as they lead the competition and 
face bottom-of-the-table Upper Hutt at Maidstone Park today. 
But further down the table three fascinating games will decide which of four teams go up to the Jubilee Cup or down to the 
Hardham Cup. 
Wellington and Upper Hutt's trip to the Hardham Cup is already decided, but if Tawa can beat Northern United at Porirua Park, 
they could claw themselves out of the bottom four. 
Similarly, the winner of Old Boys-University's game against Western Suburbs at the Basin Reserve will probably decide which 
of those teams will make the championship round. Varsity are boosted by the return of Hurricanes inside back Paul Steinmetz 
who will play first five-eighth as Tanner Vili is away with Samoa. 
Johnsonville, who are tied on 20 points with Wests, two ahead of Varsity and three in front of Tawa, play Oriental-Rongotai at 
Helston Park and need success to stave off relegation. 
Other matches see Poneke host Avalon at Kilbirnie Park while Wellington will be cannon fodder for a red-hot Petone side at the 
Petone Rec. All games kick off at 3pm.
 
 
Crafar back with Kawasaki team 
  
SIMON CRAFAR is becoming the supersub of this year's world superbike championship. 
After standing in for fellow Kiwi Aaron Slight in the Castrol Honda team, Crafar is now replacing the injured Gregorio Lavilla in 
the Kawasaki team. 
Crafar raced for Kawasaki before switching to the 500cc Grand Prix championship. 
He will be pleased to ride the Kawasaki because the team uses his favourite Dunlop tyres. 
Crafar had a great year in the 1998 500cc championship, winning the British GP, but his career foundered the following year 
when his Yamaha team switched to Michelin tyres and he could not adapt to the different feel of his bike. 
Since his two meetings for Honda - with a best result of eighth - Crafar has been staying at his European base in Andorra hoping 
for the opportunity to race on Dunlops again.
 
 Marshall out of final but Robinson set to play 
  
 
CRUSADERS halfback Justin Marshall is ruled out while ACT Brumbies captain Brett Robinson is a near-certainty to start in 
tonight's Super 12 rugby final at Bruce Stadium in Canberra. 
Crusaders, the defending champions, on Thursday named their team without Marshall and coach Robbie Deans said the main 
reason for the All Blacks No 9 crossing the Tasman was to help his replacement, Ben Hurst, prepare for the match. 
In a last attempt to force selection, Marshall failed a medical test on his injured calf muscle yesterday morning. 
Brumbies coach Eddie Jones said Marshall's absence would make no difference to how his team approached the game. 
"We're just going out there playing against Canterbury. Whoever they've got on the field is going to play well," Jones said. 
Hurst, 21, will play just his second Super 12 game after starting at halfback against the Highlanders in last weekend's semifinal. 
Deans believed Hurst was ready for the occasion, and the hostile environment. He said the players who had been involved in the 
last two finals had told Hurst what to expect, as had Marshall, who he is rooming with at the team's hotel. 
Though the Brumbies will not name their team till an hour before kickoff, it seems Robinson has recovered from a chest injury 
that had kept him sidelined for three weeks. 
"I've trained fully with the team since Sunday so I'm just really excited about playing in the final of one of the best tournaments 
in the world in front of our home fans," said the flanker, who is almost certain play his final Super 12 game after captaining the 
franchise throughout its five-year existence. 
He will retire at the end of the year. 
The Brumbies' one taste of a Super 12 final was in 1997 when they lost 23-7 to the Blues at Eden Park in Auckland. 
Robinson said this year's side was a far more mature one than three years earlier. 
"We have a lot more experience, players that have gone and won Australia a World Cup and have been to a Super 12 final." 
The Brumbies ran lightly as a team this afternoon, while the Crusaders took their first look at Bruce Stadium which will host a 
sellout crowd of 27,500. 
Teams: 
  
 Naming of All Blacks shrouded in mystery 
  
 
 
FOR THE first time, in a long time, the naming of the All Blacks tomorrow for the rugby tests against Tonga and Scotland will 
contain an element of mystery to it. 
No one except selectors Wayne Smith, Tony Gilbert and Peter Thorburn, and manager Andrew Martin, can truthfully say who is 
in the squad. 
None can say with absolute certainty if Jason O'Halloran has done enough to earn an All Black jersey, though there is a strong 
feeling that he has. 
Few could guarantee Alama Ieremia's days as an All Black are over - in fact it would seem he remains within the fold at least. 
And who can say they know for sure what the makeup of the tight five will be - whether Craig Dowd has been cast aside for the 
young Crusaders props Greg Somerville and Greg Feek? 
Even the players have been kept in the dark. They, like the public and the media, will learn who has made the 26-strong squad 
when Rugby Union chairman Murray McCaw reads the names out just after 6pm in Wellington tomorrow. 
The only exceptions will be a few of the long-term All Blacks who have missed the cut - presumably players such as Auckland 
lock Robin Brooke and possibly Dowd. 
They will told beforehand, which is the only courteous way of handling it. 
The secrecy which has surrounded the selection and naming of the squad is in marked contrast to how John Hart stage-managed 
the naming of his teams. 
Hart would tell reporters (often during a round of golf) who was in and why weeks beforehand so the public got used to his 
choices which diminished any outrage when the squads were formerly named. 
Hart also rang the players personally to tell them they were in, or out, and a handful of the lucky ones were rounded up and 
paraded before the media. Tomorrow's announcement is something of a return to the past though there will be no trialists 
assembled and waiting under the main grandstand at Athletic Park. 
* Continued p62 * From back page 
Despite the secrecy which shrouds the squad, some things do seem certain. The Crusaders will dominate the makeup but there 
should be nothing sinister read into that. 
They have been New Zealand's best team for the past three years and eventually someone had to take note of that and reward the 
individuals concerned. 
The Highlanders also deserve recognition for the talent within their squad, which carried them to the Super 12 semifinals this 
year and the final last year. 
The Auckland Blues will have Troy Flavell, and possibly Doug Howlett and Dowd in the squad, while Chiefs second five-eighth 
Mark Ranby is a dark horse. 
But those two franchises could hardly argue that too many more of their players deserve to be All Blacks ahead of the Crusaders 
and Highlanders, particularly in the forwards. 
The Hurricanes will have Jonah Lomu, Chistian Cullen and Tana Umaga in the squad and should have O'Halloran and Ieremia 
there too, as each would deserve selection. 
But none of the Hurricanes pack has played consistently better than their Crusaders and Highlanders counterparts. 
Rather than cast oblique aspersions on Smith and Gilbert's neutrality, as some have recently, critics should themselves weigh the 
evidence dispassionately. 
Most of the squad is predictable. Regulars like Cullen, Umaga, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Byron Kelleher, Josh 
Kronfeld, Carl Hoeft, Norm Maxwell, Anton Oliver, Taine Randell and Mark Hammett seem certain to be there again. 
Fringe players such as Todd Blackadder and Scott Robertson seem set to become regulars, while others such as Ron Cribb and 
Flavell will be newcomers. But some names will surprise, and that's what will make tomorrow's announcement interesting. For 
the first time, in a long time.
 
 Don't expect too many surprises come tomorrow night 
 PALENSKI Ron 
  
 
FOR all the talk and action of launching the All Blacks on a new era with new coaches, new management and a new attitude, 
there are some things that won't change when the first squad of the year is named tomorrow night. 
There is not so much talent in New Zealand rugby that the broom that is sweeping out the old ways could also sweep out the old 
players. 
Some will go of course and some, such as Glen Osborne and Ian Jones, have already gone, but there is not likely to be too much 
need for introductions when the 26 players assemble in Palmerston North for their squad training. 
Of the 15 who started the World Cup playoff match in Cardiff in early November, it is probable that only two, Jeff Wilson and 
Royce Willis, will not be getting measured for a new issue of gear. Wilson has already counted himself out and Willis's chances 
were blighted by a series of injuries. 
Coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert have promised that selection will be based on Super 12 form, and so it has to be, but 
they are not silly men. They are not going to dismiss the records and experience of some players whose Super 12 form alone 
might not have got them back into the All Blacks. Josh Kronfeld must be in that category and so too could Craig Dowd, Kees 
Meeuws (recovering from injury) and Carl Hoeft. 
The main impact of Super 12 form will come with the selection of new All Blacks, and high in this category could be players 
such as Mark Robinson, Ron Cribb, Troy Flavell and Greg Somerville. Another, Doug Howlett, might have been added last week 
after Wilson's withdrawal. 
But even their selection, if in fact that is what it is, will not be entirely due to Super 12. 
Their promise has been evident for some time and in Howlett's case, he was in the New Zealand Colts for three years and first 
played in the Super 12 in 1997, when he was still 19. 
The captaincy may not have exercised the selectors' minds for as long as it has the public's. Smith won two Super 12 titles with 
Todd Blackadder as his leader, and while Blackadder is not New Zealand's leading lock, he is an outstanding captain. 
The fundamental requirement of a captain is to be in the team and with Robin Brooke seemingly out of contention, Blackadder 
can fulfil that. 
Taine Randell will thus be freed to concentrate on his own role, most likely that of the blindside flanker but he also has the 
versatility and the experience to cover No 8 and openside. His long-term future, with Kronfeld's likely departure at the end of the 
year, may well be openside, and given that he is 25 and Blackadder 28, there could be scope for him to return to the captaincy he 
held for two years. 
Whatever the 26 and even more crucially the team that will eventually be named for the test against Tonga, don't expect too 
much that's new. The changes, we all should hope, will come when they play.
 
 Colling hopeful 
  
 
 
Silver Ferns netball captain Belinda Colling is back in training and still hopeful of playing Australia next month. The shooter had 
knee surgery in Auckland on May 2 and has not played since the Otago Rebels beat Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic on April 30.

Slater, Handley best 
  
 
 
The New Zealand yachting team's 49er crew of Daniel Slater and Nathan Handley were the best placed Kiwi sailors after the 
opening day of the SPA regatta in Holland yesterday. The pair were fifth overall, their performance marred by a 13th in the 
second race of the day at Medemblik.
 

 

 
 Funding approved 
  
 
Wellington City councillors have approved $100,000 in funding for High Performance Central, the new WestpacTrust Stadium-
based Sports Foundation centre. The funding will comprise an initial $30,000 contribution toward set-up costs with allocation of 
the remaining $70,000 on a case-by-case basis.
 
 Jets on fire 
  
 
The Palmerston North Jets had too much gas in the tank for the Otago Nuggets in their National Basketball League game in 
Palmerston North, beating them 93-79 last night. American import Rick Randall shot 22 points and Tall Black Kent Mori 20 for 
the Jets.
 
19 Oct 2000 

NPC final tickets still available 
  
A THIRD of the tickets for the NPC Division One final at Christchurch's Jade Stadium on Saturday are still available. 
Canterbury Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said yesterday that Ticketek had sold 20,000 of the 31,000 tickets for the 
Canterbury v Wellington match. 
Mr Tew did not know how many fans were making the journey south from Wellington. Tickets had not been allocated to regions 
and were on sale on a first-come, first-served basis nationally. 
But he was expecting strong support from Wellington. "I've been told there's a fairly healthy contingent coming down, hungry for 
some final success," he said. 
He recommended that supporters did not turn up on the day without tickets. 
Flights to Christchurch and places on Cook Strait ferries on Friday and Saturday are disappearing fast. 
Qantas New Zealand has put up the "full" sign for flights on Friday and Saturday. Its 26 scheduled flights over the two days were 
"completely chocker", a spokesman said. 
Air New Zealand had put on two extra flights on Saturday morning, and said a few seats were still available. 

Swimming coach set to stay in Aussie 
  
HIGH-PROFILE Australian swimming coach Scott Volkers is unlikely to accept a coaching job in New Zealand despite 
Swimming NZ's vigorous effort to gain his services. 
Volkers, who coached Susie O'Neill to two Olympic gold medals, had contemplated heading overseas after missing out on the 
Australian junior coaching position. 
He was approached by Swimming NZ officials for the national coach's job, but said yesterday he was more interested in staying 
in Australia and taking on an expanded role with the Queensland Academy of Sport. 
"I've had some preliminary talks and I guess the QAS have got to sort out what they can offer," Volkers, who was already the 
head swimming coach at the academy, said. 
Under an expanded role with the academy, Volkers would oversee the elite swimming programme in the state which has 
produced many of Australia's best swimmers. _ AAP 
 
Rebel retired 
  
  
 
IN A shock move yesterday, top galloper Rebel was retired. 
An x-ray of a trouble spot on a flexor tendon showed a slight tear and co-owner Val Langsford made an instant decision to end 
Rebel's racing career. 
Rebel had only just arrived at Moira Murdoch's Waiuku beach training establishment Auckland after being prepared briefly by 
Langsford after the recent death of her husband Ron. 
Veterinarian David Spencer put the chance of the tendon troubling Rebel after a spell at only 25 per cent, but Langsford said it 
was not fair to risk the horse. 
"He's an extremely gross horse and I know how much work would be required to get him fit after an enforced spell," she said. 
"It would not be fair on him." 
Rebel, a six-year-old gelding by Famous Star, won nine races from 42 starts and has stake earnings of nearly $650,000. 
Rebel showed signs of tendon trouble after returning from an Australian campaign last spring. 
He was trouble-free going into his dashing first-up win in the $35,000 Challenge Stakes at Ellerslie two weeks ago, but the race 
may have put pressure on the problem. _ NZPA 
 
 
  
 
  Hibberd and Hero for Captain Cook 
  
  
 
AWAPUNI jockey Brian Hibberd will be reunited with Hero in the $100,000 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on 
Saturday. 
Hibberd did not ride Hero last season but has a good record on the horse, with three wins from five rides, including the Group I 
Auto Auctions at Otaki. 
Hero was originally a doubtful starter in the Captain Cook but trainer Jim Campin is now leaning towards a start. 
"I won't make a final decision till tomorrow night but he is reasonably likely to run now," Campin said yesterday. 
Campin's reservations stemmed from the fact that Hero would be backing up after a hard run fresh up at Rotorua last weekend. 
"He did have a harder race than I would have liked at Rotorua and he also missed a trials run before resuming," he said. "If it 
wasn't a Group I race [at Trentham], I probably wouldn't run him but he seems very bright and very well and there's nothing 
around for him after this till Christmas." 
Jim Collett rode Hero at Rotorua but committed himself to riding at Ellerslie this weekend when Hero was an uncertain runner at 
Trentham. 
Hero, who was beaten a head in the race last year, will be a $4.50 equal favourite with Cinder Bella when fixed odds betting 
opens on the Captain Cook today. 
Integrate will be at $5 and Durzetta at $5.50, with no others in single figures. 
Zabeels Angel, an easy winner in class three company at Rotorua last weekend, was a late entry for the race with the prospect of 
a rain affected track and will open at $12. 
Zabeels Angel, who is at the Vance stable at Takanini, has had three wins and three placings from seven starts, with her one 
failure coming on a good track in Melbourne. 
"I don't think she can win and we don't expect her to, but if she could battle away and finish third or fourth it would be a big 
boost for her value as a broodmare," Bob Vance said. "She's fit and is going out after this race anyway so we have nothing to 
lose. Like all Zabeels, she's only going to get better with time but she is a class mare on a wet track." Lisa Mumby will ride 
Zabeels Angel. 
Vinny Colgan has picked up the mount on Durzetta who beat her Captain Cook rivals Hero and Buster Brookfield over 1200m in 
the Lion Plate at Rotorua last weekend. 
Lance O'Sullivan rode Durzetta at Rotorua but is committed to Cinder Bella for the Captain Cook. 
Durzetta has to back up this weekend and also steps up in distance, but trainer Royce Dowling is not concerned. "It was always 
on the agenda if things went right and so far, so good," Dowling said. "There will be no excuses if we are beaten. It won't be a 
lack of fitness, it will be a lack of ability." 
Durzetta has a convincing record over 1600m. She beat a quality field in the Group III Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie last 
Christmas and, at her only other run at the distance, finished a close second in the Wellington Stakes at Trentham. 
 
 
    
  Bay of Plenty sevens stars to move north after final 
  
  
 
JUST seven days after playing for Bay of Plenty against Nelson Bays in Saturday's national provincial championship second 
division rugby final in Tauranga, Craig de Goldi, Justin Wilson and Rico Gear will all be switching to the representative colours 
of Auckland. 
De Goldi confirmed yesterday that the trio would all play for Auckland in a regional sevens tournament at the end of the month 
in preparation for their roles with Auckland in the national sevens tournament in Palmerston North on November 4-5. 
De Goldi and Wilson, both regular national sevens players in the past two years, have been placed under contract to Auckland, to 
take effect on November 1, and Gear has only been playing for the Bay in the NPC on loan from Auckland. 
Their injection into the Auckland team for the sevens will make it a strong contender in Palmerston North because it is expected 
other top sevens exponents such as Orene Ai'i, Amasio Valence and Malili Muliaina will also be in the Auckland side. 
Meanwhile, Saturday provides de Goldi with a chance to get one back on his older brother Mark, who will line up in the Nelson 
Bays side as one of the opposing loose forward trio. 
"We've been running up against each other pretty well all of our lives and we played each other in last year's final so it's not 
really a big occasion," Craig, at 24 the younger by two years, said yesterday. 
"But he did get into me a bit after last year's final when they won. So it would be good to get one back on him. Plus my mum 
[Trish] is coming up and she's a member of the Nelson Bays supporters club. I guess she hopes I'll play well but Nelson wins." 
The de Goldi brothers share another common factor. Their boss is the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand sevens coach Gordon 
Tietjens, with Craig a sales representative in the North Island and Mark working out of the Mt Maunganui engine supplies 
company's Christchurch branch office. 
Originally from Greymouth, the brothers sprang to prominence when they were in the West Coast side that lost a Ranfurly Shield 
challenge to Auckland in 1997. The scoreline was 93-20 but Craig de Goldi had a personal piece of glory by running from 
halfway to score one of Coast's two tries. 
But his talents had been noted by Tietjens some months before that. Tietjens had sighted him playing for Greymouth Marist in a 
New Zealand Marist sevens tournament at Athletic Park and had suggested then that a move north could see him gain national 
sevens honours. 
Craig de Goldi said his move and that of Wilson to Auckland was on an NPC contract. 
He doubted whether selection for the Blues Super 12 squad would follow, pointing out that few, if any, players were chosen for 
the Super 12 directly from the second and third divisions. 
But he said there were still plenty of incentives for players such as himself. A divisional side was going to be chosen this year for 
a Pacific Islands tour and the sevens specialists had the World Cup tournament in Argentina in January. 
Nelson Bays coach Bill Liddell yesterday retained virtually the same lineup for Saturday's final as that which beat Hawke's Bay 
in last weekend's semifinal. The only change is on the wing, where Steve Dunn will start ahead of Gary Stevens. 
  
  Tew fails to get draft rule changed 
  
  
 
CANTERBURY Crusaders are resigned to losing All Black No 8 Ron Cribb to the Auckland Blues for next year's Super 12. 
Canterbury Rugby Union and Crusaders chief executive Steve Tew has failed in his attempt to force a change in the player-draft 
rules to allow the Crusaders to retain Cribb. 
"It's the status quo as far as we know and I don't anticipate any change in that the starting 22s are picked from their franchises, 
and those players are largely protected from the draft unless there's extenuating circumstances," Tew said. "In which case, you 
would expect that Ron would be picked by the Blues." 
Tew wanted players picked via the draft to have the option of staying with the franchises that drafted them. 
Cribb was picked from the draft by the Crusaders. 
The Blues have first right to select him because his North Harbour union is part of their franchise. _ NZPA 
 
 
   
  
 
 
  Aussie pulls out of Makos surf team 
  
  
 
NEW ZEALAND have missed out on the services of Australian Olympic silver medalist Elka Graham for this summer's 
Australian national surf league because of her swimming commitments. 
Graham, who swam in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the Sydney Games, had been prepared to be a ring-in for the New Zealand 
Southern Makos in the Kellogg's-sponsored league. 
But the Sydney 18-year-old said yesterday that she had to pull out after making the Australian World Cup swimming squad. 
"We had the Australian short-course championships in Melbourne last week and a lot depended on how I performed there and 
whether I made the World Cup team," she said. 
The World Cup circuit clashes with the surf league, which involves the Makos and six state teams. _ NZPA 
 
 
  Somerville one that got away 

Canterbury hooker Mark Hammett at his side's training in Christchurch before this Saturday's first division final against 
Wellington 
  
  
 
HE IS the one that got away. Greg Somerville, the Canterbury, Crusaders and All Black tighthead prop, grew up in Wairoa in the 
heart of Hurricanes country. 
On Saturday night, Somerville will line up against Wellington in the national provincial championship rugby final at Jade 
Stadium, in Christchurch, but it could have been so different. 
Somerville, 22, played age group rugby for Hawke's Bay but was allowed by the union to slip away to Christchurch as a 19-year-
old. 
He went there to study farming at Lincoln University but never really picked up a book as rugby quickly assumed greater 
importance. 
He played one game for Canterbury in 1998 then every game for the province, the Crusaders and New Zealand A last year. 
This year he graduated to All Black honours and will be one of the first names written down by the All Black selectors when they 
draw up the 26-man squad to tour Japan, France and Italy next month. 
Somerville was reluctant to talk about the tour yesterday, preferring to concentrate on Saturday's final and what he expects will 
be a formidable challenge from Wellington. 
"It was definitely interesting to see how they went against Auckland [in last Friday's semifinal]. They certainly took it to 
Auckland up front. 
"They have a very good backline and if they manage to get the ball and use it well, they will be a great threat," Somerville said. 
The challenge for Canterbury was to match Wellington not just in the forwards, but "across the paddock". 
The Canterbury players are experienced in finals, having won three consecutive Super 12 titles with the Crusaders, but 
Somerville said that was irrelevant. 
"It doesn't make it any easier because every team and final is different so we're not going to be resting on our laurels." 
The Canterbury team will be named tomorrow, as will Wellington's. The Lions trained at the WestpacTrust Stadium, in 
Wellington, last night and there were no injury concerns. 
 
 
  Paralympians raring to get into action 
  
NEW ZEALAND'S first athletes in action at the Paralympic Games today are happy they do not have to wait any longer to get 
into action. 
Shooter Colin Willis said he had an itchy trigger finger while cyclists Paul Jesson and Mark Inglis were dying to try out their 
racing equipment. 
Christchurch paraplegic Willis is to start the New Zealand campaign in the 10m air rifle standing shot competition this afternoon. 
A veteran of three previous games and the sole shooter in the team, Willis was the only New Zealand athlete not to march in last 
night's opening ceremony. 
"It is sad but the schedule has worked this way. I'm here to do a job and that's my focus. I'll make up for it in the closing 
ceremony," Willis said. 
Today's competition is his best chance of a medal in a 30-strong field, though he is also entered in the 10m prone competition on 
Saturday alongside 51 others. 
On both days, his first goal will be to qualify in the top eight to advance to the final round. 
Inglis, of Blenheim, and Jesson, of Christchurch, both leg amputees, were delighted with their preparations in Sydney, where 
they have recorded good times on training bikes. 
"I'm a firm believer that you train with training equipment and race with racing equipment, meaning you get a lift on the day," 
their coach Wayne Thorpe said. "There's a bit of psychology involved." 
The cyclists had a hitout on the new equipment - including disc wheels and high-pressure tyres - yesterday to make sure it 
wouldn't surprise them in the kilometre time trial today. 
The event should suit Inglis, who has a lot of power, while Jesson _ a Tour de France cyclist in 1979 before a motor accident the 
following year _ has more stamina and is focusing more on the 4000m individual pursuit on Sunday. 
Both cyclists were to march last night but were to leave Stadium Australia as soon as the New Zealanders were directed to their 
seats. _ NZPA 
 
Warriors get boost as six players sign agreements 
  
  
 
SIX players, possibly including brilliant halfback Stacey Jones, reached agreement yesterday to play for the Warriors league club 
next year. 
It was unclear last night whether the six were already Warriors or new to the club. 
While the development delighted new principal shareholders Cullen Investments Ltd, it concerned Australian players' association 
president Tony Butterfield. 
He had hoped the players would stay united to enable all the existing contracts to be honoured. The move by the six made it 
harder for the players in weaker positions to be looked after, he said. 
"At the end of the day the almighty dollar tends to prevail," Butterfield said. 
"Players are quite entitled to look after No 1 but what they've done has destabilised the ship. Those guys have to live with 
themselves, and how they've treated their teammates. 
"It's probably the senior players that have been looked after when it's the others that need it more. The lower-profile players will 
be the ones to get burned." 
Butterfield did not blame Cullen for what had occurred, saying all they were doing was operating within the boundaries agreed 
by the National Rugby League in approving the sale to Cullen and the New Zealand League. 
Though Cullen and NZ League general manager Gary Allcock, who was helping with the contracts, declined to say which 
players had agreed to new terms, Jones was thought to be among them. 
"We've got a mixture of high and low-profile players," Allcock said. 
With Jones on board it would make it easier for the new owners to sign other players they wanted, though possibly on contracts 
offering reduced money. 
Cullen said the new agreements ranged from one to three years. 
The club planned for the Warriors' coach, whoever he may be, to announce details of all those to sign early next week. 
Most of the office staff were sacked on Tuesday. A small number, including chief executive Trevor McKewen, were retained 
over a transitional period to ensure the club's day to day activities were taken care of. McKewen was unlikely to be offered a 
long-term contract. 
Cullen head Eric Watson said there was sufficient funds in the club's accounts to pay staff wages. 
Watson said the aim was to establish a sound financial base, something missing for years. 
New contracts would be incentive-based. Wainuiomata centre Paul Whatuira, who made five first-grade appearances this year, 
said he was contacted by executive director Matthew Ridge twice but was unsure whether he would be retained. 
 
 
  Injury likely to mean new bowling role for Cairns 
  
  
 
CHRIS CAIRNS is likely to continue in the role he played so well against India on Monday as he tries to see out the South 
African cricket tour. 
The 30-year-old allrounder got the good news yesterday that his injured right knee had suffered no further damage during the 
ICC Trophy knockout tournament in Nairobi. 
But to get him through the eight-week tour, there will be changes to where he fits into the bowling lineup. 
Cairns is unlikely to be given the new ball and will come on as first change, possibly also bowling his 10 overs in a row at 
reduced pace off a short run, as he did effectively against India. 
Coach David Trist said that with Geoff Allott and Shayne O'Connor sharing the new ball, Cairns could come on inside the first 
10 overs with Allott returning mid-innings. 
"We'll ask Chris to take more of a role as a third seamer," Trist said. "It will take the pressure off him mentally and in between 
games we'll keep him as fresh as we can." 
Trist and physiotherapist Mark Harrison were optimistic Cairns would see out the tour. 
"He's a hugely mature cricketer and we want to keep him in the game. I'll do everything I can to see that's achieved and that's 
important for New Zealand cricket," Trist said. 
The biggest worry in managing Cairns's patella tendon injury, which he endured to score a match-winning century in Monday's 
final, was not necessarily bowling but batting and fielding. 
"Short, sharp running between the wickets puts a big load on, especially turning for two. Moving laterally in the field is also a 
problem," Harrison said. 
Meanwhile, Trist confirmed yesterday that captain Stephen Fleming's place in the one-day side was not in danger despite an 
average run of batting form. 
With a top score of 34 in three innings in Nairobi, it left Fleming with the worrying record of not having topped 50 in 17 innings 
since the team left New Zealand in August. 
Trist continued to show faith in Fleming. 
"He'll break through. It's the same conversation we had with the media last season regarding Craig McMillan. 
"He will get runs, if it's not on Friday it'll be the next game. He's going to captain the side through the one-day series so he's got 
to go out there and get runs." _ NZPA 
 
 
   
  Napier athlete qualifies 
   
 
NAPIER'S Jason Stewart was the only New Zealand athlete to qualify for later rounds on the opening day of the world junior 
athletics championships in Santiago, Chile. 
Stewart was fourth in his 800 metres heat in 1min 51.57s. 
Waikato-Bay of Plenty sprinter Sarah Phillips, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, failed to finish her 100m race, 
while David Falealili (Wellington) was last in his 100m heat in 13.16s and Lachie McLellan (Otago) sixth in 10.92s. 
Andrea Miller (Counties) set a New Zealand junior record in the 100m hurdles of 13.77s but missed out on qualifying when she 
finished fourth. Sam Higgie (Manawatu) was fourth in his 400m heat in 48.31s. _ NZPA 
 
 
   
  Clubs must see bigger picture says Cookson 
   
 
STOKES VALLEY club chairman Russell Cookson remains adamant cricket in Wellington needs to embrace a district concept 
despite a widespread belief it would be to the detriment of the clubs. 
Cookson said yesterday, three days out from the start of the intercity club season, the clubs needed to look at the bigger picture if 
they wanted cricket to progress in the region. 
He has been an advocate of a district competition after seeing it work successfully in Australia, and he supports Cricket 
Wellington, which is investigating introducing it for the 2001-02 season. 
The often forthright Cookson says there are too many clubs in Hutt Valley and Wellington. He believes the best players from the 
eight clubs who play in the Pearce Cup and the six in the Hazlett Trophy grade should be included in a six or eight-team district 
format. 
"The argument I'm hearing is that clubs are concerned they'll lose their identity once their best players go into a district team," 
Cookson said. 
"It's up to the clubs to make sure that doesn't happen. We're the Pearce Cup holders and I'd be making sure Stokes Valley didn't 
lose out. 
"The game's for the players and the comments I'm getting among ours is they would support a district competition." 
Cricket Wellington intended to produce a prototype district concept for clubs to discuss over the summer. 
On the eve of a new season nothing has been produced and some clubs are concerned they do not know what they are playing 
for. 
The winner of the trophy automatically earns promotion to the cup but that might not apply if there was a district series. 
Trophy side Wainuiomata has suffered badly with player losses to cup clubs, and Johnsonville were upset when promising 
wicketkeeper Gavin Klocek, who they have had since his junior days, transferred to Naenae Old Boys. 
Former Wellington fast-medium bowler Glenn Jonas has decided to play for his old club Petone-Riverside though his long-term 
presence is uncertain. 
The squads: 
    
  Tiatia may be next to go 
 
Wellington and All Black centre Alama Ieremia . . . off to Japan on a three-year contract 
   
 
ALAMA IEREMIA is off and Filo Tiatia may yet follow him. 
Wellington No 8 Tiatia is talking to the New Zealand Rugby Union about his future but there is a chance the one-test All Black 
may move overseas. 
All Black coach Wayne Smith said yesterday he was aware Tiatia and other top players had received generous offers to head 
overseas, but said there was nothing he could do about it. 
It is a stance Smith took two weeks ago when The Dominion reported Ieremia was considering an offer from Japan - an offer 
Ieremia confirmed yesterday he had accepted. 
"I know about Filo and we just have to hope he makes the right decision," Smith said. "The important thing for these guys is to 
remember that they can't be All Blacks if they go, so we've just told them to follow their dreams." 
Smith said the Rugby Union was doing its best to offer fair contracts to players but it was impossible to compete with the sort of 
money that was being offered by clubs in Japan, France and Britain. 
"The sooner we can get a workable international transfer market in place the better so at least when these guys do go, we get 
come compensation for it," Smith said. 
What may swing the balance back in New Zealand's favour for Tiatia is the naming on Sunday of the New Zealand A squad to 
tour Wales, France and Romania next month. 
Tiatia has missed the second half of the national provincial championship with a broken arm and though that has healed, he has 
run out of time and games to impress the selectors in. 
But there were reassuring words from Smith yesterday. "Clearly he's still in the pot. He was probably the outstanding player of 
the NPC when he was injured," Smith said. 
While Tiatia's future is undecided, Ieremia confirmed he has signed a three-year contract to play for Tokyo-based Suntory from 
next year. 
It means Saturday's national provincial championship final against Canterbury will be his last game for Wellington. He played 65 
games for the province, 42 for the Hurricanes, 30 tests for New Zealand and five for Samoa. 
Ieremia, 30 next Friday, said the length of the season was taking its toll on players and it was time to bow out while he could still 
make a living playing rugby overseas. 
"I like to think I know my body pretty well and it certainly is a long season. In my mind, I have three to four more years where I 
can keep playing. 
"But whether it is at that [top] level is something I have been wondering about." 
While he was conscious of the demands a long season, Ieremia said it was also a fact of life. "I don't see anyway around it 
because those are the demands here in New Zealand from the sponsors and the union - everybody want's a piece of the pie." 
Public expectations that All Blacks play outstandingly every week were virtually impossible to fulfil, he said. 
"It's demanding on the players but that's what's expected of us. You are an All Black and you have to perform at every level, but 
sometimes you do have an off day - just like sometimes it rains in Wellington." 
Ieremia's career highlights include every debut, playing for Samoa and New Zealand, playing at two World Cups, and alongside 
"legends" such as Michael Jones, Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke. 
He talked yesterday about one of the things he would remember from his days with the All Blacks. 
"The silence. On the bus to a game there's absolute silence. When you're at home you look out the window and see all the 
supporters going to the game and that gets you going, and overseas it's the reverse because everyone is against you, so that makes 
you want to beat them." 
Those days are over, but Ieremia wants a decent send off on Saturday with Wellington's first NPC title since 1986. 
* One that got away, p33 
 
 
  TOP 
  
  
 
Canterbury's Andrew Stuart won the national river jetboat marathon yesterday. 
 
 
      Teammates eye centre vacancy 

 O'Halloran 
   
 
ALAMA IEREMIA'S defection to Japan could open the door for two Wellington teammates on next month's All Black rugby 
tour to Japan, France and Italy. 
Wing Tana Umaga has made no secret of the fact he wants to shift to centre and he impressed there on attack for Wellington 
against Auckland last Friday. 
Second five-eighth Jason O'Halloran may also find himself in the All Black frame, particularly as persistent injuries are likely to 
rule Canterbury's Mark Robinson out of contention for the tour. 
Ieremia, who hopes to be cleared of a niggling hamstring injury so he can play in Saturday night's national provincial 
championship final against Canterbury, thinks Umaga would be superb at centre. 
"Absolutely, if there was anyone I would put my money on to do the job it's Tana," Ieremia said. 
"My only concern is that he operates quite well as a roving player and centre is a little bit more regimented in terms of defensive 
plans. 
"But with the way the game is going and the style the All Blacks are playing . . . I think he will make it." 
Ieremia is still available for the All Blacks' tour, but coach Wayne Smith has said he wants players with a long-term commitment 
to New Zealand rugby. That will also rule out Canterbury's Mark Mayerhofler, who is heading to France. 
In Umaga and O'Halloran's favour is that the pickings are slim elsewhere. 
Ieremia, Robinson and Pita Alatini were the All Black midfielders earlier this year but Alatini's form has suffered along with 
Otago's during the NPC. 
However, he must be in a stronger position thanks to Ieremia's departure and Robinson's injury. 
Daryl Gibson has been solid at centre for Canterbury while Auckland's Craig Innes has always been rock solid on defence and 
showed a bit more attack this year. 
Waikato midfielders Scott McLeod, Keith Lowen and Mark Ranby have played well at different times during the NPC and 
McLeod may have an outside chance to return to the All Blacks. 
If Umaga does move permanently to centre, it will clear the way for at least three wings to push for his vacant All Black spot. 
Auckland's Doug Howlett was the wing cover against Tonga and Scotland and in the tri-nations, and has been in impressive form 
during the NPC. 
Canterbury's Caleb Ralph has also stood out at times while Wellington's Brad Fleming has been in stunning form during the past 
two weeks. 
Former All Black wing and fullback Jeff Wilson, who has taken a break from rugby, might come in to the picture next year. 
On the Hurricanes front, Wellington's Paul Steinmetz and Taranaki's Mepi Faoagali are contenders for next year's Super 12. 
 
 
    
  Nicholson on top  
  
 
Andrew Nicholson's win at England's Burghley horse trials has propelled him to the lead in the world equestrian rider rankings. 
Nicholson has 417 points, ahead of New Zealand teammate Blyth Tait on 361. 
 
 
  Tuffey to get share 
  
New Zealand's winning ICC Knockout Trophy cricket squad in Nairobi have decided to include Daryl Tuffey in splitting the 
$865,140 prizemoney they won. New Zealand Cricket's chief executive Christopher Doig said on his return yesterday that the 
tournament squad of 14 players would pay some money to Tuffey, who had stayed on tour. 
 
 
  NZ make positive start 
  
New Zealand opener Nathan Astle warmed up for the one-day cricket series against South Africa with a majestic 137 against 
Gauteng in Soweto last night. Astle hit 12 fours and two sixes as New Zealand reached 296-5 off 50 overs in their tour opener. 
There was also good news for captain Stephen Fleming, who scored 82. 
 
 
   
  Lighter sentence 
  
Wellington representative and Te Aroha club coach Duane Gwiazdzinski was offered a lighter sentence yesterday on his three-
year suspension by Wellington on appeal to the New Zealand League. The new sentence contained several requirements, which 
Gwiazdzinski said he would consider once they were received in writing. If he agreed to them the original suspension would be 
lifted. 
 
 
  Team NZ nominated 
  
  
 
Team New Zealand has been nominated for the men's sailor of the year title awarded by the International Sailing Federation. The 
successful America's Cup defender is among seven nominees, with the winner to be named on November 7. 
 
 
  Hawke's Bay prop banned 
   
 
Hawke's Bay rugby prop Clint Newland has been suspended for a week, effective next season. Newland was sent off for 
stomping in the Hawke's Bay v Nelson Bays NPC semifinal, won by Nelson, last Saturday. 
 
 
  Prada back in January 
   
 
Prada's next America's Cup team will be sailing again on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf from January. Prada, who raced Team New 
Zealand for the cup this year after winning the challengers' series, plan to spend about three months sailing in the waters which 
will be used for the next defence in 2003. 
 
 
24 July 2000 

Adams keeps Saints in the race 

Wellington Saints' Malcolm Opie, top, and Otago Nuggets player Hayden Allen challenge for the ball in Saturday's tip-off to the 
NBL match in Wellington 
  
SAINTS giant Warren Adams might be a man of few words but with one action on Saturday night he kept Wellington in the 
intriguing National Basketball League playoff race. 
Otago threatened to ambush Saints top-four charge with 1.33s on the clock when Adams softly gave away possession and 
exciting 20-year-old Nuggets guard Hayden Allen scooted up-court for what looked like an easy lay-up. 
But with a flying leap Adams jammed Allen's certain two-pointer off the backboard to redeem himself and ensure Saints a 
flattering but vital 107-94 win, their seventh in eight games. 
Had Allen made the bucket, Otago would have been within five-points of a boilover and slam-dunking Saints' season in the 
process. 
But Wellington did not waste Adams' crucial block with Kenny Perkins nailing a sweet three-pointer from the next play to give 
Saints a 98-88 buffer with just over a minute to run. 
The win kept Saints firmly in the tight playoff race with two rounds of the NBL regular season to play. 
With four teams - Nelson, Saints, Palmerston North and Auckland - battling for the remaining two semifinals spots the playoff 
race is complicated and will not be decided till August 6. 
The equation is simple for Natu Taufale's Saints, though. If they topple Nelson next Saturday and defending champions 
Auckland the following weekend, Wellington are through to the NBL finals weekend in North Harbour on August 11-12. 
Nelson, who will be missing their four Tall Blacks next Saturday, look vulnerable after losing 111-97 to North Harbour on 
Saturday. 
But even if they lose to Saints, Nelson are expected to progress with wins over Otago in a catchup game on Wednesday and in 
their final regular-season showdown against the woeful Hawke's Bay Hawks on August 5. 
Palmerston North's Jets refuse to go away after beating Waikato 105-102 on Saturday. But the Jets need to beat North Harbour 
away on August 5 and hope other results go their way if they are to make the cut. 
The most likely scenario is that Saints' August 5 game away to Auckland will decide which of the two franchises join North 
Harbour, Waikato and Nelson in the final four mix. 
What Taufale is certain about is the lift in intensity required from his Saints after sloppy, albeit winning, efforts over Canterbury 
and Otago in the past fortnight. 
Saints struggled to get out of first gear for much of Saturday night's game and it was only some inspired defence and better 
offensive execution in the last period that saw them run away with it after trailing 75-73 heading into the last quarter. 
Tall Blacks forward Andrew Gardiner contributed seven first-quarter points to make up for Terrence Lewis and Charles Jones' 
lack of production and finished with 23, just five shy of Lewis's game-high 28. 
Perkins chimed in again with 17 points, including three three-pointers, while Jones added 15 and George Le'afa 10. 
Import Linwood Wade led Otago with 26 points and Allen (15), captain Stacey Lambert (15) and Glen Denham (13) kept it 
interesting. But ultimately Otago suffered without their Tall Blacks centre Robert Hickey and huge import Monte Hardge whose 
heavily-strapped left knee gave way on him in the dying seconds of the first quarter and ended his night. 
"We need to get a bit more of a killer-instinct because [while] Nelson won't have their Tall Blacks, Otago didn't have any tonight 
and look what they did to us," Taufale said. 
"We were just totally non-exsistent in the first half."
 
 Race for semifinals brings out nastiness 
  
 
 
CONTROVERSY marred Palmerston North Girls' High School's 2-2 draw with College Hockey Club during a Mid-Central 
league women's division one clash on Saturday. 
Tempers flared toward the end of the match at Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park as both sides were desperate for points to 
make the interprovincial competition semifinals in three weeks. 
The match also doubled as a Manawatu knockout competition fixture and reverted to penalty strokes to separate the two teams, 
with PNGHS winning 2-1. 
College had gone to halftime ahead 2-0 before the schoolgirls struck back through two penalty corners by Melody Rowe to force 
the shootout. 
However, it was Rowe's first goal that had the College supporters, players and management up in arms. The ball struck the corner 
post and stopped without entering the goal, yet it was awarded despite College's protestations. 
The referees were verbally attacked from the sidelines and College were lucky not to have people sent off as PNGHS added 
insult to injury by saving four stroke attempts by College. 
The result leaves both teams vying for fourth spot for the playoffs, with High School Hockey Club in charge at the top of the 
table after thrashing Stratford 5-0 on Saturday. Stratford stay in third position with two rounds remaining. 
At Wanganui, Collegians beat a hapless Massey 7-2 to hold on to second place. 
In Mid-Central men's division one, unbeaten Varsity Blues got home 6-3 over a defiant second-placed High School Hockey 
Club, while Wanganui side Rangers High School Old Boys beat Broadway 3-1. 
In Hawke's Bay, Stratford stayed in the top four with a 7-2 drubbing of Bay Independent. Varsity, HSHC and RHSOB complete 
the other likely semifinal contenders. 
It was another successful day for Wanganui sides in the Mid Central combined club leagues on Saturday with four wins from five 
games. 
Highlight was the hat-trick of goals from discarded international Robyn Matthews in Collegians' 7-1 win over Massey at 
Gonville. 
The victory allows Collegians to retain second place in the top women's division. 
Top Wanganui men's side Rangers HSOB A also made a slow start before beating second-to-bottom Broadway A 3-1 in 
Palmerston North. 
Tech COB retained the lead in the men's second division with a 5-3 away win over middle-of-the-table PNCHC A, while Massey 
A beat Rangers HSOB B 6-3. 
Three goals each for Kath Kirk and Julinda Marshall helped Collegians United to an easy 9-4 division two women's win over 
Ratz to keep the competition lead.
 
 Jets blitz Waikato in upset win 

Wellington Saints' Malcolm Opie, top, and Otago Nuggets player Hayden Allen challenge for the ball in Saturday's tip-off to the 
NBL match in Wellington 
  
 
A 25-4 second quarter blitz set up the Palmerston North Jets' 105-102 thrilling upset National Basketball League win over the 
Waikato Warriors on Saturday night. 
The biggest crowd of the season, about 1100 people, packed into the Manawatu Sports Stadium to witness the Jets' final home 
game and they were not disappointed. 
Waikato, equal top of the NBL going into the match, had trounced the Jets 112-94 at Hamilton in the first round when they ran 
the Jets' big men ragged. 
After a strong start Waikato led 33-30 by the end of the first quarter and looked ominous with shooting guard Tony Brown on top 
of his game. 
Brown's brother Tyrone, playing for the Jets, made his share of three-pointers as well, but no one would have predicted the 
virtual whitewash Waikato got in the next quarter. 
The Jets put on 22 unanswered points to go from 36-33 down to 55-36 and seize control of the match. 
At halftime it was 55-37 and while Waikato came back to level the scores 96-96 with two minutes remaining, the partisan crowd 
was not entertaining the idea of a remarkable comeback. 
Under enormous pressure and crowd harrassment, Waikato players began missing from the free-throw line as the foul count rose 
dramatically in the dying stages. 
Jets coach Tim McTamney said the crowd was "worth 10 points". He understands that the 25-4 second quarter scoreline is a 
league defensive record. 
The Jets have a bye this week before the final round match away to league leaders North Harbour, and McTamney was quietly 
confident of beating the Kings again. The Jets came from behind to win 115-114 in the opening round back in April. 
While the Jets have had a settled lineup, North Harbour have had to deal with players away on national duty, and injuries to key 
men, including Purnell Perry, he said. 
Including Tall Black Mark Dickel for the last few matches may not be a big advantage either. 
"It may help us . . . having a point guard running a team without having trained all season with them," McTamney said. 
Even a win over North Harbour will not guarantee the Jets a playoff spot. They are currently tied for third with Nelson and 
Wellington, but are fifth on points differential. 
Import Rick Randall celebrated his 23rd birthday on Saturday night with 28 points and underlined his value with four rebounds, 
three steals and three assists. 
Forward Willie Burton, 38, who copped a bit of pre-match sledging from Waikato about his age, went on to wipe the boards with 
18 rebounds, two steals and 12 points. 
Discarded Tall Black Kent Mori bagged 18 points, including three from five crucial three-pointers, while Ed Book made 16 
points and took nine rebounds. Tyrone Brown finished with 20 points and three from four outside. 
For Waikato, power forward Riki Strother was outstanding and finished with 24 points, while Darryl Johnson (14 points and 11 
rebounds) and David Hopoi (15 points) made valuable contributions. 
Waikato coach Jeff Green was livid over the "standard of officiating", which he claimed had completely shut down his team's 
fast game. He said he would rather be at home watching television than "put up with another shocking display of refereeing". 
In other games, North Harbour gained a confidence booster with a 111-97 win against the Nelson Giants and Wellington beat 
Otago 107-97. On Friday night, Otago were pipped by Auckland 94-91.
 
 Rangers put thoughts of wooden spoon away 

Napier City's Martin Akers celebrates the first goal of the national league soccer match against Manawatu at Park Island 
yesterday 
  
THE national club championship wooden spoon is certainly not the trophy Sapphire Rangers intend finishing their frustrating 
soccer season with. 
Rangers' slim national league playoff hopes were finally dashed when they lost 3-1 to leaders University-Mt Wellington in 
Auckland yesterday. 
The loss saw Rangers slip to seventh equal with Central United in the league, just five points clear of celler-dwellers Metro, who 
they meet at home in their penultimate league encounter on August 6. 
But before then, Rangers are determined to keep their chance of some silverware alive when they meet lowly Wellington United 
in a local-derby Chatham Cup quarterfinal at Newtown Park this Saturday. 
"We can think about the cup now but we still have plenty to play for in the league in terms of pride and ensuring we don't finish 
at the bottom end," Rangers assistant coach David Chote said. 
Rangers started encouragingly yesterday, with Craig Candy putting the Miramar club ahead in the fourth minute. The 
Wellingtonians continued to dominate until Tim Butterfield lost the ball in Rangers' defensive area and Michael Buhaglar 
equalised in the 33rd minute. 
A lovely Jeff Campbell strike gave University-Mt Wellington a 2-1 lead 10 minutes later and Rangers were goners when Nick 
Longley scored an own goal just after halftime. 
"We were very unhappy with the result but not unhappy with the performance of the boys. They certainly contributed to to an 
entertaining match," Chote said. "It was just those 10 minutes either side of halftime that killed us because we had dominated the 
first 35 minutes." 
In yesterday's other games, Napier City Rovers were held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Manawatu AFC to slip seven points behind 
runaway leaders University-Mt Wellington. 
Dunedin Technical moved into third with a 2-0 home victory over Waitakere City, which leaves Waitakere and Manawatu tied in 
fourth. Nelson Suburbs moved to within striking distance of the top-four with a crushing 4-2 win over Metro while Central 
United beat Christchurch City 1-0.
 
 Upper Hutt four takes out final 
  
UPPER HUTT Valley's Pat Hoult, Neil Semple, Sylvia Leck and Lisa Hoult won the New Zealand indoor bowls mixed fours 
final at Wanganui on Saturday. 
Pat Hoult is the New Zealand and North Island captain and Semple, who won the national singles title in June, will also play for 
the North Island against the South Island in August. Together with Lisa Hoult, they won this event in 1996 and this time 
combined with Leck at two. 
In a closely fought round-robin competition, Upper Hutt Valley and Southland were locked together after five rounds of play 
with eight points each. 
The sixth round produced a clear leader for the first time when Upper Hutt Valley came from two points behind to beat North 
Taranaki's Mike Dempsey 11-7, while Southland went down 9-5 to Ray Gribble's Tauranga. 
The final round proved to be something of an anti-climax when second-placed Southland crumbled against Dempsey, losing 25-
2, and Upper Hutt Valley cemented their place at the top with a 7-7 draw with Tauranga. 
Northland's Lyn Brittain, Craig Scrivener, Judy Johnson and John Dufty moved up to second place when they hammered home a 
21-1 win over Ashburton.
 
 Jones, Flatt dominate third race of kayak series 
  
  
 
 
NEW ZEALAND representative Craig Jones and Australian Kerryn Flatt dominated a windy day and rough water in race three 
of the Hutt Valley Multisport hare and hound kayak series. 
Jones clocked 44min 27s for the 9km, 4min faster than training partner Richard Waugh and 
Al Cross. Flatt was fastest of the women, 2<<1/2>>min clear of Trish Coley. 
Melody Ogilvie was 52s further back in third.
 
 NZ women's team beats Tawa but misses goal opportunities 
  
MISSED opportunities from both sides was the theme of the day when Tawa took on the New Zealand women's side at the 
National Hockey Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. 
Though they won 4-0 and maintained their unbeaten record in the men's premier one competition, New Zealand could have won 
by much more as they dominated possession and territory but failed to convert that into goals. 
All too often, New Zealand looked strong on attack but too often they missed with the final shot. 
Tawa had their chances as well, with several breakouts leaving the New Zealand defence in tatters, but they could not make it 
count. 
New Zealand had a 2-0 lead at halftime after goals to Kylie Foy and Suzie Pearce. Only minutes into the second half, Anna 
Lawrence extended the lead with two quick goals. Tawa looked in danger of taking a heavy loss but their defence held strong for 
the remainder of the match. 
After the match, New Zealand player Moira Senior said that though she was happy to take the win, she was disappointed they did 
not score more goals. 
"We were working the ball up well but the finishing shot is the one that scores the goals and it is not happening," she said. 
Tawa coach Carl Robinson said his team's failure to take its chances was a disappointment but he believed his side played well. 
"We were going out to win but we knew they would be breakaway goals and if we had taken every chance we had we could have 
had four goals ourselves," he said. 
In another men's premier one hockey result from Saturday, Hutt beat Karori 8-0, while in the women's competition, Eastern Hutt 
beat Victoria 3-0 and Hutt beat Karori 3-1.
 
 URC, Saints maintain lead with wins 
  
 
 
JOINT championship leaders URC and Athletic Saints continued to draw away from the rest of the field in the Taupo senior-A 
netball championship after Friday night's matches at Taupo Events Centre. 
URC, who have a game in hand, beat Taupo College Premiers 74-27, while Saints were 51-39 winners against Athletic Gold. 
With Adrienne Hempo and Angie Penfold alert in the defence third and Nola Miller showing her court pace and passing skills at 
wing attack, College found difficulty in breaking the URC rhythm. 
The goal combination of Maxine Moeke (shooter) and Christine Tukaki (attack) often finished off a close-to-perfect performance 
by URC. 
College were competitive during the first quarter, with shooter Michelle Lloydd missing just one chance in seven as URC led 17-
11 at the break. 
But URC denied College the ball with some superb netball for the rest of the match. 
Defending champions Athletic Saints proved too good for Athletic Gold and must win against URC in this round if they are to 
enhance their prospects of retaining their title. 
Their only loss so far has been to URC and the two meet for the crucial match-up in a fortnight. 
WANGANUI 
TITLE-HOLDERS Pirates A1 and main rivals Marist A1 continued their showdown to the final of the Wanganui premier club 
netball championship with easy wins in the penultimate round of matches. 
Pirates made it nine wins on the trot with a 60-26 victory over Kaiwhaiki. 
Marist A1, champions in 1998, beat sister side Marist A2 80-36. 
Top bottom four series qualifiers Tech had to work hard to hold out Kaierau 35-34. 
Meanwhile, St Vincent's scored a 51-32 win over Pirates A2.
 
 Porirua needs McFadden magic 
  
 
 
KENNY McFADDEN was a wizard on the court during Saints' glory days and now needs to conjure up some magic if his 
Porirua women's basketball team is to be any sort of threat at next month's national finals. 
Porirua finished top qualifier in three-team central conference despite losing their final regular-season game 68-61 to northern 
division qualifiers Waikato in Newtown's Southwest Stadium on Saturday. 
They now progress to the national finals in Auckland on August 4-5 along with second-placed Taranaki, who had the chance to 
sneak top spot but also lost to Waikato at the weekend. 
Porirua finished the regular season with a five win, seven loss record but were unable to beat any of the northern division teams 
who played games against the central conference clubs to provide a more meaningful competition. 
Waikato and Counties-Manukau qualified from the northern division while Otago, with double internationals Belinda Colling 
and Donna Loffhagen, are the top southern zone hope and defending champions. 
The trick for coach McFadden is to come up with a method to topple teams with more depth than his. 
Rebecca Cotton again led Porirua on Saturday with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals, while Tall Ferns teammate Megan 
Compain added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. 
Meanwhile, Hoop Club Porirua and Wellington both won tough games on Saturday to set up a central conference decider when 
the two men's teams meet in Southwest Stadium this Saturday. 
Nick Edmonds' 16 points helped Porirua beat Palmerston North 75-74 in overtime. Porirua fought back from 11 points adrift in 
the second half and were two points ahead with two seconds remaining in regulation time but Palmerston North forced it to 
overtime by sinking two foul shots. 
Porirua nearly lost it again in overtime after leading by four when they gave Palmerston North an easy three-point look and then 
turned the ball over with two seconds remaining only for a Palmerston North player to miss a lay-up on the buzzer. 
Wellington beat Hawke's Bay 71-56 with Jeremy Banks, Brad Moon, Barnaby Leach and Kirt McLeod all scoring in double-
figures and Brook Rapson returning from injury. In Saturday's other game, Saints Hutt Valley lost to Taranaki in New Plymouth.
 
 10-man Taupo lambs to slaughter 
  
TAUPO paid for the sending off of player-coach Alan Lamb in their northern league division one soccer match when thrashed 7-
1 by league leaders Central Reserves at Auckland on Saturday. 
It was Taupo's biggest loss since entering the northern league. 
Chilean player Daniel Aliaga scored a hat-trick for the Aucklanders. 
Taupo started well, until a a lofted chip from 40 metres found its mark for Central in the 14th minute. 
Four minutes later, Taupo equalised through Matt Roberts. They continued to compete with confidence, but soon after Central 
sent in their second goal, Lamb got his marching orders. 
Taupo held on until halftime, but the next 45 minutes proved a nightmare. 
Central slammed in four goals inside 18 minutes, adding a final strike on the stroke of fulltime.
 
 Athletic slip to fifth place after 3-1 defeat at home 
  
 
 
WANGANUI ATHLETIC played some of their poorest soccer of the season to drop from fourth to fifth-equal in the Federation 
Four league on Saturday after a 3-1 home loss to Havelock North. 
"We were locked in second gear and never got out of it," was the way player-coach Shane Wye viewed the defeat. 
The result means that Havelock North are the only side in the 10-team league to beat Athletic twice this season. 
The Hawke's Bay side, now just two points off the lead, led 1-0 at halftime and increased this to 3-0 before Jason Malipaard 
collected a consolation goal for Athletic 15 minutes from the end. 
Both teams had many scoring chances but the big difference was that Havelock North scored from three of numerous chances. 
Goalie Karl Hayward pulled off some fine saves for Athletic. 
Wanganui City played with a lot more spirit in a 3-2 away loss to Palmerston North Marist. 
City welcomed an own goal for a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play but trailed 2-1 at halftime, conceding an own goal. 
Meanwhile, Wairarapa United clinched the Wellington women's soccer Federation League, thumping Wellington United 8-2 at 
Hullena Park in Masterton yesterday. 
Internationals Wendi Henderson and Nicky Smith were again class acts, showing sublime skills and touches that led to nearly all 
of the eight goals. 
Smith scored four goals while Henderson added another as well as featuring in the rest. 
It was the first championship for the Wairarapa team, which has been playing in the competition for five years. 
With two rounds still to play captain-coach Henderson said the team was determined to keep a perfect record in the league.
 
   Napier bide their time, then unleash Akers 

Napier City's Martin Akers celebrates the first goal of the national league soccer match against Manawatu at Park Island 
yesterday 
  
 
PATIENCE was the name of the game for Napier City Rovers in their national club soccer match against Manawatu at Park 
Island, Napier, yesterday. 
After a scoreless first half and a frustrating 30 minutes in the second half, Napier exploded to a 3-0 victory. 
There was a confidence in the Napier team that the goals would eventually arrive after a dominant first half during which 
numerous scoring opportunities went astray. The players remained focused on their game plan to set up an explosive finish led by 
energetic captain Martin Akers. 
There were moments of doubt when Manawatu sent striker Jamie How away twice through the tight Napier defence. But they did 
not count on the courageous quick reflexes of Mark Paston in the Napier goal. 
Paston put his body on the line on both occasions when faced with a one-on-one, and on both occasions came off the better 
keeping his scoresheet clean. 
On another occasion, Paston blocked a fierce drive after a corner had bobbled down to a Manawatu player and he deserved his 
man-of-the-match accolade after the match. 
Akers chased the ball all over park and in the 39th minute of the second half when a great lengthy through-ball from defender 
Jonathon Taylor found Akers in the box, the big striker chested the ball down, rounded his marker and blasted through the 
Manawatu keeper into the net. 
That seemed to open the floodgates as Napier lifted their urgency as though seeking a bonus four goals. 
Five minutes after Akers' effort, the captain sent a well-directed ball across to Paul Jackson and he out-sprinted his opponent to 
send the ball inside the left post for Napier's second goal. 
Akers sealed the match in the third minute of injury time with a rifling shot after drawing the keeper off his line. 
Manawatu were not without their fine performers in the second spell, particularly midfielder Jeremy Brown when he was able to 
free his players on the flanks with some finely executed passes. How and Shane Cunliffe created scares for the Napier fans, but 
the finishing of the visiting side was not a strong suite in their game. 
Defensively, Manawatu frustrated Napier with their sliding screen, which seemed to be able to close down the home attack at 
speed. 
Napier's defence, while beaten on three occasions, was never bowed and veteran Perry Cotton organised the back three well 
while Taylor was supreme in the air. Robbie Parker was energetic in closing down the visiting attack. 
Napier faces Waitakere City in the Chatham Cup quarter-finals next week and the same team the following week in a national 
club championship match. Waitakere, heavily beaten in Dunedin 6-2 yesterday, will need a strong all-round performance to 
break down Napier. 
Napier, assured of a top four finish in the national club championship after yesterday's result, will be looking to a creditable 
double next week in making the final four of the cup.
 
 NZ stayer `harder to beat next time' 
  
 
STAR winter galloper Blown Away will be much harder to beat at his next Melbourne start, rider Mark Du Plessis said. 
Blown Away finished sixth in an 1800m race at Caulfield in Melbourne on Saturday but Du Plessis said the distances proved too 
short with the soft track conditions also against the horse. 
Blown Away was at the rear of the 12-horse field with 600m to run but ran home well over the concluding stages to finish sixth. 
"He got home really good. He made up a lot of ground in the straight," Du Plessis said. "He will be harder to beat next time." 
Du Plessis said Cambridge trainer David Murray planned to race Blown Away over 2400m at the same track on August 5. 
The Exploding Prospect four-year-old gelding was having his first start in Australia after racking up three consecutive wins in 
New Zealand. 
The wins included the Cornwall Handicap at Ellerslie on June 5 and the Kiwifruit Cup at Tauranga on June 24. 
In the same race at Caulfield, fellow New Zealand-trained Ron finished fifth. 
Ron is trained at Awapuni by Peter Hurdle, who also lined up Zapeace in the day's feature, the A$100,000 weight-for-age 
Monash Stakes. 
Zapeace appeared to be outpaced over the 1000m distance and was eighth of the 10 runners. One place behind Zapeace was the 
Murray Baker-trained Buster Brookfield, who was a disappointment. _ NZPA
 
 Stable switch works for Our Blue Banker 
  
 
 
A CHANGE of environment has certainly worked wonders for exciting Wanganui filly Our Blue Banker. 
The British Banker three-year-old recorded her third straight victory for Wayne Marshment when she scored an easy win in the 
class 2 1200 at New Plymouth on Saturday. 
Our Blue Banker was originally trained at Cambridge by part-owner Ross McCarroll, who initiated the switch to Marshment's 
stable. 
"Ross just rang up and suggested she would be suited to beach work and a change of environment," Marshment said. "She had 
been getting a bit toey and a bit excited going to the track. 
"She's not much to look at but has always shown plenty of ability," he said. "She's still a little bit weak but is an unbelievable 
eater and is doing everything right." 
Our Blue Banker has been a clear winner at each of her three starts _ all over 1200 metres _ for Marshment, who believes the 
horse will be better suited to 1400 metres. 
Our Blue Banker was bred by Harry and Sheryl Parslow, of Wanganui, who purchased her dam, the talented racemare High 
Society, from a Karaka broodmare sale. 
High Society, who won seven races, has also left the speedy Turnpike Green and Turnpike Lane as well as Neptune Lad, a good 
winner in Australia. 
Our Blue Banker is raced on lease by a 12-member syndicate that includes Sheryl Parslow. She put the syndicate together and 
includes several first-time owners. 
The filly was one of two winners for Marshment on Saturday _ the other was the capable Rosner, who took out the 1600 metre 
highweight after running second at his two previous starts. 
Marshment has now won 10 races for the season from about 65 runners. He will have just one further starter _ Warrant Officer _ 
at Hawera next weekend. 
Stable star Centre Crest is making good progress in a new campaign and is close to racing trim. "I was going to take him to the 
Waverley trials tomorrow but have decided to wait a bit longer," he said. 
"He's a pretty hard horse to place and I'll just see what happens."
 
 
 
Riders suspended 
Ross Elliot and Jason Peake were both suspended after being charged with careless riding in the hurdle race at Ellerslie on 
Saturday. Elliot, riding Glace Star, caused a check to Le Rah near the 1000 metres while Peake, on Man Of Glory, checked Glace 
Star with 500 metres to run. Elliot will miss Paeroa and Levin this week while Peake is out until next Saturday. 
Winning comeback 
Jockey Ray Cochrane made a winning comeback to the saddle on Friday at the Newmarket racecourse where he narrowly 
escaped death last month in a plane crash. Cochrane swept to victory with a perfectly timed late run on Glowing, trained locally 
by James Fanshawe. 
Busuttin double 
Paddy Busuttin continued his excellent form in Singapore when landing a double on Saturday night. Busuttin produced the 
Westminster four-year-old Uncle James to win a $75,000 1400-metre event and was also successful with Victory Dance three-
year-old First Cut in a S$35,000 1600-metre event. Laurie Laxon also had a good night, winning with Twenty Four Carat three-
year-old Hanks, while his former New Zealand galloper Valiant Lea ran second to Uncle James. 
Disastrous race 
Yesterday's $10,000 Acka Cowan Memorial Steeplechase at Timaru was a disaster for veteran Riccarton jumps rider Barry 
Pelling and his mount, Shore Bird. The horse broke its neck at the last fence and Pelling, his leg. Shore Bird appeared in trouble a 
stride before the fence which he made no attempt to jump.
 
 Catching a nap proves costly for apprentice 
  
  
 
 
A WINNING mount went begging for Waikato apprentice jockey Craig Franklin at Saturday's New Plymouth race meeting _ 
literally because he went to sleep on the job. 
Franklin decided to take "a short nap" after riding in the day's sixth race as it was nearly 2<<1/2>> hours to his next ride in race 
nine. 
The long time was due to a gap of one hour 15 minutes between races seven and eight so patrons could take in most of the All 
Black-Springbok rugby test. 
Franklin dozed off in a car in the racecourse carpark after setting an alarm clock. 
But he later told stipendiary stewards he slept through the alarm and by the time he woke his mount in race nine, Karaka Angus, 
was clearing out for a 6<<1/2>> length win at odds of 15-1 in the hands of Woodville apprentice Thomas Russell. 
Adding to the embarrassment, it was the second time Franklin had missed a ride because of sleeping in. In April he arrived too 
late to ride in the opening race at Trentham. 
On that occasion, Franklin travelled to Wellington from Hamilton on an overnight train and on arrival at Trentham took the 
chance to grab some sleep before the meeting started. 
At Trentham he was fined $200 but on Saturday he copped a five-meeting suspension that will see him out of action up to and 
including August 3. 
Franklin, who is apprenticed to the country's leading trainers Graeme Rogerson and Keith Hawtin, had the previous week ridden 
Real Class Act to win the Parliamentary Handicap, a feature flat race of the Trentham winter meeting. 
"I'm not interested in rugby, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to have a sleep instead," Franklin said. 
He regretted his decision to have a sleep and was not looking forward to explaining to Hawtin what had happened. 
"I shouldn't have done it. It's a ludicrous thing to do. 
"The boss isn't going to be too impressed." 
When a replacement rider was announced for Karaka Angus, Franklin's cellphone, which was in the jockeys' changing room, 
rang hot with relations and friends wanting to know why, and asking if he had been injured. 
A sheepish looking Franklin eventually made his way back from the carpark at about 4.25pm. _ NZPA
 
 O'Sullivan sends rising stars south for Ryder 
  
 
 
MATAMATA trainer Paul O'Sullivan will mount a strong attack on the $20,000 Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Thursday. 
O'Sullivan will start the exciting Danehill filly Danasia and the promising Scream in the final two-year-old stakes race of the 
season. 
Danasia, a A$220,000 purchase in Sydney last Easter, made an impressive winning debut at Te Rapa on June 28 when she 
cruised to a two-length victory. Scream has recorded a win and a second from three outings. 
Jim Collett, who rode both fillies at their last starts, has elected to ride Danasia. Brian Hibberd will take the mount on Scream. 
O'Sullivan likes the chances of both horses but said Scream would prefer better ground despite winning on a heavy track at Te 
Aroha last month. 
"Danasia is more at home in the wet and has improved a lot since her win," O'Sullivan said. 
She did a fair bit wrong at Te Rapa and it wasn't a strong field but she won nicely. 
"She's a typical Danehill _ as tough as boots _ and her work has been pretty good." 
Raced by Auckland breeder Don McLaren, Danasia is from a good European family with her dam, the Persian Bold mare Lady 
Of Persia, being a good stakes winner in France. She is also a three-quarter sister in blood to the stallion Kings Island. 
O'Sullivan sees the Ryder has an excellent chance to gain some black type and she could well return south for the $25,000 
Waikato Stud Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui on September 2. 
That race could also be on the programme of Scream, who did well to run second at Tauranga last start after being caught three 
wide on the pace throughout. 
By the Biscay stallion Indentation, Scream is out of the Half Iced mare Hatchet Girl, who is a half-sister to the talented High 
Return. It is also the family of top Australian sprinter Notoire. 
O'Sullivan has a strong team preparing for spring racing on both sides of the Tasman and said he will have 60 horses in work at 
Matamata by August 1. He also has eight horses in Sydney. 
He said most of the Sydney horses were nearing racing trim with Pravda and Mulan Princess to trial at Warwick Farm next 
Friday. They are due to resume on August 19 with Pravda being aimed at the Melbourne Cup and Mulan Princess the Epsom 
Handicap. 
O'Sullivan has high hopes for Falls The Shadow, a son of Kate's Myth who won his only two-year-old start, while other members 
of the Sydney stable include Tallista, Kidd, Galiano, Myntic and She's Neat. 
He rates the Sir Tristram filly Diamond Cashel as his best two-year-old this season and she is being aimed at the Highview 
Stakes (1200m) at Hastings on September 16. 
Among the older horses making good progress are Edberg, who O'Sullivan expects to star in staying events after suffering a knee 
injury last year, Soap Opera, Kasman and Beaujolais. 
He has a large number of unraced three-year-olds and has a high opinion of the Faltaat filly Gem Dancer, who has won two trials 
and is likely to make her debut at Taupo on August 23. 
"It is a far more balanced team than I have had for the last two years," O'Sullivan said.
 
 Walker opposes proposal of creating north and south jockey premierships 
  
 
 
LEADING apprentice Michael Walker is among the critics of a plan being proposed to have two New Zealand jockey 
premierships _ but he is not going to lose any sleep over it. 
It has been suggested different premierships operate for the North and South Islands but Walker said he was among the central 
districts jockeys not backing the idea. "I would prefer it to stay as it is and the central districts area will go that way," Walker said 
at yesterday's Timaru meeting. "But it's not a problem as far as I am concerned. They can do what they like." 
Walker yesterday equalled Opie Bosson's national seasonal record for an apprentice of 128 wins and South Island riding 
opportunities have made it possible. 
Fellow rider Jim Collett has tabled a request to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to change the national premiership because 
of what he said is unequal opportunities. 
However, there may be a hidden agenda in the request, which has been backed by top riders like Lance O'Sullivan. 
The senior northern riders may be sensitive about the premiership power shift to the central districts, from where last year's 
winner, Darryl Bradley, and this year's sensation Michael Walker come. 
If the proposal was successful, wins in the South Island by northern jockeys would not count in the northern premiership and vice 
versa. 
Senior southern riders Lance Robinson, Paul Richards, and Damian Browne support the proposal. 
"South Island jockeys are not getting the publicity they deserve for what they do," Robinson said. "A separate premiership would 
help in that direction." 
Leading southern jockey Judy Jamison had mixed feelings about the idea. She also wants to set the record straight about a report 
in a Sunday newspaper which suggested a separate southern premiership would help her gain a sought-after contract in Asia. 
"I'm not interested in going to Asia at any stage. It's the last place I'd want to move to," said Jamison, who eased two wins ahead 
of Browne among southern riders yesterday. 
However, Asian rules may be playing a role behind the scenes of the northern jockey's proposal. To ride in top Asian circles like 
Singapore and Hong Kong a jockey must be one of the top five rated riders in his or her own country. Until recently it was the 
top 10. 
Central districts jockeys' association executive Darryl Bradley will oppose the move _ and South Island clubs are bound to agree 
with him. 
He points out that other jockeys are able to travel to more meetings if they want to, including those in the north. 
Northern riders regularly ride in the central districts. 
Trainers spoken to at Timaru yesterday were strongly opposed to the move. 
John Phillips, the president of the New Zealand Trainers' Association, called it ridiculous. "We are getting good lightweight 
riders who are helping clubs, and are models for our younger riders to observe at first hand. This suggestion is nonsense." 
The proposal also does not appear to consider that Riccarton is an A grade course, which runs several rich group races. 
In the meantime, Walker said that he may not yet come south for the Oamaru meeting next Sunday, the last of the season, if he 
has not broken Bosson's record. 
"From the record viewpoint, to be quite honest, I'll be happy if I just finish the season equalling it." _ NZPA
 
 McKee rules out Winter Cup bid with Blue Veil 
  
 
 
TAKANINI trainer Trevor McKee virtually ruled out a trip to Riccarton next month for Blue Veil despite the under-rated four-
year-old scoring a last-to-first victory in the $20,000 Winter Cup Trial at New Plymouth on Saturday. 
Apart from the winning purse, the winner of the Taranaki Racing Club's feature was also entitled to free transport to Christchurch 
for the $50,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton on August 5. 
Despite the incentive, McKee said it was highly unlikely Blue Veil would head south for the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting. 
"Regardless of what happened it was going to be her last run before she went out for a spell," he said. "That is what will probably 
happen." 
Blue Veil has now won five of 23 career starts and has been placed on eight occasions for stakes of just over $52,000. 
McKee, who trains in partnership with his son Stephen, rates the Justice Prevails mare highly. 
"She's improving all the time," he said. 
Blue Veil was near last passing the 600m mark in the 1400m race and was at least 15 lengths from pacemaker Ma Danseuse, who 
in company with The Red Express, ensured a torrid pace in the early and middle stages. 
Rider Vanessa Kroese moved Blue Veil handier on the home turn, and the combination made their challenge through the centre 
of the field to go on and score by a length from Ruakiwi Lad with The Blazer close up third. 
Kroese said it was always the plan to ride Blue Veil cold early. "That's the way she races best. 
"I rode her handy at Tauranga last start and it didn't work," she said, explaining Blue Veil's form reversal after finishing 10th at 
her previous start. 
Kroese, 26, completed her apprenticeship recently, but signed on for an additional year with the McKee stable. 
Saturday's victory took Kroese's career tally to 26 wins and was one of the biggest of her career. 
"I won the Matamata Cup on Force The Pace in the first year I was riding, that would be my biggest win." 
Kroese said Blue Veil was her favourite horse. 
"About 18 months ago she cut her leg quite badly when she slipped coming off the float and I nursed her through it. 
"We get on well together and I've won three races on her." 
While Blue Veil is expected to be missing from Riccarton, Ruakiwi Lad showed he was on track to make the trip with a solid run 
for second. 
The disappointment in the Winter Cup Trial was favourite Call Minder, who failed to cope with the heavy and sticky track. 
"She never handled it at all," Call Minder's rider Michael Walker said. 
Second favourite Nothing Lika Tango was fourth, running the race of an improver for rider Jeremy Walsh. "The run will improve 
him and he's looking for 1600 metres now," Walsh said. _ NZPA
 
 Su scores upset win over top-seed Lovelock 

Aucklander Joy Su on her way to an upset victory over top-seed Sam Lovelock in Saturday's Wellington Open women's singles 
final 
  
 
AUCKLAND second-seed Joy Su caused an upset in the Wellington Open badminton championships on Saturday but did not 
have things all her own way. 
Su toppled Wellington top-seed Sam Lovelock 11-0, 11-2 in the women's singles final at Badminton Hall in Hataitai. 
Lovelock's compensation came when she teamed up with Wellington Badminton Association coach Corrine Barnard to defeat 
unseeded Wellingtonians Lia Mapa and Delwyn Cooper in the women's doubles final in straight sets. Mapa and Cooper had 
earlier beaten second-seeds Su and Ruth Hemmingson in a straight sets semifinal upset. 
Barnard, a former England junior representative, also clinched the mixed doubles title with former Commonwealth Games 
medalist Dean Galt. They beat Su and fellow Aucklander David Nash 15-8, 15-9 after Su and Nash progressed to the final when 
second-seeds Glen Stewart and Lovelock retired after winning the first set of their semifinal. 
New Zealand singles No 1 Geoff Bellingham made short work of the men's final, holding off second-seed Byron Smith 15-11 in 
the first game and then finding his length to take the match 15-4 in the second. Bellingham also reached the men's doubles final 
with Scott McIvor, losing an epic battle against Galt and defending singles champion Andrew Compton 15-10, 11-15, 17-15.
 
 Second win through default upsets Randwick's Lajpold 
  
 
RANDWICK coach Tony Lajpold was unamused last night that for the second week in a row the competition leaders had won 
their Wellington premier club league match by default. 
The villians yesterday were Petone for a game at Rugby League Park after Paremata had been unable to field a side the weekend 
before. 
To compound things Randwick will not be playing next weekend either with it being their turn for the bye. 
"The guys were spewing, they were desperate to play this time," Lajpold said. "It's just not good enough. The clubs that are 
struggling are the ones that have done little development, and don't have any schoolboy teams. 
"Defaulting at this level just shouldn't happen. The Wellington league board should kick Petone and Paremata out of the 
competition. 
"Here we are trying to build up for the playoffs, and we can't get a game." 
Lajpold said Randwick had ambitions to compete in the national Bartercard Cup competition next year, and were working toward 
making an application should they win the Wellington title. 
Petone stalwart Peter Campbell said having to default was an embarrassment for one of the most distinguished league clubs in 
Wellington. Petone have been struggling to field a premier side for some time after starting the season impressively. 
Campbell said they had only 10 players when the decision was made to default, and another three had turned up soon after. 
Paremata were able to field a side on Saturday against Wainuiomata at Cannon's Creek with the help of several members of the 
Northern United rugby club. 
They included New Zealand Colts and Wellington representative flanker Jerry Collins, whose presence was sure to cause a stir 
within the rugby union with the national provincial championship starting next month. He broke a leg last year in an NPC game 
against Canterbury, and faced a long period of rehabilitation. 
His appearance off the bench for Paremata was confirmed by Wellington rugby academy manager Mike Ryan. 
Wainui won 34-28 and their team manager Ken Renata said Collins, who was recognised, had been on the receiving end of some 
heavy tackles. 
On Saturday St George lifted themselves off the bottom of the table in beating their second-placed neighbours North City 30-28 
at Rugby League Park, and Upper Hutt kept alive their playoff hopes in beating Kapiti 42-28 at Matthews Park. 
Upper Hutt were strengthened by the return from the national competition of centres Ian Aramoana and Warren Doughty, who 
scored five tries between them.
 
 Hall of Fame worth a visit for sports fans 

All Black great Colin Meads at the Sports Hall of Fame in Dunedin 
  
 
 
NEXT time any sporting buff - particularly one who loves to wallow in the nostalgia of New Zealand's greatest sporting 
moments - is in Dunedin, a trip to the city's railway stadium where New Zealand's Sports Hall of Fame is housed, is a must. 
An hour or two can be spent on the Hall's first floor, where a trip down memory lane can be reignited even by a variety of 
precious sporting relics. 
These include: 
* The protective shield Colin Meads wore for his broken arm during the All Blacks' 1970 tour of South Africa. 
* The gold medal won by boxer Ted Morgan at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games - the first time this was achieved by a New 
Zealand representative. 
* The tennis racquets used by Onny Parun and Chris Lewis when they were leading pros on the world circuit in the 1970s and 
80s. 
* The kayak with which canoeists Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald won one of their gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles 
Olympics. 
* The pads and stick of goalkeeper Trevor Manning, which he used in the New Zealand men's hockey team's gold medal win 
over Australia at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Manning's was one of the more stirring examples of New Zealand sporting 
heroism for he played the latter stages with a broken kneecap. 
* Staked out precisely, the 20ft 5.5in Yvette Williams leapt to win her gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. 
* And what the Hall's executive director Ron Palenski rates as the most invaluable exhibit of all, the helmet worn by Denis 
Hulme when he won the Formula One world motor racing championship in 1967. Motor racing memorabilia such as this 
apparently fetches huge prices in the United States. 
Besides these relics, the Hall features other displays of virtually all New Zealand's greatest sporting feats with several exhibits 
enhanced by contemporary newspaper accounts, a reflection no doubt of the journalistic background of Palenski and former 
executive director, Joseph Romanos. 
The Hall has been based in the Dunedin Railway Station for a year and Palenski is confident that now it is finally established in 
bricks and mortar it will shake off the unfortunate start it had when launched in 1990. 
In particular, it had to survive two traumatic events. The television launch in late 1990, to say the least, was embarrassing. And 
that was compounded by what Palenski admits was a flawed voting system. 
Then came the saga involving a prominent member of the original steering committee and one of the first inductees to the Hall, 
marathon swimmer Keith Hancox. 
In 1992, Hancox was convicted of embezzling funds from the Sports Foundation, of which he had been the chief executive. 
Because the money involved had been intended for the betterment of sport, Hancox was expelled from the Hall. 
The Hancox affair, perhaps because of the precedent set, continues to haunt the Hall. It was raised again a few years ago when 
softball pitcher Kevin Herlihy was also involved in criminal charges. However, his Hall membership has remained because it 
was judged that his offences were unrelated to his sporting deeds. 
Similarly, equestrian Mark Todd, who was admitted in 1993 even though one of the rules for induction state that nominees must 
have been retired for at least five years, has recently had his membership queried because of cocaine and sex allegations. 
But, even if the loose criteria means that there is an unusually high membership compared to the tight stipulation placed on 
similar Halls of Fame overseas, especially United States baseball, Palenski believes voting procedures have been remedied. 
Hancox, indeed, even before his conviction for embezzlement, had been one of the inductees seen to have been an anomaly. He 
was admitted in the first batch for having swum Cook Strait in 1964, but the first man to have accomplished that feat, Barrie 
Devenport, missed out. Hulme was another notable first omission. 
Palenski points out there is much less likelihood of this happening now. Justice has subsequently been done to the likes of Hulme 
and Devenport and it also needs to be remembered that New Zealand's Hall covers a wide spectrum of sport. 
Altogether, there are 152 individuals or significant teams in the Hall's membership. The teams include legendary All Black sides 
like those of 1905, 1924, 1945 Kiwi army tourists and the 1987 World Cup winning squad, hockey's gold medalists and the 1972 
rowing eight. 
One of the teams missing though, is the 1982 All Whites who competed at the soccer World Cup. Palenski believes this indicates 
the tough criteria being applied. The All Whites have been nominated twice unsuccessfully and while judgment in a New 
Zealand context is important, the fact they had not won a game in the cup's final tournament may have counted against them. 
Included in the membership, too, are some people who were champions in their activities, though it might be wondered whether 
those were in sport in its truest sense. There is Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary, for instance, aviator Jean Batten, 
woodchopper Ned Shewry and shearer Godfrey Bowen. 
Being based in Dunedin has some advantages, according to Palenski. The offer from the Dunedin City Council to use part of the 
railway station was too good to turn down. And Dunedin is a sports-mad city. 
But the Hall is a long way away from the country's main population bases and Dunedin is not an important gateway for tourists 
from Japan as, say, Christchurch. The Hall averages up to 300 visitors a week but more funds are needed to boost marketing. 
The main funding comes from these visitors but more importantly from the Hillary Commission. National sports bodies and 
companies have helped finance some displays, the Sports Foundation paying for the Peter Snell section, New Zealand Cricket for 
the section on Richard Hadlee, the Rugby Union for that on administrator Ces Blazey, the Olympic Committee for that on Lance 
Cross and Shell for the motor racing. 
"We're constantly searching for more money, though," says Palenski. 
If and when the Hall gains more funding, Palenski would like to expand both in space and in the use of electronics and videotape.
 
 Clive step closer to rare double 

Clive's Sam Ebbitt slips past Hastings wing Gerald Wiseman to score his second try of the Hawke's Bay club rugby semifinal at 
Napier's McLean Park on Saturday 

 
 
UNBEATEN Clive have one more step to take to capture a rare double-double in Hawke's Bay club rugby after securing a berth 
in the Maddison Trophy final with a resounding 44-20 win over Hastings Rugby and Sports at McLean Park, Napier, on 
Saturday. 
Clive, co-holders of the trophy with Hastings, made sure there were no Hastings-based clubs in the running for the top trophy. 
They went into Saturday's semifinal knowing that Taradale would be one finalist following their 30-27 win over Havelock North 
in the other semifinal on Friday night. 
Clive, unbeaten in 17 games last season and 16 this season, have retained the Nash Cup this year and are favoured to take the 
Maddison Trophy outright. The only blemish was a draw in last year's trophy final with Hastings which meant the teams shared 
the title. 
But Clive, coached by Gary Gregory and his assistant Ray Falcon during this period, have been demonstrably the top club in 
Hawke's Bay. They took their try tally for the season to 102 on Saturday, crossing Hastings' line five times, and their first five-
eighth Mano Flutey, with 17 points, has notched 308 points. 
Clive's confidence will be tempered by the fact that when they last met Taradale three weeks ago, they were held to 10-7 and that 
Taradale contain within their ranks a match-winner in first five-eighth Shaun Bell. 
Bell was Taradale's hero on Friday night landing six of his seven attempts at goal in wet conditions and under pressure in the 
second spell after Havelock North led 10-0 at halftime. He has played in six Maddison Trophy finals in his 14-year career, but 
has yet to lift the trophy. 
Havelock North had a chance of lowering Taradale, but the steadying influence of Bell kept his team in touch and he proved to 
be the difference in the end. Havelock North scored more tries than Taradale but could land only two conversions of their four 
tries and a solitary penalty goal, whereas Bell converted all three Taradale tries and added three penalty goals. 
Hastings was in a similar position to Havelock North with a chance of denting Clive's record but fell away in the second half. 
Hastings coach Adam McDonald was disappointed with his team's second half performance. 
"We took some wrong options and didn't secure the ball," he said. 
"It was dumb rugby really," he said. 
Hastings' first five-eighth Scott Leighton dominated the opening stanzas of the semifinal scoring in every possible way in a 
match with a dropped goal, a penalty goal, a try and a conversion. His try in the 19th minute came from a well-worked skip move 
which enabled him to break a midfield tackle and scamper 25 metres to the Clive line. 
At that stage, with a 13-3 lead and Flutey missing two of his first three shots at goal, Hastings looked to be in control. But Clive 
tightened their game, making yards around the rucks and mauls and eventually freeing their elusive backs. 
Clive took a 14-13 lead into the interval and came out firing, scoring a try through wing Casey Kireka three minutes after the 
break. Hastings responded well with a try to flanker Tafai Ioasa four minutes later and Leighton's conversion took them to a 20-
19 lead. 
However, that was to be Hastings' lot as Clive ran in another 25 points to clear away to a handsome 44-20 win. _ Frank Long 
POVERTY BAY 
NGATAPA sealed a finals place for the first time in 17 years after they downed an error-prone HSOB side 20-13 in a consuming 
championship playoff in Gisborne on Saturday. 
Ngatapa's strength was their team unity, outstanding defence and a never-say-die approach. The forward exchanges were close 
and while both backline's were given little latitude the winners were quick to capitalise on HSOB's mistakes. Ngatapa's grand 
support and slick passing gave them a slight advantage through the 80 minutes. 
The defining moment came 61 minutes into the game after first five-eighth David McDonald used the blindside and with a 
pinpoint chip kick, wing Joe Skerman collected the ball to race 45 metres to score. McDonald added the extra points to make it 
20-10 and though HSOB came back strongly they failed to get through Ngatapa's defence. 
The winners' pack worked hard, ran strongly close to the loose mauls and lock James Robertson jumped splendidly winning all 
their own throw-ins, but in the tough slog the packs cancelled each other out. 
Ngatapa's backline and few chances but were dangerous in broken play and engineered a great try in the dying moments of the 
first half. 
From a wayward HSOB kick Ngatapa attacked 20 metres from their own line and with a huge lineup on the right and with slick 
passing second five-eighth Willie Manuel finished off the move. 
Ngatapa's other points came from the boot of McDonald slotting two penalties and two conversions. HSOB's try came after No 8 
Stu Ensor crashed over from a five-metre scrum. Halfback Andrew Willock set up the try after a searing break but was held up 
on the line. 
HSOB had numerous chances but lacking accuracy. Their first tackles were sketchy, distribution along the line was pedestrian 
and with poor option-taking they let themselves down. 
Ngatapa's leading players were Robertson, prop Stu Smith and loose forwards Craig Brownlie and Chris Fougere. Manuel, 
Skerman and centre Jason Bright were lively. 
HSOB's leading performers were No 8 Ensor and lock Jamie Hutana. 
KING COUNTRY 
WAITETE and Kio Kio United will fight out next Saturday's King Country club rugby championship title after Kio Kio beat top 
qualifiers Taupo Sports 15-10 at Taupo's Owen Delany Park in Saturday's playoff. 
The match proved a typical torrid playoff battle between two evenly-matched teams. Each side was desperate to dominate and 
yet each failed to gain the upper hand. 
Both forward packs drove hard and each side endeavoured to make use of possession through their backs, while the defences 
were always solid. 
Taupo was first to break the Kio Kio defence with clever kick and chase tactics on the right flank, wing Gerard Te Heu Heu 
finishing off with a try in the corner after nine minutes. 
An Eddie Robinson sideline conversion gave Taupo Sports a vital lead. 
This was short-lived as eight minutes later Kio Kio replied when scrum half Lee Peina skillfully worked the blind side at a 
scrum, the movement involving full back Ollie Ryan and left wing Phil Watkins who scored. 
Robinson and Eric Henare, who converted the Watkins' try, later traded penalties and the teams went to the break locked at 10-
10. 
After Robinson and Henare each missed a penalty Ryan scored what was to prove the match-winning try midway through the 
second half. 
With Kevin Weinberg on from the substitute bench the King Country representative fullback entered the backline to link up with 
a movement involving Peina, who had gone to first five-eighth, and centre Johnny Toloi. 
Ryan finished off from the midfield and Kio Kio took a hard-earned 15-10 lead. 
Both sides tried desperately hard during the final quarter to change the score, but Kio Kio clung to their five-point advantage to 
advance to the final. 
Toloi and Ryan in the midfield and Peina were Kio Kio's most adventurous backs, while up front the tight five proved solid. 
Locks Rob Harrison and Wilf Paalvast worked overtime for Taupo Sports and first five-eighth Robinson gave his best. 
After next Saturday's club final King Country plays Poverty Bay at Taupo in the final buildup match on Saturday week before 
the national provincial championship campaign begins against Nelson Bays. 
WAIRARAPA 
CARTERTON and Masterton Red Star booked berths in next weekend's final of the Wairarapa-Bush senior A club competition 
after contrasting semifinals on Saturday. 
Carterton had to rely on a better points for and against equation to earn their spot in the final after scraping to a 9-9 draw with 
East Coast, while Masterton Red Star brushed off Marist in familiar style, winning 32-12. 
Buoyed by a solid performance against unbeaten Red Star the previous weekend Carterton looked complacent in the opening 20 
minutes and almost paid dearly. 
In a error-riddled match the pressure got to both sides with key passes going astray and possession too often lost with the try line 
beckoning. 
Neil Rodger and Kirk Hooper traded penalties in the first half to lock the score up 3-3 at the break. 
With the breeze picking up East Coast were looking confident as the second half got underway and were soon ahead with another 
Hooper penalty. 
It was not till Hooper had slotted his third penalty after 20 minutes that Carterton finally got going. 
Captain John Kendall led the charge continuing on from the first half with strong runs up the middle, while nippy halfback Justin 
Lett kept plugging away with kicks in behind the defence. 
But East Coast defended well and for all their troubles Carterton only managed a penalty. 
With five minutes left Rodger landed his third penalty levelling the scores and a place in the final was up for grabs. 
Red Star were impressive, running in five tries against Marist at Memorial Park. 
With an 18-0 halftime advantage Red Star coasted in the second period despite some stubborn resistance from Marist who 
salvaged some late season pride with two tries. 
In the minor semifinals Puketoi and Greytown defied predictions beating Eketahuna 32-12 and Gladstone 24-20, respectively. 
HOROWHENUA 
PLAYING-THROUGH champions Toa bowed out of contention for this year's final when they were beaten by Athletic 35-20 in 
their semifinal match. 
Athletics' opponents in the final next week will be long-standing rivals Levin Wanderers who beat Foxton in a close match 18-
14. 
Athletic's all-round strength, their unit and desire proved too much for Toa. They ran in four tries, three converted and two 
penalties to lead 32-8 at halftime. 
Outstanding in their excellent forward pack was loose forward Fabian Spencer and he was rewarded for his efforts with two tries. 
The other tries went to Neil Masters and Blair Fitzgibbon, Rick McLean was in good form with the boot converting three tries 
and landing three penalties for a total of 15 points. 
Toa made up some leeway in the seond half but never really threatened to overtake Athletic. They scored three tries, one 
converted and a penalty. 
Levin Wanderers made it through to the final for the first time for a few seasons when they defeated Foxton 18-14. 
They led 15-6 at halftime, as a result of tries to Bevan Sanson, Tiki Stowers with Kiley Williams landing a conversion and a 
penalty. Foxton's points came from two penalties by Laurie Brickland. 
Wanderers were restricted to a penalty in the second half while the competition's top try-scorer Jason Coley touched down for 
Foxton and Brickland landed a further penalty. Wanderers led 15-6 at the changeover.
 
 PIC 1 continue remarkable run 
  
 
THE unrelenting winning run of the PIC 1 netball team in the premier one competition looks to be unstoppable. 
On Saturday they were too good for second placed Wellington East 1, winning the match 60-38. 
While the match appeared to be tight, the scoreline showed a different story as PIC 1 poured on the goals. 
Wellington East 1 got close at times in the first two quarters but whenever the scores got tight PIC 1 lifted their performance, 
raising the speed of the game and scoring five or six quick goals in succession. 
The experience and skill of the PIC 1 showed through on Saturday as they took everything Wellington East 1 threw at them, and 
then gave it back with interest. 
After the match PIC 1 player-coach Gail Parata was happy with the result after the team had had an unsettled build up during the 
week. 
Key defender Pelesa Semu sprained an ankle at training on Thursday and had been in doubt for the match. 
Parata said her side went into the match with the target of a 20-point win and she believes the 22-goal victory her side secured 
was reflective of the match. 
"There is a little bit of arrogance, the players know they are a good side and they know how to play to that. 
"We know we are the better side, and no disrespect but if we were to win by one point today I would have been looking for a new 
team," said Parata. 
Wellington East 1 coach Pauline Yemm was disappointed with the result but believes the scoreline flattered PIC 1. 
Yemm believes the difference was that her side did not respond well when the pressure went on. 
"They took control but we came back and had a couple of mini rolls on but at the end of the day when the intense pressure went 
on we were intimidated and the players tended to stand odd," said Yemm. 
Injuries during the game also did not help Yemm as she was forced to make two changes at the defensive end of the court. 
While Yemm had problems with her side, she also admits that PIC 1 played well and some of the players who she thought were 
inexperienced stood up to the test and played "outstanding games". 
Looking ahead to the third round Yemm said her team will learn from Saturday's game and hopefully build up to the better result 
next time the two sides clash. 
In other premier one matches, St Catherine's Old Girls 1 defeated PIC 2 54-35, Johnsonville beat SCOG 2 55-39 and St Mary's 
Old Girls were too good for Wellington East 2 winning 59-46.
 
  
   Te Kawau take on Marist for club title 
  
MARIST and Te Kawau will face off for Manawatu rugby's premier trophy after semifinal wins at the Palmerston North 
Showgrounds Oval yesterday. 
The Hankins Shield penultimate round produced scrappy rugby from all four sides, as Te Kawau clinically accounted for High 
School Old Boys 32-7, and Marist squeaked home 17-16 over Linton Army in the earlier semifinal. 
The Marist win was exciting because of its closeness, not for its quality of football. 
Playing with the strong wind, Linton took the early lead with two penalties to fullback Ross Rainham. At halftime 6-0 was never 
going to be enough in the conditions, and Linton fired up for two quick tries out wide to replacement wing Brent Thomas. 
Rainham failed to convert either. 
At 16-0 in arrears, Marist woke up and scored through wing Bevan Gray, off a lovely pass from centre Jymahl Glassey. It was 
converted by wing Dan Power. 
Power then scored himself after sustained pressure but missed the conversion. 
The Marist front row of hooker Andy Parsons, and props Sean Dellabarca and Deryck Rowse, was superb in the scrum and from 
broken play and a turnover led to first five-eighth Brett Davis' match-winning try. 
Power missed again, and while the soldiers bombed a late try, Marist had done enough. 
Marist second five-eighth Julian Vulakoro had a strong game, and the young Fijian looks set for a run with Manawatu. 
For Linton, halfback Tim Kareko set up one try and first five-eighth Keiran Te Whare had a good game once he decided to take 
on the defensive line. 
The Te Kawau-HSOB match was a no contest after 35 minutes, with the Hankins Shield holders out to 27-0 playing with the 
wind. 
HSOB gifted Te Kawau two of their three first half tries. A horrible mix-up at the back between fullback Lee Hewitt and first 
five-eighth Brendon Ede led to the first, that by open side flanker Brent Thompson, who was rewarded for backing up. The 
conversion and an earlier penalty by Te Kawau fullback Sean Dunn meant the score was 10-0 before blindside flanker Bryan 
Matenga crossed thanks to a fine break by first five-eighth Jeremy Natusch. 
Dunn converted then added a penalty a few minutes later and HSOB were gone at 20-0. 
Another defensive lapse led to prop Issac Cook's barge-over try from a lineout five minutes before the break, and the win for Te 
Kawau was secure at 27-0. 
It took HSOB till the dying stages to score through replacement flanker Scott Sargison, converted by No 8 Mamataki Lea in a 
show of jest. 
Te Kawau's other points came from a try to prop Jeremy Hapeta. 
In other results Feilding Old Boys booked themselves a Centennial Shield final with Feilding Yellows after defeating a spirited 
Kia Toa 21-8 at the Showgrounds. 
Feilding Yellows proved too strong for Queen Elizabeth College Old Boys 25-7, while Varsity will now meet Oroua for the Val 
Holland Trophy after defeating Freyberg 29-0.
 
 Gemmell leads Wainui to victory in league debut 

Porirua Pumas captain Mark Graham dives over for his team's last try on Saturday in their 38-32 national league loss to Mt 
Albert at Rugby League Park in Wellington 
  
 
WAINUIOMATA league coach Ralph Moore has had little to smile about lately. His outside backs have been his biggest 
problem as Wainui's prospects of winning the national competition have dipped. 
On Saturday, he chose Avalon rugby centre Thomas Gemmell to make his Bartercard Cup debut against Ngongotaha at Rotorua, 
and Gemmell responded by scoring two tries in Wainui's 24-12 victory. 
"Thomas had a strong game. He ran well and defended well," Moore said. 
"He was one of our best players. It's never easy trying to beat Ngongotaha at home, and Thomas responded to the challenge." 
Moore also enthused about the display of New Zealand under-18 selection David Faiumu at halfback. Faiumu has genuine class, 
having attracted the attention of the Canberra Raiders, who want to trial him later this year. 
Faiumu, 17, scored an individual try from 40 metres when he hared through a gap, sidestepped the Ngongotaha fullback, and 
dotted down under the crossbar. 
However, Moore's delight at the efforts of Gemmell and Faiumu was almost cancelled out by what may be a serious injury to 
prop John Toelupe. 
The imposing Toelupe has been arguably Wainui's best forward this season, and uncertainty surrounds his future with the 
franchise needing to win their last four matches to have a good chance of qualifying for the playoffs. 
Toelupe left the field after 25 minutes with a knee strain, and was unable to return. 
Wainui's win allowed them to improve one place to seventh, and they have now reduced their deficit to two points outside of the 
top five for the playoffs. 
On Saturday, Porirua provided Mt Albert with stern opposition before succumbing 38-32 at Rugby League Park. It was yet 
another example of Porirua displaying plenty of ability without being able to finish the job. 
As Porirua continued to stay in contention, Mt Albert coach John Ackland became increasingly agitated, particularly with the 
penalties awarded by referee Harry Lysaght mounting against his team. 
"I hate coming to Wellington," Ackland said at one stage as he put his head in his hands. 
Just when Porirua looked out of it at 28-12, they closed the gap to 28-24 through tries within three minutes by winger Johnny 
Baker and centre Terry Clune, and they were still in it at 34-28 when Clune secured his second try. 
A relieved Ackland agreed afterwards Porirua had shown a lot of character. 
Porirua captain Mark Graham's strong contribution typified his season. He, more than any other Porirua player, has set a shining 
example in travelling down from Wanganui twice a week to attend training. 
Despite Porirua's patchy season, the second rower has, unlike some of his team-mates, continued to be a stabilising factor.

Joyce weaves her magic in open final 
 
Shelley Kitchen, right, is about to play a shot in her Wellington women's open squash final against Leilani Joyce at the Mitchell 
Park club yesterday 
  
 
BRITISH OPEN champion Leilani Joyce lived up to that exalted status yesterday in demolishing Shelley Kitchen in the women's 
final at the Wellington Open squash championships at the Mitchell Park club. 
Joyce, of Hamilton, took just 23 minutes to win 9-5, 9-0, 9-4, and after trailing 5-2 in the first game stepped up a gear to secure 
25 of the last 29 points. 
Kitchen, one of New Zealand's most promising players, was left floundering as Joyce weaved her magic, combining speed, 
strength and fitness with superb racket skills. 
Joyce, 26, is among the new breed of player taking the game to a new level with her athleticism and professionalism. 
"Adding flair to my game is the best thing that's happened," Joyce said. 
"There's still the need for the bread-and-butter basics but you need a lot more to win matches at the top level." 
Despite Kitchen's defeated look as she was repeatedly pressured into error, Joyce still rated her highly. 
She was also pleased with the return of new mother Sarah Cook, last year's New Zealand champion, who was making her first 
appearance on the circuit. Joyce praised Cook, who excelled in reaching the semifinals before losing to her in straight games. 
Cook is aiming for a place in the New Zealand team for the women's world championships in England in November. 
England left-hander Adrian Grant held his poise to overcome Australia's Liam Kenny 7-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-7, 17-14 in an often 
dazzling men's final in 71 minutes. 
For Grant, 19, a former England junior international, it was his second win in a men's international association ranking 
tournament in successive weekends after his victory in the Central Districts Open in Wanganui. 
Grant has been coached at London's famous Lambs club by former Wellington and New Zealand champion Glen Wilson, and his 
influence is apparent.
 
 NZ Residents pipped at post by cup team 
  
 
 
THE New Zealand Residents league team came within inches of beating a Sydney Metropolitan Cup representative team in 
Sydney on Saturday, going down 24-22. 
In a fast game that saw the lead change hands many times, the New Zealand side looked to have scored a decisive try with two 
minutes remaining but a linesman ruled the final pass was forward. Motu Tony scored two tries for the Residents. 
The New Zealanders opened their tour by thrashing Victoria 64-0 in Melbourne on Wednesday and their final game is tomorrow 
night against a combined country side. _ NZPA
 
 Bennett says Warriors in need of help from NRL 
  
 
 
BRISBANE Broncos coach Wayne Bennett says the National Rugby League must throw the Warriors a lifeline or the Auckland 
club will struggle to become a force. 
The Broncos won their seventh consecutive match and completed an unbeaten season at ANZ Stadium, in Brisbane, by 
overcoming a brave Warriors effort 38-20 on Saturday. 
The Warriors scored the first two tries _ to go to 10-0 up _ and the last two, but the premiership's strongest club managed seven 
in-between while piling on 38 unanswered points. 
With the Warriors' future in the competition clouded, Bennett said it was crucial the NRL maintained their strength. 
"Unless we do something to try and equalise the competition then our game will continue to suffer because teams will be allowed 
to grow stronger and others will become weaker," Bennett said. 
"Auckland are disadvantaged now and it will take years to pick up things and make them into a competitive football team. 
"That's not in the best interests of our game and unless the NRL do something about it then there's little or nothing the clubs can 
do." 
He wanted the only club below the Warriors on the table, the North Queensland Cowboys, to be given help as well. Possible 
answers were dispensation in the salary cap and special grants when a draft is introduced. 
Warriors coach Mark Graham greeted the comments warmly. 
"It's not a level playing field. We are the only team that don't have reserve grade side and that obviously hurts us," Graham said. 
"If it's deemed that Auckland should be in the competition then the NRL has to ensure that it is a level playing field." 
Meanwhile, Graham said Saturday's game showed the Broncos were on another level. 
"Make mistakes against a team like the Broncos and they will punish you. Unfortunately we were guilty of making fundamental 
errors in the second half for which we paid dearly," he said. 
"But I was encouraged by the character shown at times." 
The eight finalists were determined a week early when the Sharks beat Parramatta 34-18 in an emotional game yesterday. 
The Wests Tigers' 26-34 loss to Newcastle at Campbelltown left them and the St George-Illawarra Dragons out in the cold. 
Both the Tigers and Dragons, who beat The Bulldogs 28-10, are on 24 points, only two behind the eighth-placed Sharks. But 
neither can advance as their points differential is considerably worse than the Sharks. 
A sellout crowd at Toyota Park, Sydney, was on hand to farewell halfback Mitch Healey and captain Andrew Ettingshausen, who 
was out with injury. Both are in their final NRL seasons. 
The Eels dominated the first half but could only go to the break level 12-12. But Sharks winger Mat Rogers sealed the game with 
a hat-trick of tries and 22 points. 
The battle for top four spots remains intense. The Sydney Roosters held on to second after beating the North Queensland 
Cowboys 36-20 at Townsville. Challengers include the Penrith Panthers, who had an expected 32-26 home win over the 
Northern Eagles thanks to four tries by hooker Craig Gower, and the Canberra Raiders, who upset the Melbourne Storm 20-16. _ 
NZPA
 
 Kent shows he's on target with top effort 
  
 
 
DEAN KENT was the sole New Zealander to record a top-three finish in a final against Australia's best at the Telstra swimming 
meet in Brisbane on Saturday. 
The North Shore club quartet of Kent, Steven Ferguson, Scott Talbot-Cameron and Monique Robins all reached finals on the first 
day of the two-day meet to prepare the Australian team for the Sydney Olympics. 
Kent beat Australia's Olympic No 1 Justin Norris in the 400m individual medley final. He clocked 4min 28.40s to finish second 
behind Australia's Grant McGregor, who missed qualifying for the Olympics. 
"Dean was right on his goal time and looked very good. To beat the Australian No 1 is a wonderful performance," coach Jan 
Cameron said. 
Robins finished sixth in the final of the 50m freestyle, Talbot-Cameron fifth in the 100m backstroke and Ferguson sixth in the 
200m breaststroke. Cameron said she was pleased with the performance of the squad. 
"Everyone is still in heavy work so the times were relatively slow but the racing was excellent. The chance to race against the 
Australians is invaluable," Cameron said. 
Cameron is looking forward to stronger performances, before the Kiwis begin a two-week training camp with a leading 
Australian squad in Brisbane. 
"We are on target at present. My goal for this group is to finish in the top 16 in the world at Sydney, though with Dean's 
performance here, he could possibly push into the top 12 in the world." _ NZPA
 
  
Blown tyre costs Dixon series lead 
  
 
NEW ZEALAND driver Scott Dixon lost his lead in the IndyLight motor racing series in the United States after a blown tyre 
ended any chance he had of winning the latest race in Brooklyn, Michigan, yesterday. 
Dixon was forced into the pits four laps from home with a cut front right tyre and punctured left rear tyre after a collision with 
Townsend Bell's car. He finished 14th and out of the points. 
The winner of the opening two races of the season, Dixon is now second in the championship, one point behind Australian Jason 
Bright, who finished ninth yesterday. 
"I was running strong, and holding my line ready to make my move," Dixon said. "I got caught with Bell while I was in line at 
the exit to turn two. He basically was off line and left out to dry when he cut down on me and made contact. 
"It's unfortunate because this race plays such an important role in the championship. We'll just have to regroup and get ready for 
better results in the next round in Chicago next weekend." _ NZPA
 
 Kronfeld's body tells tale of brutal battle 
  
 
 
JOSH KRONFELD gratefully accepted the offer of a seat and eased his bruised body on to the sofa. 
His right eye blackened, Kronfeld smiled painfully when asked if there was any lessening in the intensity of a test against South 
Africa. 
"Do I look like there has been," the All Black flanker, who was in superb form at Christchurch's Jade Stadium on Saturday, said. 
"It's the just the way both sides play," Kronfeld said, in explanation of the tight, often brutal and acrimonious test. "It's 
uncompromising stuff and probably to the detriment of the game at times. 
"In some ways you sort of dread going up against South Africa because you know what you are in for and what to expect, and 
[Saturday] was no exception - they got into us." 
The Springboks certainly did, especially in the second half as they hammered at the All Blacks around the rucks with one-off 
runners. 
But it was hardly enterprising stuff and the All Blacks kept their line intact with great defence, with skipper Todd Blackadder 
leading the way in his best performance to date. 
South Africa may talk about playing an expansive style of rugby, but on the evidence presented before a full house in 
Christchurch they have a long way to go. 
The backs were awful with the passing misdirected and poorly timed, while the forwards are not good enough ball runners. 
The exceptions are wing Breyton Paulse, who nearly scored in the second half, and flanker Rassie Erasmus, who was forced from 
the field with a rib injury early in the second half. 
Springbok coach Nick Mallett, under the microscope following consecutive losses to New Zealand, Australia and England, 
painted a rosy picture of his side's 25-12 defeat. 
He claimed the match had turned on several incidents that could have gone either way - Christian Cullen's two tries, and two that 
South Africa narrowly missed to halfback Werner Swanepoel and Paulse. 
"Tough tests turn on opportunities and New Zealand took their two, and we didn't," Mallett said. "We still have to learn to be 
patient and to take the half-breaks and opportunities when they're on. 
"Against a very good defence we did not get the reward, but if we had played like that against England, we would have won. 
"You can't say we should have won [against the All Blacks], but there was progress from the Australia test. We showed we can 
be competitive, we just need to seize our opportunities," Mallett said. 
All Black coach Wayne Smith was pleased to get a win against South Africa by a margin that a few years ago would have been 
hailed as a great victory. 
But he also felt there was a lot to work on before Saturday week's Bledisloe Cup decider against Australia. 
By concentrating on their defence in the leadup to the Springbok test, the All Blacks' attacking strategies had dropped off 
slightly, he said. 
The All Black pack also has to step up a level. While the lineout was a dramatic improvement from the Australian test, the scrum 
struggled and the ball from rucks was too slow. 
Much of that was because of the Springboks' often-illegal play, but it is something the All Blacks need to counter. 
The pack was unable to dominate and could not draw the South African forwards in to allow the classy All Black backs room to 
move. 
But the All Blacks again showed considerable mental fortitude, which Smith acknowledged. 
"It was important to show we could win that sort of game. 
"Everyone knows we have scored 40-odd tries so far this year and that we can win those sorts of [high-scoring] games, but we 
had to show we could play a tight game as well."
 
 Waikato pile on points in defence of shield
 
HOLD ON: Springbok wing Thinus Delport tries to stop a rampaging Jonah Lomu during the All Blacks' 25-12 win at Jade 
Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday 
  
 
WAIKATO matched their try-scoring deeds of their recent South Island tour in beating second-division Wanganui 86-3 on 
Saturday in the first Ranfurly Shield rugby match played in Tokoroa. 
The Mooloo men scored 14 tries, including four to wing Bruce Reihana, in showery conditions at Tokoroa Memorial 
Sportsground. 
It was Waikato's 18th successive defence of the Shield since winning it off Auckland in 1997. They have now gone past 1000 
points for that period _ a total second only to that of Auckland in their record eight-year tenure. 
But while the number of tries was similar to the 15 scored against West Coast and 14 against North Otago on the recent Shield 
road trip, first five-eighth Glen Jackson struggled with his goalkicking, converting just eight tries. 
His 21 points, which also included a try, took Jackson past 100 career Shield points, while Reihana's try-scoring deeds also 
enabled him to crack the 100 mark. 
Waikato scored eight tries in the first half for a 48-0 halftime lead. 
Wanganui's only points of the match came 14 minutes into the second half when wing Johnny Muir kicked a 35m penalty goal. 
They were outmuscled up front and outpaced out wide but never shirked the heavy defensive load. 
Hardest workers for Wanganui were loose forwards Chris Masoe, Paul Ipipi Amani and Scott Brider. 
Waikato openside flanker Nick Holten, who scored two tries, had an outstanding match with a high work rate, while skipper 
Deon Muir and young blindside flanker Jono Gibbes were not far behind. 
The bigger and more experienced Waikato tight five, led by lock Royce Willis, were too strong for Wanganui. 
The Waikato back four of Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Keith Lowen and Reihana were a handful for the Wanganui defence, 
which found itself constantly outflanked. 
Waikato went off the boil for a while in the middle stages of the second half but came back strongly to put together three tries in 
the last nine minutes. 
Waikato's next defence of the Shield is their second match of the NPC against Northland in Hamilton on August 19. _ NZPA
 
 Test win over Boks hardly sparkling, but deserves to be treasured 
  
 
 
ANY All Black test rugby win against the Springboks, especially when the margin is in double figures, deserves to be treasured. 
But some idea of the limited entertainment value in Saturday's 25-12 win at Christchurch can be gained from coach Wayne 
Smith's opening words at his post-match media conference. It was, he said, "a typical All Black-Springboks test" - a phrase 
which has been used countless times to excuse the dourness which has been so frequent in past meetings between South Africa 
and New Zealand. 
It was, in fact, a match which never really came to life despite being played in ideal conditions. There were two reasons for this. 
One was the intense defensive work of each side and the other the refereeing of England's Chris White. After a good first half, he 
doubled his penalty rate in the second, arousing suspicions he was slowing the game to his own fitness level. 
It was not a game in which many individuals excelled, the most significant players being opposing fullbacks Christian Cullen and 
Percy Montgomery, and that was for contrasting reasons. 
Cullen, recovering from an early knock, scored the match's only tries, though they were probably the softest of the 37 he has 
scored in 46 tests. 
The first came from a lucky bounce and the second when he was put into the clear by a delicious Andrew Mehrtens pass. 
His greatest contribution was not so much on attack but on defence and with the pace he showed to outstrip Breyton Paulse when 
it seemed the Springbok speedster looked certain to score in the second spell. 
If Cullen was the man-of-the-match, then there was equally little argument that Montgomery suffered the greatest embarrassment 
and his frailties were cruelly exposed by Mehrtens's surgical boot and the physical challenge posed by Jonah Lomu. 
For the All Blacks the match represented a step up on those areas where they had been deficient against Australia last week: 
defence and the lineouts. Whether that will be enough to beat the Wallabies, with their more threatening backline, a second time 
in Wellington in a fortnight remains a moot point. 
For there was an element of luck involved in the win. Who knows what might have happened had the Springboks scored in the 
opening minute when the video referee ruled Justin Marshall had not impeded Werner Swanepoel in the chase for the ball? 
But it might be wondered whether a penalty try might also have been issued when in the field of play, which is outside the video 
refereeing process, Ron Cribb committed a borderline tackle on Paulse. 
That wasn't the only occasion where Saturday's game may have benefited from video assistance to resolve an incident in the field 
of play. Clearly a mistake was made when a knock-on was called against Lomu and he was was denied a first try against the 
Springboks. 
And just as the video refereeing process may need a review, so, too, does the time taken for respective national anthems, 
important as they undoubtedly are. The renderings of the different versions on Saturday must just about have been a world record 
for the time they occupied.
 
 Key wins peak to peak event 
  
 
 
OTAGO athletes cleaned up in the annual Coca-Cola Peak to Peak multisport event, which was held in perfect weather 
conditions in Queenstown yesterday. 
Haydn Key, from Queenstown, was first individual man home, beating multisport champion Steve Gurney by just over five 
minutes in a time of 2h 10min. 
Gurney, last year's winner, ran a compelling race, gaining time throughout the event after a slow ski start. He made up time in the 
kayak, run and final bike leg to come in second in 2h 15min. 
Another Queenstowner, Sebastian Smith, took third place in 2h 22min. 
Queenstown women cleaned up in the individual category, with Mandy Richardson taking first place in 3h 16min followed by 
Mary Jowett in 3h 19min.
 
 Cullen closes in on record;Star fullback shines in dour test match 
  
 
 
CHRISTIAN CULLEN is poised to become New Zealand's greatest rugby test try-scorer when the All Blacks play Australia in 
Wellington next week. 
Cullen scored two tries in Saturday's 25-12 win over South Africa in Christchurch, in a performance that stood out in an 
otherwise dour and error-ridden game. 
The double took the Hurricanes fullback's test tally to 37 tries from 46 tests, two tries ahead of John Kirwan and two behind 
recently retired Jeff Wilson's record of 39. 
Cullen has scored in each of the All Blacks' five tests this year and that strike rate suggests Wilson's record could at least be 
equalled in Wellington. 
"It's not something I strive for," Cullen said of the test record. "Everybody says it's a team thing to score tries and if I get the 
record it's the team that's helped me do it." 
Cullen followed a similar track when asked about his excellent record this season. 
"Most of them have been lucky ones, just on the end of the line," Cullen said. "I haven't really had to work for them yet, but I 
guess that's what we're there for, wingers and fullbacks, to score the plums at the end." 
But Cullen's effort at Jade Stadium was a standout performance, particularly as it appeared he might not survive past the first 
minute after he was nearly knocked out in a clash of heads with Springbok flanker Corne Krige. 
"I just tried to take the ball up and got hit from a blind spot," Cullen said of the bone-crunching hit. "I haven't seen it on TV but 
someone said it looked pretty awesome - I can't wait to see it." 
The tackle left Cullen dazed and Leon MacDonald replaced him for a few minutes while he recovered. 
Barely back on the field, he scored his first try when Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery made a hash of a kick ahead by All 
Black first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens. 
Montgomery, who had a dreadful afternoon, tried to fly-kick the ball into touch but an awkward bounce saw the ball sail into 
Cullen's arms for a straight run to the line. 
A piece of Mehrtens magic conjured up Cullen's second try as the pivot threw a perfect cut-out pass to put Cullen in the open out 
wide. 
But Cullen's day was not over. With the All Blacks leading 22-12, 13 minutes into the second half, Springbok wing Breyton 
Paulse sprinted into the open chasing a kick ahead, the try looking a formality. 
However, Cullen had other ideas as he raced across to beat Paulse to the ball in goal. 
There were few other chances for Cullen to shine in a tight test that never came close to the heights of the All Blacks' 39-35 win 
against Australia a week earlier. 
"It was nothing like last week when it was open and there were a lot of holes. That's because the Africans run straight at the 
player, so it's easier to defend against the Africans than the Aussies. 
"The Aussies create a lot more, and run off each other, and that's why there are so many holes [in an All Black-Wallaby test], so 
we'll have to pick up our defence for Wellington," he said. 
Cullen was looking forward to the test, to be be played before a full house of 36,500 at WestpacTrust Stadium. 
"We get three days off now and I'm looking forward to that, but I'm looking forward to playing in Wellington too - I'm sure 
they'll really turn it on. 
"It's going to be awesome. It was good for the Hurricanes and it's going to be massive for the All Blacks."
 
 Collins turns out for league side 
  
 
 
WELLINGTON rugby representative Jerry Collins came off the bench on Saturday to play for the Paremata club against 
Wainuiomata in a Wellington premier club league match at Cannons Creek. 
Collins was one of several members of the Northern United rugby club who appeared for Paremata. Despite their presence, 
Wainui won 34-28. 
Wellington rugby academy manager Mike Ryan confirmed Collins played for Paremata. 
"As far as Jerry was concerned it was a social game but from my perspective he needs to look after himself and he wasn't doing 
that," Ryan said. 
Flanker Collins is a member of the New Zealand Colts side, that won the international rugby tournament earlier this month in 
Auckland, and is certain to play in the NPC. 
Wellington coach Dave Rennie said he would be surprised if Collins had played a league game, and worried about him possibly 
getting injured. 
"I doubt it would be true to be honest," Rennie said.
 
 More changes promised by Smith 

All Black fullback Christian Cullen moves a step closer to Jeff Wilson's test try-scoring record with his second try against the 
Springboks on Saturday 
  
WAYNE SMITH is promising more changes to the All Black rugby side to play Australia in Wellington on Saturday week in a 
test New Zealand must win to secure the Bledisloe Cup. 
Smith would not name the players who would go, but changes should be made at lock and centre, with Norm Maxwell and 
Alama Ieremia brought back into the starting XV. 
Ieremia watched from the stand at Jade Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday as Mark Robinson had an ineffectual game at 
centre. 
He was seldom asked to play a role defensively as the South Africans concentrated their attack closer in, but did little to get 
involved when the All Blacks had the ball. 
Ieremia's organisation on attack and defence was missed, as was the threat he poses in both those areas and the distribution skills 
that have come back into his game this year. 
Maxwell came on for an injured Troy Flavell at halftime and made an impact, securing three consecutive Springbok lineout 
throws. 
Skipper Todd Blackadder also hauled in a South African throw while prop Kees Meeuws caught another in the first half in a 
much-improved New Zealand lineout effort. 
The All Blacks finished with 13 lineout wins and lost only one throw. However, the Springbok lineout was a far cry from the 
classy Australian unit that will again cause all sorts of headaches for the All Blacks in Wellington. 
"We are not making changes for the sake of making changes, we're doing it for a reason," Smith said. 
"We'll pick the best team to play Australia. We'll have a look at this game and reflect again on how we went against Australia 
and look at how they go against South Africa [in Sydney on Saturday]. We'll put it all in the pot and come up with the lineup that 
we think is the best we can put together." 
That lineup is unlikely to be too different from Saturday's, with the exception of centre and lock, and possibly the front row as 
the All Blacks struggled in the scrum. 
However, it is not obvious whether the props waiting in the wings are better than those who played in Christchurch. Craig Dowd 
replaced Carl Hoeft at loosehead prop in the second half but the All Blacks still seemed to struggle in the scrums. The only other 
option is rookie Greg Somerville at tighthead instead of Kees Meeuws. 
One area no longer in dispute is openside flanker. Josh Kronfeld has shared the duties with Scott Robertson this year but his 
performances in the second half last week against Australia, and in Christchurch on Saturday, showed he remains the best in the 
business. 
The All Blacks have three days off before regrouping in Palmerston North on Thursday to prepare for the tri-nations test at the 
WestpactTrust Stadium. 
There is a lot riding on the game, as an All Black win will see the Bledisloe Cup return to New Zealand and ensure a successful 
defence of the tri-nations title. 
However, Smith said each test was as important as the rest. "I don't really think too much about the tri-nations as such, I just look 
at them as test matches. "They are games that need to be won and it doesn't really matter who they're against or what they're for, 
they're test matches in the black jersey." 
* Brutal battle p25
 
 Alker in the hunt 
 
Hamilton golf professional Steven Alker is one shot off the lead going into the final round of the Quebec Open in Montreal 
today. Alker, who held a share of the lead after the second round of the Canadian PGA Tour event, shot a third-round 71 
yesterday to be in a four-way tie for third on 11-under par.

Kiwi misses out 
  
 
Michael Aish narrowly missed the New Zealand Olympic qualifying time for the 10,000m at the British Olympic trials in 
London at the weekend. Aish finished fifth in 28min 8s, 3s outside the qualifying mark.

22 August 2000

Hastings track easy 
The Hastings track was rated as easy yesterday, with a penetrometer reading of 2.8, raising hopes that the course 
will be good for the premier meeting on the course on Saturday. 
Liston attracts 30 
Thirty horses, including the New Zealand mares Ad Alta and Zapeace, have been nominated for the A$200,000 
Liston Stakes (1400m) at Sandown, in Melbourne, on Saturday. Leith Innes will ride Ad Alta, who is beginning a 
new campaign. Other entries include Skoozi Please, Inaflury and Manikato Stakes runner-up Honour The Name. 
Kiwi has rocky run 
New Zealand three-year-old Sound The Alarm figured twice in the stewards' report after finishing third in the 
McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley last weekend. Sound The Alarm was blocked for a run before the turn and was 
then hit over the head by a whip when going through a narrow gap in the straight. 
Clearance needed 
Railway Handicap runner-up Cullen will need a veterinary clearance before he races again. Cullen was found to 
have an irregular heartbeat after stopping quickly in the Manikato Stakes in Melbourne last weekend. 
Able Master returns 
Auckland Cup winner Able Master is likely to resume in a 1500-metre welter at Rosehill, in Sydney, on Saturday. 
Stablemate Viper Corp is among 14 entries for the A$140,000 Peter Pan Stakes (1500m). 
Lack of force 
Leading northern trotter Special Force will be sidelined for at least six months after suffering a leg injury. "There 
is a little hole in the tendon area in the near hind leg," trainer David McGowan said. There are only seven free-for-
all trotters in training in North Island stables. 
Group I to Woodman 
Ciro, a son of the Australian shuttle sire Woodman, won the Group I Secretariat Stakes (2000m) at Arlington last 
weekend. Ciro, who was ridden by Michael Kinane, is trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and beat hot favourite 
King Cugat. Ciro, who raced in blinkers for the first time, had run third in the Irish Derby at his previous start. 
Fritz wins trial 
Telegraph Handicap winner Fritz was a trials winner at Rangiora last weekend. Fritz is being aimed at the Timaru 
Stakes at Riccarton in October. Meiner Dancer, who won his South Island debut last month, won a 1000m trial by 
10 lengths. 
Plenty of punch 
English stayer Persian Punch, who ran third in the 1998 Melbourne Cup, behind Jezabeel and Champagne, won the 
Group II Prix Kergorlay (3000m) in France last weekend.
 
 Wheeler takes punt with Maybe Rough 
 
John Wheeler 
  
 
JOHN WHEELER is taking a punt with his star jumper Maybe Rough at Ellerslie on Saturday. 
Maybe Rough, who has never raced over fences in New Zealand, is a confirmed runner in the $25,000 Pakuranga 
Hunt Cup (4900m) at Ellerslie. 
The nine-year-old was flown to Auckland, from Melbourne, on Sunday night, accompanied by regular rider Brett 
Scott, who will have the mount on Saturday. 
Maybe Rough has had only two starts over fences since finishing fifth in the Nakayama Steeplechase in Japan in 
April and Wheeler thinks the horse will have to race with distinction on Saturday to be selected for the Japanese 
race again next year. 
"It's the last flick of the dice, if you like, but I'm quite happy to take the punt with him," Wheeler said yesterday. 
"If he didn't start on Saturday he would be struggling to get there [to Japan], anyway, so there's nothing to lose and 
if he wins this weekend, he should get the nomination again. 
"If everything was in his favour he would probably be too good for them [on Saturday] but it will be a big ask if he 
has to race twice over the hill in testing conditions. 
"He's not a wet-track horse and his lack of racing would be against him if the track was very testing. 
"But if he doesn't win on Saturday and misses selection for Japan we will set him for the Oakbank meeting 
instead." 
Maybe Rough won the Macdonald Steeplechase (3200m), with 67 kilograms, at Moonee Valley on June 24, but 
pulled up distressed after running last on the same track three weeks later and had to miss the Hiskens Steeple. "He 
had an infection in his respiratory tract but it came right with treatment," Wheeler said. 
"He seems as good as gold now, though there is always an element of doubt. But we had him 'scoped and 
everything was clear and he has galloped well since. 
"He did miss 10 days' work but that should not be a huge problem. He had done heaps of work before that. 
"He's a very good jumper and you don't get horses as good as him very often." 
Wheeler is not concerned over the weight Maybe Rough will get at Ellerslie. "He's a big, strong horse and I don't 
think the weight will worry him." 
Eleven horse were nominated for the Hunt Cup yesterday, the others including dual Great Northern winner Royal 
Ways, Reb's Shu and Keen. Ken Browne nominated All Rhythm, Boon's Boy, Gold Story, Lost In The Flood and 
Wanderlust. 
Wheeler will not have a runner at the premier meeting at Hastings on Saturday but Real Tonic, who is unbeaten 
from two starts, Hammersmith and Mustad are other possible runners at Ellerslie.
 
 O'Sullivan returning to race riding on Laxon stablemates 
  
 
LANCE O'SULLIVAN will partner the richly bred stablemates Chimeara and Ethereal when he returns to race 
riding at Taupo tomorrow. 
Chimeara and Ethereal are trained by Sheila Laxon and raced by the Vela brothers. 
Both fillies have shown promise at trials and are potential candidates for the Group III Highview Stakes (1200m) 
at Hastings next month. 
Chimeara, who had one start last term, contests a maiden three-year-old (1200m) tomorrow and Ethereal makes 
her race debut in a 1200-metre maiden. 
"I have ridden them both at trials and they are both nice animals," O'Sullivan said yesterday. 
Ethereal, a Rhythm filly from the Hong Kong Cup winner Romanee Conti, won a 1000m trial at Te Awamutu in 
April. "She's a good type and very smart," O'Sullivan said. 
Chimeara (Danehill-Tristalove) is a sister to the yearling who made A$1.5 million at Sydney at Easter and was 
bought privately in Australia by the Vela brothers as a foal. 
She was the beaten favourite when finishing sixth at Hastings in July but Laxon said the filly had an excuse. "The 
track was a bit more testing than we had expected and she was probably a bit pretty to handle the conditions. 
"But we wanted to give her a trip away and a run at Hastings with the Highview in mind." 
Laxon said she would "like to think" that both fillies could be contenders for the Highview, but they would need to 
race well this week. "They need to get a score on the board." 
O'Sullivan, who has not ridden since June 7, has taken six mounts at Taupo. The others are Gem Dancer, 
Alashaan, Wisp and Roman Seattle. 
O'Sullivan has had a rod removed from his thigh since he last rode and is now free from the pain which had often 
hampered his riding in the previous 18 months. 
In particular, he tended to have problems when jumping his mounts from the barrier, but that should now be 
behind him. 
"I'm looking forward to getting back and hopefully picking up my game a bit," he said. "It might take a few rides 
to get my eye in but I have done a lot of work and haven't shirked on my fitness. 
"But the only way to get race-fit is to do it." 
O'Sullivan has won 10 premierships in New Zealand but does not expect to be inundated with rides from the 
outset. "I don't expect the phone to be ringing off the hook and I will have to go out there and do it. 
"I'm not going to be riding everywhere but I'm keen to get back into it." 
He is also looking forward to coming up against glamour youngster Michael Walker. "He [Walker] has done a 
fabulous job and is riding very, very well." 
O'Sullivan will be riding at Hastings on Saturday but his only confirmed mount at this stage is Cinder Bella, in the 
Mudgway Stakes. 
O'Sullivan has had four wins and four seconds in the Mudgway and won the race three years in succession from 
1992.
 
 Campbell named to take on US 
  
 
NEW ZEALAND golfer Michael Campbell was yesterday confirmed in the International team to play the United 
States in the Presidents Cup matchplay event. 
Campbell was named at No 6 for the cup contest in October despite missing the cut in the PGA Championship 
which ended yesterday. 
The team captains will announce their two additional picks today. 
The United States points standings were based on earnings, with the International standings pegged to world 
rankings. 
  
 Walmsley excels on tough day for NZ A cricketers 
  
 
THE New Zealand A cricketers had a long day in the field on the first day of their match against the Hyderabad 
Cricket Association in the quarterfinal of the Buchi Babu knockout tournament in Chennai, India, yesterday. 
Hyderabad won the toss and took advantage of a flat pitch and rough outfield at the Guru Nanak College ground to 
get to 268-2 before wickets began to tumble in the last session and the side was 353-7 at stumps. 
Otago's Kerry Walmsley had the best figures with 4-77 off 17 overs. 
New Zealand A coach Dayle Hadlee said Walmsley's figures were a reward for trying hard and sticking to the task. 
"Our bowlers were too much down leg-side early on today and they generally lacked control, but towards the end, 
they maintained a good line and length," Hadlee said. "Kerry overcame very hot and humid conditions and by the 
end of the day was bowling well." _ NZPA
 
 Shooters shine in Australia 
 
 
NEW ZEALAND Olympic Games trap shooters pushed their world-class Australian counterparts close at a 
meeting in Melbourne at the weekend. 
The best performance came from Victor Shaw, who was third in the men's trap after scoring 112 out of a possible 
150 to reach the final, where he managed 23 from 25. 
He was beaten by Australians Adam Vella and Michael Diamond, the Olympic champion, who both shot a perfect 
25 in the final. Shaw later beat another quality Australian, Russell Mark, in a shootoff for third. 
Teresa Borrell was second in a weakened women's competition with a score of 102, eight behind Australian 
winner Lisa Smith. 
Des Coe shot 122 in the double trap and 47 out of 50 in the final for third place behind classy Australian winner 
Anne-Marie Roberts. 
Brant Woodward, Borrell and possibly Shaw will cross the Tasman again to compete at this weekend's New South 
Wales state championships in Newcastle, their final pre-Olympic competition. _ NZPA
 
 Wells keen but still undecided 
  
 
LONG-SERVING Wellington batsman Jason Wells is still deciding how much cricket he will be available for next 
summer. 
Wells has started training with his soccer season at the Miramar Rangers club having ended, but it will be some 
time before he makes a firm commitment. 
"At the moment I'm training as though I'm playing, and it feels good," Wells said. "The season is a long one now 
with two rounds in the Shell Trophy, and it's going to mean taking time off work. 
"Once the domestic programme is finally confirmed I'll have a better idea how I'm placed, and how keen I am." 
Wells, 30, had one of his best first-class seasons last summer, completing the rare feat of three consecutive 
centuries, and ending the competition with 473 runs at an average of 94.60. 
He was also a capable captain. However, the demands of work are unlikely to allow him to again be a candidate. 
Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson has been impressed with Wells's progress, and he would be delighted should 
Wells continue. 
Wells's soccer season was a good one. His Wellington division one side was second, and it included two other 
Wellington cricketers, James Franklin and Matthew Bell. Wells also played for Miramar's federation team.
 
 the woodwork. 
United have won the title six times in the past eight years. But manager Alex Ferguson said: "It will be even harder 
to achieve this time, but I could not have asked for anything more against Newcastle". _ Reuters
 
 Selection ends weeks of frustration for Whatuira 

Paul Whatuira working hard in the gym after being named in the NZ Maoris team yesterday 
  
 
 
WAINUIOMATA centre Paul Whatuira shrugged off seven weeks of frustration yesterday when he was named in 
the New Zealand Maoris league side for the World Cup in Britain and France in October-November. 
Whatuira, a contracted player with the Auckland Warriors, has not played since he suffered a fractured right leg in 
Wainui's 34-14 Bartercard Cup win over Otahuhu on July 1. 
It was some time before the fracture was discovered, and the longer he stood on the sideline, the more Whatuira 
feared he would miss the World Cup. 
"I'm rapt to be selected but a bit surprised. There's so many good players in the team," he said. "It's a bit of a relief. 
I didn't think I was going to make it. 
"I still can't run properly but I've got a big incentive now to get myself right." 
Whatuira's selection owes a lot to his remarkable maturity at 18. In his first year at the Warriors, the Junior Kiwi 
made five appearances off the bench. 
The 1.83m, 90kg Whatuira was chosen for the New Zealand Residents team's tour to Australia only to drop out 
because of the injury. 
He is to have another X-ray today to see how the injury is progressing. In the meantime, he has been aqua-jogging, 
and working out in the gym, which has included some boxing. 
Maoris coach Cameron Bell was satisfied Whatuira would be fit in time for the team's two-week camp in 
Auckland from October 8, and he is a big fan of the teenager. 
Whatuira may have a conflict of interest at the time of the camp as he is expected to be chosen in the Junior Kiwis 
to play Australia in Sydney on October 14. 
Despite the Kiwi selectors having first choice, their Maori counterparts have still assembled a powerful side. It 
includes two Kiwis when last they played in April, David Kidwell and Tryan Smith, and former Kiwis Gene 
Ngamu, Tawera Nikau, who will be captain, Sean Hoppe, and Terry Hermansson. 
Other selections include a former Wellington player now with England's Warrington club, Toa Kohe-Love, Paul 
Rauhihi (Newcastle), Jason Cayless (Parramatta) and Awen Guttenbeil (Auckland). 
Among those to miss selection are brothers Johnny and David Lomax, formerly of Wainui. 
The Maoris play Scotland in Glasgow, Samoa in Workington and Ireland in Dublin, and if they win their group 
face a quarterfinal against England. 
  
 Decision to use Wise Park for playoff welcomed 
  
 
 
NEW ZEALAND League's decision yesterday to play Wainuiomata's national elimination final against Glenora at 
Wainui's home ground of Wise Park on Saturday was well received in the valley. 
Wainui were keen to use their advantage, and make it as difficult as possible for Glenora. 
The rules of the Bartercard Cup say that the fourth qualifiers, who are Wainui, would have home advantage against 
the fifth team, Glenora. However, the NZ League regarded the lack of a covered stand at Wise Park as a minus, 
and investigated the possibility of playing at the Hutt or Petone Recreation Grounds. 
When the Hutt and Petone grounds were unavailable it was decided that Wise Park was the best alternative. 
"We regard the decision as a pretty good one," Wainui secretary-manager John Lomax said. 
"We're more than happy to have 2000 Wainuiomartians screaming their support at Wise Park. No visiting teams 
particularly like playing there, and that's the way we like it." 
The winner will play in a double-header at Auckland's Carlaw Park on September 2, and the loser will be 
eliminated. 
Canterbury and Eastern Tornadoes play the qualifying final on Sunday in Christchurch with the winner playing 
Otahuhu on September 2, and the loser playing the winner at Wise Park.
 
 Pampered All Blacks find winning attitude not so easy to come by 
  
 
THE All Blacks' tour to Italy and France in November has suddenly taken on added importance. 
Tacked to the end of a long and busy season, at a time when players and management were warning, if not 
complaining, of burnout and over exposure, two tests in France and one in Italy had seemed unnecessary. 
But that changed when the All Blacks allowed South Africa in for five tries in 35 minutes at Ellis Park on Sunday 
and eventually lost by a record 46-40 scoreline. 
The All Blacks now have a second chance to show progress has been made because if they are to be judged by 
results alone, this year has been a step backwards under new coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert. 
Under John Hart, the All Blacks won the tri-nations last year with three wins from four games, one better than the 
All Blacks did this year. 
But such a comparison is too shallow. Both tests against Australia could have gone either way while there is so 
little between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa that a 50 per cent success record against them is not a 
disgrace. 
Progress has also been made in the backs where Pita Alatini, Alama Ieremia, Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen 
have been creative and consistent performers. 
Areas of concern are the defence, which has been dreadful at times and was particularly poor on Sunday, and the 
lineout, which has often been inept in the basic skills of throwing, lifting, jumping and catching. 
For once the selectors cannot be blamed as the squad, with the possible exception of fullback Leon MacDonald, 
were the best in their positions on Super 12 form. 
The biggest concern is that the tri-nations has shown that the malaise which affected the All Blacks at last year's 
World Cup has not disappeared. 
The All Blacks are mentally soft. They have shown time and again in the past two years that they do not know how 
to kick on from sizable leads and win winnable games. 
That was particularly so against France last year in the World Cup semifinal and Australia twice this year. 
Like New Zealand's netballers and cricketers, and the Warriors league team, the All Blacks are not coping with 
pressure. 
Halfback Justin Marshall blamed that on inexperience, which is rubbish. 
All of the squad are veterans of the Super 12 and Ron Cribb and Todd Blackadder are the only true newcomers to 
the international arena and Blackadder is the captain! 
Perhaps closer to the truth is that the All Blacks get their way so often off the field that they presume the same will 
automatically happen on the field. 
Limited progress has been made in this area as there remains a strong sense that the All Blacks believe they are 
beyond reproach, that they should never be criticised, questioned, made to explain or defend something they have 
done, or not done. 
They react poorly to anything they do not like or disagree with - the shunning of TV3 for their coverage of a drunk 
Umaga is a classic example of this. 
True New Zealand champions such as Peter Snell and Susan Devoy, and All Blacks of the Colin Meads and Brian 
Lochore ilk worked hard for their success with little support outside their immediate communities. 
The fact is that for some of today's All Blacks things come too easy, and it is starting to tell on the field.
 
 Windle wins title after top rounds 
  
 
 
FORMER Wanaka skier Todd Windle won the New Zealand free-skiing title yesterday after two top rounds in the 
two-day event. 
Windle won the first round at Cardrona on Sunday and then repeated the performance yesterday at the 
Remarkables. 
Wanaka's Bridget Rayward had to bow to Sweden's Marj Persson after winning at Cardrona and then not 
competing yesterday. _ NZPA
 
 Tennis pair headed for a fall 

Wellington tennis coach Gebhard Gritsch, right, during a training session with Indonesian players Febi 
Widhiyanto, left, and Hendri Susilo-Pramono at the Renouf Tennis Centre 
  
 
FEBI WIDHIYANTO'S world ranking might be in the 700s but Wellington tennis coach Gebhard Gritsch has no 
doubt it is about to plummet. 
Widhiyanto and his Indonesian teammate, Hendri Susilo-Pramono, are spending a month in Wellington training 
under Gritsch ahead of Indonesia's Davis Cup tie against Chinese Taipei in Jakarta in October. 
Wellington's top juniors have been roped in to provide hitting partners for the duo, who are training at least six 
hours a day, six days a week at the Renouf Centre. 
Susilo-Pramono is no slouch despite an ATP ranking in the 800s. The 21-year-old was recently beaten in the final 
of a satellite tournament in Jakarta and forms a useful doubles combination with Widhiyanto. 
But Austrian-born Gritsch sees the brightest future for Widhiyanto. He will accompany the 20-year-old, who was 
ranked as high as No 25 in the world as a junior, and Susilo-Pramono to two satellite tournaments in Japan next 
month as part of their buildup to the cup tie. 
"In one or two years he could enter the [world's] top 100," Gritsch said of Widhiyanto. "He's a baseliner with very 
quick legs while Hendri's is a serve and volley . . . they're a very good doubles team." 
Gritsch coached Widhiyanto and Susilo-Pramono as juniors when he worked for the Indonesian Tennis 
Association before the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990's brought him to New Zealand.
 
 Selectors to plead Aish's case to make Games team 
  
 
DISTANCE runner Michael Aish remains a longshot to join the New Zealand athletics squad for the Sydney 
Olympics despite missing out on selection when the team was expanded to eight yesterday. 
Athletics New Zealand convener of selectors Tony Rogers and chairman Kelly Diprose will plead the 10,000-
metre runner's case at a review hearing with the New Zealand Olympic Committee in Wellington on Wednesday. 
Aish, 24, has twice gone close to the committee's target time of 28min 5s for the 10,000m. He has run a best of 
28min 8s and was only a second slower in tough conditions at the recent British trials. 
Both performances were under the International Amateur Athletic Federation A-standard of 28min 10s. 
At last weekend's Australian Olympic selection trials in Sydney, Aish ran the 5000m, clocking a lacklustre 13min 
47.45s. He admitted he struggled with two days of travel from Europe and the slow early race pace. 
Despite that setback, Rogers said Aish warranted inclusion on the strength of his consistency. 
"He has made the IAAF A-standard twice _ we feel he's a worthy selection." 
Rogers said Aish ran the 5000m at Sydney because he had endured a hectic schedule and needed to conserve 
energy. 
Aish, originally from Taranaki, had his fingers crossed for a favourable outcome on Wednesday. 
"I don't think the New Zealand standard's too hard but if you're going to make them higher than the world 
standards, then I think there should be a little bit of leeway. 
"All I can do now is sit back and hope they take a lot of different things into account. I've progressed a lot in the 
last 12 months and making the team would end the year on a great note." 
Rogers said other athletes unfortunate to miss out were 800m runner Sean Farrell, Hamish Christensen (1500m) 
and Jane Arnott (400m). 
Long jumper Chantal Brunner, hammer thrower Tasha Williams and discus thrower Ian Winchester were added to 
the team yesterday. 
Brunner, who made the final of the event at Atlanta in 1996, has proved she was back to her best after a foot 
injury. The Aucklander reached the Games target performances on two occasions last month and confirmed her 
fitness and form with a jump of 6.54m in Sydney last weekend. 
While Williams is ranked in the mid-20s in her event, Rogers was confident she had shown sufficient 
improvement to reach the target of finishing in the top 16. 
"She's made huge progress, broke the New Zealand record on six occasions and competed well in the UK and 
Europe last year." 
Williams, from Canterbury, reached the target standard twice and her throw of 59.88m at the Australian trials was 
enough to confirm her place in the team. 
While unfavourable weather marred Winchester's performance at Sydney, he still won the discus, 4m clear of his 
closest rival. 
"Everyone's performances were down at Sydney _ the wind conditions affected the throws. We're not expecting 
huge throws in September _ 61-62m should get you through to the top 16." 
Winchester had suffered from a lack of tough competition, he said. 
New Zealand Olympic track and field team: 
Craig Barrett (Hamilton) 50km walk, Chantal Brunner (Auckland) long jump, Chris Donaldson (Dunedin) 100m, 
200m, Beatrice Faumuina (Auckland) discus, Toni Hodgkinson (Auckland) 800m, 1500m, Glenn Howard 
(Christchurch) high jump, Tasha Williams (Christchurch) hammer throw, Ian Winchester (Auckland) discus. _ 
NZPA
 
 Star snowboarder battling for funds, recognition 

Wellington snowboarder Lee O'Connor . . . hot property, but not in New Zealand;Lee O'Connor 
  
 
IF SNOWBOARDER Lee O'Connor was from the United States or Europe, sponsors would be falling over 
themselves to help fund her 2001 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics campaign. 
Quite aside from being the highly marketable pinup girl of New Zealand snowboarding, the US-based 
Wellingtonian is pretty darn good on the slopes. 
Proof of that came last weekend at Whakapapa when she won the North Island halfpipe title, an event she has only 
recently started to dabble in. She also made the final of the boardercross (group racing) event only to be "wiped 
out" by a fellow competitor and was third in her specialist giant slalom. 
Not bad for someone who has been limited to just four hours on the snow since breaking her collarbone in June. 
But like so many New Zealand athletes from outside the mainstream sports, O'Connor has found potential backers 
hard to find despite the sport's huge popularity worldwide. 
The 26-year-old is home for her annual diet of New Zealand racing (including next month's nationals at Coronet 
Peak) and sponsorship hunting. 
She needs a minimum of $20,000 to fund an assault on the World Cup circuit, the tough qualifying route for next 
year's Winter Olympics. 
O'Connor admits she was put in her place in her only other year on the world cup bandwagon. That was in 1997, 
not long after she had learned to snowboard in France after moving to Europe to live. 
"I'd only been racing 11 months but I came home and had a great season in New Zealand and got a false idea of 
how good I was. I got my bubble burst pretty quickly." 
But O'Connor's potential is unquestionable. Results such as her second placing at the World Ski and Snowboard 
Festival at Whistler in 1998 have not gone unnoticed and even landed her a rare training spot on the US 
professional team. 
It has her excited about the eight world cup races she plans to start in North America and Japan during the next 
northern hemisphere season along with events on the second-tier Continental Cup circuit and US professional tour. 
Next year's Winter Olympics is her main focus, but O'Connor is not obsessed with making it to Salt Lake City. 
What she does want to ensure is that newcomers to the sport in New Zealand are given the opportunity to compete 
at a Winter Olympic Games one day. 
"I don't want to place all the emphasis on the Olympics because it is two minutes of your life," O'Connor said. 
"I'm really trying to raise the profile of the sport here. 
"We want to get schoolkids' competitions going. Basically if I don't get the sponsorship, I want the young ones 
coming through to get it someday."
 
 Professional golf returns to Dunedin 
  
DUNEDIN will host its first professional golf tournament for more than 20 years when the Australasian PGA 
Tour's development tournament is played at Chisholm Park in March. 
Confirmation of the A$100,000 (NZ$132,700) tournament was announced yesterday by PGA Tour Australasia 
director Trevor Herden and Golf Dunedin Incorporated chairman Robin Bates. 
The 72-hole strokeplay tournament will be the first professional tournament to be held in Dunedin since the New 
Zealand Open was held at St Clair in 1979. _ NZPA
 
  
 1000th All Black may be named sooner than expected 
  
 
IN THE programmes for the domestic tests this year, there was a story about the number of All Blacks there have 
been, saying only three more needed to be selected to take the total to the milestone of 1000. 
The figure needed is really four - there have been 996 All Blacks since 1884 - but whatever the total, it seemed for 
a time that the 1000 would not be reached this year. Only injury, it seemed, would prevent Wayne Smith, Tony 
Gilbert and Peter Thorburn departing from their chosen "family" for this year, even for the tour of France and Italy 
in November. 
For once most of New Zealand agreed with the selectors. They had chosen the best 26 players, 27 when Filo Tiatia 
was added. As they romped away from Tonga and Scotland, that feeling was confirmed. Now that the tri-nations is 
behind the All Blacks, that feeling is less certain. 
The All Blacks' tri-nations record was played four, lost two. One of the wins was a narrow one, and one of the 
losses wasn't far off being a win. Even the match on Sunday in Johannesburg could have been won, but had it been 
it would not have been a true reflection of the match. The South Africans deserved their win, a remarkable one not 
just in the context of All Black-Springbok matches but in the overall context of All Black history. 
An All Black team scores 40 points and loses? Scarcely credible. A South African team - any team - puts 46 points 
on the All Blacks? Hardly. An All Black team concedes six tries? Nah, never. Not now never. 
It's a strange rugby world in which we live. It wasn't too long ago that the All Black management was saying that 
all 26 squad members were test players and could be swapped around without reducing the effectiveness of the 
team. The reality was always going to bite in the tri-nations and now it has. 
The All Blacks' record has been barely a pass mark and now the three selectors will be back to their video analysis 
system working out if the 26 they have got are still the best 26. Form in the NPC, not as testing as form in the 
Super 12, will be the guide as they consider who they will take to Japan, France and Italy. 
Some of the All Blacks may have been thinking they could miss a few national provincial championship games, 
wanting a break between one lot of tests and the next. Not now they cannot, which is a good thing for the NPC and 
for New Zealand rugby as a whole. 
Too many questions have been raised about form for many of them not to undergo further scrutiny. 
Too many questions have been asked about the forwards, especially at lineouts and kickoffs, and too many 
questions were asked, particularly on Sunday, about defence. 
It is the answers that are the difficult bit. The selectors can't vary their squad too much but perhaps the 1000 is 
closer now than it was.
 
 Cullen likely to miss Northland match 

 Cullen 
  
CHRISTIAN CULLEN will almost certainly miss Wellington's rugby match against Northland on Sunday but 
fellow All Blacks Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu and Alama Ieremia are likely to have some involvement. 
Coach Dave Rennie will try to talk to the All Black quartet during their stopover in Sydney today to check how 
they came through Sunday's tri-nations test against South Africa. 
Cullen was replaced with a hamstring in the second half but it seems even if he had got through the game, he 
would have been rested this weekend as he is a player who takes a lot of knocks. 
Lomu had a quiet match against the Springboks so should be fit to play against Northland while Umaga and 
Ieremia had busy games and may be used off the bench. 
"It really depends on where they're at," Rennie said. "If they are physically knackered and mentally tired, there's 
probably not much point pushing them out there because we need them fizzing." 
Rennie also has injuries from Saturday night's waterlogged 10-6 win against Otago to deal with. Loosehead prop 
Kevin Yates injured his shoulder and was "dodgy at this stage", while lock Dion Waller also has a tender shoulder 
and will miss any contact work at training today. 
Flanker Kupu Vanisi was replaced at halftime with a sore hamstring but should be fit by Sunday, while lock Inoke 
Afeaki is expected to play despite suffering a head wound on Saturday. 
Wellington train today, Thursday and briefly on Saturday, with the playing squad named on Thursday. 
One emphasis at those sessions is sure to be the number of penalties conceded on Saturday, with referee Glenn 
Wahlstrom punishing Wellington 18 times to Otago's five. 
Wellington were repeatedly caught offside at rucks but were frustrated with Wahlstrom's ruling on when the ball 
was out of the ruck. 
The high penalty count also has to be considered alongside Wahlstrom's reputation as one of the more inconsistent 
and confusing referees in the national provincial championship.
 
 Tough decision troubles Gilbert 
  
 
ALL BLACKS assistant coach Tony Gilbert says leaving the team in South Africa on Thursday to be with his 
seriously ill mother in Dunedin was one of the toughest decisions of his life. 
But he still managed to contact team manager Andrew Martin by cellphone to offer some suggestions at halftime 
when the All Blacks trailed the Springboks 27-33 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Sunday morning. The All 
Blacks eventually lost the tri-nations rugby match 46-40. 
"It's a situation I never want to go through again. It was arguably the strangest game of rugby of my life, on a 
personal level. I wanted to be with the team but my duty was to be with my family," he said. _ NZPA
 
 Caddy `gutted' to miss out on May's day 
  
 
 
THERE should have been a double Wellington connection in the drama that unfolded at yesterday's PGA 
championship in Kentucky. 
While Paraparaumu caddy Steve Williams was there to help world No 1 Tiger Woods bag his third major of the 
year, medical advice forced former Manor Park golfer Max Cunningham to give up the caddying duties for 
tournament runner-up Bob May. 
Cunningham, 47, handed over the bag to good mate Steve Kay after doctors warned that because of problems with 
high blood pressure, he would be best advised to avoid the hot and clammy Kentucky climate. Cunningham 
revealed that he had been suffering severe headaches for the past three or four months and doctors had 
subsequently found that his blood pressure was "through the ceiling". 
"I've had a kidney scan and a few other tests but I'm really not too sure exactly what the exact problem is." 
Last night Cunningham, who was preparing to fly out from London to join May for next week's Reno Open in 
Nevada, admitted that he felt "gutted" having to watch yesterday's tension-packed closing to the tournament. 
"It's what you dream about . . . head-to-head with Tiger and Steve [Williams] down the stretch in a major. Sure I 
felt gutted watching it on the telly but I'm pleased for Bob. It'll do his world ranking a lot of good and it'll benefit 
me too." 
He said he was not surprised by May's gutsy PGA showing, pointing to a fifth placing in this year's British Open 
and a runner-up finish in the Memphis Open. 
Cunningham, who caddied for Michael Campbell when he came within a whisker of winning the 1995 British 
Open, has also been the bagman for Australians Rodger Davis and Stuart Appleby. 
A former senior champion at Manor Park, Cunningham got the taste for caddying when he travelled to Europe 
with New Zealand professional Stuart Reese in 1985. 
He and May paired up about a year ago after Cunningham split with Swede Per-Ulrik Johannsen _ "he just wasn't 
making enough dollars" _ and the combination waited only a couple of weeks to taste success in the British 
Masters _ May's first professional title.
 

 Tipoki cited 
  
 
North Harbour centre Rua Tipoki will appear before a rugby judiciary in Wellington tomorrow to answer a charge 
of foul play. Tipoki was cited for foul play during his team's 31-3 national provincial championship first division 
loss to Canterbury in Christchurch on Friday night.
 
 Bad start for Kiwis 
:  
 
 
Former All Blacks Zinzan Brooke, Jon Preston and Ian Jones had grim starts to the new England rugby 
premiership season at the weekend. Brooke's Harlequins were beaten 22-16 by London Irish, Ian Jones' Gloucester 
were thumped by 50 points by Saracens and Preston's Bath were upset 33-32 by Sale.
 
 Coach spot open 
  
 
 
Athletics New Zealand is expected to decide this week who will be added to the Olympic team's coaching staff for 
the Sydney Games. Athletics NZ chairman will send three officials to Sydney, with manager Ken Simpson and 
high performance director Steve Hollings already confirmed.
 
 Kiwi divers 17th 
  
 
 
Wellington pair Sean Wilkinson and Natasha Vruink both achieved 17th placings at the world junior diving 
championships in Calgary, Canada, yesterday. Wilkinson was 17th in the boys 16-18 years 3m springboard event 
while Vruink was 17th in the girls 14-15 years 1m springboard.
 
 New name unveiled 
  
 
The New Zealand women's cricket team has adopted a new identity in the leadup to the World Cup in Christchurch 
in November. The team will now be known as the Clear White Ferns.
 
 
20 Sept 00

Stakes boosted at NZ Cup meeting 

 THE Canterbury Jockey Club has increased the stakes for the main races at the New Zealand Cup meeting. 
The New Zealand Cup will rise by $20,000 to $160,000 and the Two Thousand Guineas by the same amount to 
$160,000. The guineas is the richest three-year-old race in New Zealand up to 1600 metres. 
The One Thousand Guineas for three-year-old fillies has been increased by $10,000 to $130,000. 
Club chairman Peter Cordner said better than expected results from the Grand National meeting had sparked the 
increases. 
Seventy-one entries have been received for the New Zealand Cup and the 123 entries for the Two Thousand 
Guineas are a record for the race in the last decade. _ NZPA 
 
 
  Dixie Lu gets Marsh off to an early start 
  
  
 
BRUCE MARSH has some likely material for the early two-year-old races this spring. 
The Woodville trainer rarely runs his juveniles before Christmas but has already had a two-year-old winner, and has 
two other youngsters in racing trim. 
Dixie Lu won at the premier meeting at Hastings last weekend and Marsh has a Woodborough colt and a Mellifont 
filly waiting in the wings. The Mellifont filly is a half-sister to accomplished stablemate Golden Butterfly and, like Dixie 
Lu, is raced by Tudor Thoroughbreds. 
Dixie Lu ran fourth at Wanganui at her debut and won narrowly but well at Hastings under a kind ride from stable 
apprentice Thomas Russell. 
The Tudor syndicate been associated with Marsh for the last 12 years and Dixie Lu gave the syndicate its 67th win. 
The Stark South filly was an $18,000 buy at the festival sale at Karaka in February. "She had speed written all over 
her," Marsh said. 
Marsh had originally intended to buy a colt for the syndicate but found the colts "too dear" and settled for Dixie Lu. 
Some syndicate members were less than thrilled at Marsh's decision to buy a filly, but there were few complaints last 
weekend. 
Strike Me Pink, the dam of Dixie Lu, is by Straight Strike and was placed at two, and the second dam was by Zephyr 
Bay. 
Marsh was also delighted with Hail's run in the Hawke's Bay Guineas last weekend. 
Hail was stepping up in class and distance after a debut maiden win over 1000 metres nine days earlier and did well 
to finish fourth, beaten less than 1<<1/2>> lengths. Hail should have learned a lot from the experience of racing in a 
field and will be tough to beat in a special-condition maiden at Hastings on September 30. 
 
 
  Gray delighted with his Mitchelson Cup candidate 
  
PROMISING Waverley stayer Strauss's Delight will be aimed at the $40,000 Mitchelson Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on 
October 7. 
The Straussbrook mare graduated to open company with an outstanding performance to deadheat with Jaybejay in 
the 3-6 win 2100-metre race at Hastings on Saturday after being trapped three wide throughout. 
Trainer Kevin Gray said Strauss's Delight had always shown plenty, with Saturday's deadheat her fifth win from 19 
starts. 
She has also chalked up seven seconds _ one of which was behind Toppy in premier quality company at Hastings on 
August 26. 
Gray said the mare was not ideally suited to the Hastings track and was best suited to big roomy tracks. 
Strauss's Delight, adept on most types of footing, has already won over the Mitchelson distance of 2400m and Gray 
is also considering a tilt at the $140,000 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on November 18. 
The second foal from the capable Sir Avon mare Spanish Delight, Strauss's Delight was bred by Gray and he races 
her in partnership with his wife, Kathleen, along with Alan and Val Smith, of Hawera. 
Spanish Delight, whose career was cut short by injury, has also left Waltza Little and Spanish Belt, both winners, and 
she recently produced a colt foal by Al Akbar. 
She has also left a Blues Traveller three-year-old who has just been broken in. 
Saturday's victory continues a an excellent recent run for Gray, who has had six winners for the season, including 
two at Wanganui last Thursday. They were first starter I'm A Classic and Griffin, who was having only his second 
outing. Another recent winner, Magic Belt, could race at New Plymouth this weekend. 
Classy mare Miss Jessie Jay is making good progress and won a 1000m open trial at Wanganui yesterday. She is 
being prepared for the $40,000 Fayette Park Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 14. 
Country Rose is also progressing well but Gray is in no rush with her. She will be aimed at the big sprint races again 
this season. 
 
 
  Quiet spring for Diamond Cashel 
   
 
TALENTED Matamata filly Diamond Cashel will bypass the next two races in the Filly of the Year series, which are 
both run at Trentham. 
Instead, the Sir Tristram filly will complete her One Thousand Guineas preparation in the Guineas Trial (1400m) at Te 
Rapa at Labour weekend. 
Diamond Cashel finished third in the Highview Stakes (1200m) at Hastings last weekend but was subsequently 
relegated to fifth. 
"I thought she produced the run of the race," trainer Paul O'Sullivan said. 
"If she had got a clear run she could have won. 
"She's a very special filly with a terrific future and is going to keep improving. 
"But we want to give her as quiet a spring as possible and she will have only three or four starts. 
"She will run at Te Rapa and then Riccarton and we might look at the Bayer. Then she will be spelled and sent to the 
Sydney stable. 
"She came through the Hastings trip well and you would hardly know she's been away." 
Falls The Shadow, who is based at O'Sullivan's Sydney stable, will be on trial for the A$350,000 Spring Champion 
Stakes (2000m) when he contests the Dulcify Handicap (2000m) at Randwick, in Sydney, on Saturday. 
"He would have to be pretty competitive on Saturday to earn a start in the Champion Stakes but I think he will be," 
O'Sullivan said. 
"He's going really well and beat a pretty hot field [at Warwick Farm] at his last start." 
Danny Beasley rode Falls The Shadow at Warwick Farm but will miss Saturday's meeting through suspension, and 
has been replaced by Chris Munce. 
Caulfield Cup contender Pravda, who ran second in the Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill last week, will have her next 
start in the A$175,000 Queen's Cup (2000m) at Randwick on October 2. 
"I was very happy with her run last week," O'Sullivan said. "She just ran out of puff, and the Queen's Cup looks an 
ideal race for her." 
Galiano, who failed in last week's Newcastle Cup, has been turned out. 
"He was a bit over the top but he's got a good future in Sydney and will do well there." 
O'Sullivan's New Zealand stable is about a fortnight away from moving into top gear but will have a dozen runners at 
the Matamata meeting on September 30, and Bawalaksana and Gem Dancer will race at Hastings on the same day. 
 
 
Ritchie has high hopes for Playful Fingers 
  
  
 
PROMISING Takanini filly Playful Fingers is expected to head to the $35,000 Lowland Stakes (1400m) at Trentham 
on October 7 after running a game third in the Highview Stakes (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday. 
Playful Fingers hung badly during the Highview and trainer Frank Ritchie said this may be the legacy of a bad 
stonebruise she suffered at Ruakaka in July. 
"The firm track at Hastings probably tickled up her feet a bit but it was still a top run as she had to work hard from the 
wide draw. 
"I wasn't sure whether she would be up to that class but on that run I think she will be competitive. But she is going to 
be better with the sting out of the ground," he said. 
The stable will have two talented gallopers running at Ellerslie this weekend, with Bluebird The Word resuming in the 
open 1400 and Likely Story tackling the premier quality 2100. 
Ritchie rated Likely Story highly. 
 
 
Innes diversifies attack on weekend meetings 
  
 
OPAKI trainer Gerald Innes is spreading his team far and wide this weekend. 
Talented mare Little Wizard and the promising In Hindsight will head to the premier meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday 
and Little Wizard's half-sister, Mizzwiz, travels south for the Geraldine fixture at Washdyke. 
Little Wizard will tackle the $30,000 open 2000 at Ellerslie and In Hindsight, winner of her last two starts, tackles the 
premier quality 1600. Both will be ridden by Innes's son, Leith. 
In Hindsight, a four-year-old by Straussbrook, has created a big impression, scoring spectacular wins at Otaki and 
Wanganui in her two starts since resuming from a spell. She has been ridden on both occasions by stable apprentice 
Renee Fraser. 
Innes said In Hindsight had always shown plenty on the track but had suffered tying up problems for much of her 
career. She had been much better in her latest campaign and was reflecting that on raceday. 
"I own the mare but leased her to a syndicate. Some of them were wondering whether to carry on as she had never 
lived up to what she showed on the track," he said. "I'm just pleased they stayed in." 
In Hindsight recorded her latest two wins on soft and heavy tracks but she was better on good ground. "I was actually 
surprised she handled the soft tracks as she has shown heaps on top of the ground." 
Little Wizard will be attempting to regain form after a luckless trip to Riccarton and a modest fifth at Hastings last start 
when unsuited by a muddling pace. "She's very bright in herself and we'll keep her ticking over while the sting 
remains out of the tracks." 
Mizzwiz will tackle a $5000 maiden three-year-old at Washdyke, with the main attraction a $15,000 bonus. The 
Carolingian filly ran a good second behind Hail at Otaki on September 7 when resuming. That form was made to look 
good by Hail's excellent fourth in Saturday's Hawke's Bay Guineas. 
Lord Presto, second at Hastings, will be nominated for this weekend's four-year-old $30,000 race at New Plymouth 
but will start only if the track is reasonable. Alternatively, he will head back to Hastings on September 30 for the 
premier quality 1600. 
 
 
Wellington operates at a loss 

  Rod Preston 
  
 
FAILING to meet race meeting budgets has been blamed as the main reason Wellington Racing Club is showing an 
operating deficit of $367,219 for the year to July 31. 
This compares with an operating surplus of $100,431 the previous year. The sale of assets enabled the club to show 
a net surplus, after depreciation, of $14,030. 
Retiring president Rod Preston said the racing division failed to achieve budget, with on-course and off-course 
turnovers down by 16 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. 
"The racing budget was inflated at the outset to meet the expectations of the TAB growth calendar. The club also 
took the bold move to increase stakes to coincide with the growth calendar predictions and these moves had a 
drastic effect on the results," Preston said. 
The racing division showed a profit of $430,003 but this was well down on last year's surplus of $778,990. The main 
loss in income was the fall in sponsorship money by $322,105 to only $211,863. On-course commissions dropped 
$35,510 and the TAB distribution fell $40,795. 
Stakes were boosted by $150,895 to $3.2 million but this was offset by cutting the promotions and marketing budget 
by $219,661. 
The club's total income fell by $472,072 and expenditure was cut by only $4422. 
Preston said the club had operated within its borrowing limits during the year and managed to meet all its financial 
obligations. 
Sale of the Magic Millions block allowed the club to reduce some of its term loan, which should reduce the interest bill 
by $90,000 in the next financial year. The loan has been reduced by just over $1 million to $851,000. 
Preston said the club realised a need for change to ensure it survived and this led to forming Capital Racing, the 
alliance between the Levin, Otaki Maori, Masterton and Wellington clubs. 
"This represents a new level of co-operation and support among the clubs. This alliance means we will pool our 
resources and strengths with the other clubs involved to increase horse numbers, attract and retain trainers in the 
central districts and consequently increase betting turnover. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill among the 
four clubs to make this alliance successful." 
 
 
King expects taskforces' report to be `ready soon' 
   
 
RACING minister Annette King says the taskforce report into the racing industry is nearing completion. 
King established three taskforces, representing the northern, central and southern zones, in June to report to her on 
issues concerning funding, administration and development. 
"The taskforces have had an enormous job to work their way through 69 submissions and compile a report that 
reflects the submissions and regional perspectives," she said. 
"It was originally hoped to have the report ready by mid-September but it is important to give them more time 
because of the significance of the report. I am told it will be ready soon." 
 
 
  Couling adjusting to life on high seas 
   
 
ROOKIE Wellington round-the-world yachtie Helen Couling is quickly adjusting to life on the high seas. 
The 38-year-old is a crew member on the BP Explorer, which is just over halfway through the 3200 nautical mile first 
leg of the BT Global Challenge from Southampton to Boston. 
Late yesterday BP Explorer was seventh among the 12 identical 72ft yacht fleet after nine days at sea, 79 nautical 
miles behind leaders LG Flatron, which was 1550 miles from Boston. 
Olympic Group, carrying another Wellingtonian, Justine Maddock, was in 10th position, 217 miles behind LG Flatron. 
Both Maddock, 40, and Couling have spent close to $100,000 to sail around the world the "wrong way" - against the 
prevailing wind and currents. The 30,000 nautical mile global circumnavigation is billed as the "world's toughest yacht 
race" but Couling is enjoying the experience, so far. 
In a recent e-mail to friends, Couling said BP Explorer was averaging a brisk 11.5 knots. 
"Life is just rolling into one . . . eat, sleep, sail . . . non stop," she said. "We're all clipped on [by a safety harness] just 
in case. It's to risky [not to] . . . we're trucking along." 
One thing Couling has discovered is the "little things" she once took for granted, like the chance to wash. 
After five days at sea Couling had her first "mother watch", a day of cooking and cleaning for her amateur crewmates 
and a chance to wash for the first time. 
"I had a shower and changed my undies . . . oh the pleasures of life that you miss. It's usually a wipe down with baby 
wipes, smellies on, same midlayer [of clothing], jacket and lifejacket and back up on to deck . . ." 
The first yachts could reach Boston as early as September 26. 
The Global Challenge fleet is due in Wellington for a month-long stopover early in the New Year at the end of the 
third leg from Buenos Aires, via Cape Horn and the notorious Southern Ocean. 
 
 
  Boxing Day test will be better received at the new stadium 
  
 
NEW ZEALAND Cricket and Cricket Wellington's desire to play the Boxing Day test against Zimbabwe at the Basin 
Reserve rather than the WestpacTrust Stadium may be misplaced. 
Zimbabwe hardly strikes one as a great drawcard at either venue but judged on the crowds that have been going to 
the stadium for rugby matches, cricket stands to make more money there than playing at the Basin. 
In just a few months the stadium has become an "in" place no matter what is on there. Cricket could do a lot worse 
than try it out as a test venue as part of the original agreement with the sport that all internationals would be played at 
the stadium in the first three years. 
Playing the Boxing Day test at the stadium is probably offensive to traditionalists with the picturesque Basin regarded 
as one of the best test venues in the world. 
Cricket Wellington president Don Neely likes to refer to the Boxing Day test as the "Pohutukawa Boxing Day test" in 
acknowledgment of the many native trees at the ground. 
However, if cricket is to continue to prosper it needs more than the traditionalists. It needs to appeal to a greater 
cross-section of the community, and is appears there is more chance of that occurring at the stadium. 
Cricket is very much in the entertainment business. That is what people going to the stadium are seeking, and they 
have shown a willingness to return if that happens. 
The stadium has three other advantages. There is greater shelter from the weather, it has a permanent replay 
screen, and lights, which will become increasingly important for test cricket. 
The Basin can be a bleak, cheerless place when the wind is blowing from the south as occurred for much of New 
Zealand's test there last season against Australia, and similarly unpleasant in a howling northerly wind. 
Lights would allow play to continue in a test when the players would normally be off for bad light, and day-night tests 
are probably the way of the future. 
On the down side, some cricket association members were critical of their treatment at the stadium during the two 
one-dayers last summer, and believed they were better catered for in the Long Room at the Basin. 
Cricket's desire to play at the Basin is based on the success of two previous Boxing Day tests there. The stadium 
people have been pressing cricket to stick to the original contract, and arguing of the better promotional value cricket 
can derive from playing there. 
Though the stadium people are uneasy about using the potentially ho-hum Zimbabwean test as a test case, cricket 
should try playing it there provided turf manager Trevor Jackson is satisfied he can produce a top-class pitch. 
* * * 
CENTRAL DISTRICTS off-spinner Glen Sulzberger should have been rushed to Zimbabwe to provide cover for the 
injured Daniel Vettori for the second cricket test, which started last night, rather than failed test player Chris Harris. 
Sulzberger showed on the New Zealand A tour to England he is New Zealand's third ranked spinner behind Vettori 
and Paul Wiseman, and with a spinner the first requirement he would have been a sounder choice than Harris. 
The latter's record shows he is not good enough as a test batsman or bowler, and Sulzberger deserved the 
opportunity with New Zealand one up in the two-test series. 
Sulzberger's selection for the New Zealand one-day side may be at the expense of Wiseman. He lacks Wiseman's 
experience as a bowler but the allrounder is a superior batsman. 
Vettori's yet-to-be-diagnosed back problem was probably the result of his huge workload in the first test, bowling a 
marathon 52 overs in the first innings after spending the winter recovering from another back injury. 
With Dion Nash and Geoff Allott's rehabilitation being carefully monitored it was strange Vettori, so vital to the side, 
was allowed to be over-bowled when he was struggling. It is to be hoped his injury is not career-threatening. 
 
 
  Table tennis whizz kid enjoys taking on the adults 

Zhu Bin Bin . . . rising star of teble tennis 
  
EVERYBODY knows what is supposed to happen when a boy gets sent on a man's errand. Twelve-year-old table 
tennis prodigy Zhu Bin Bin is the exception that proves the rule. 
The Hutt Intermediate student, along with national representative Andrew Hubbard, won the men's doubles at the 
Hutt Valley Open recently. 
The win over Jared Smith and Graeme Windley capped a meteoric rise for the youngster who picked up a paddle for 
the first time just three years ago. 
Originally from Chengdu in China, Zhu migrated to New Zealand with his family as a six-year-old and only began 
playing table tennis by accident. 
"I went to a friend's house one day and he had a table, so that got me keen, and then my mum walked past Waterloo 
School once and there was a sign about table tennis coaching and I started playing," he said. 
Former New Zealand champion Richard Lee, who coaches Zhu, said the boy's progress has been phenomenal. 
"Even in just this year alone he has made dramatic progress. He trains very hard, he's a good listener, he's ambitious 
and he's great to work with." 
Despite being the underdogs in the doubles final, Zhu was always confident he and Hubbard would win. 
"I was surprised to win, but even if Jared and Graeme had played well we would still have beaten them. I enjoy 
beating men. I came second in the second grade of men's interclub this year, so I'm getting used to it." 
For the time being the men are on the back burner as a long awaited grudge match looms ever larger on the 
calendar. 
"I want to win the under-13s at the nationals. I'm the second-ranked player behind Nathan Lewis. He hasn't seen me 
for a year and I can't wait to play him." 
Zhu is a confident boy with a lot to prove and Lewis, and anybody else for that matter, better look out. 
 
Black Caps make slow progress 
  
  
 
OPENER Mark Richardson was anchoring the New Zealand innings which was progressing slowly after two sessions 
of the second cricket test in Harare last night. 
At tea, Richardson had batted 246 minutes for 46 as New Zealand moved to 131-3, having won the toss and chosen 
to bat. Nathan Astle was with Richardson on 26. 
New Zealand scored 71 runs but lost the wickets of Mathew Sinclair and captain Stephen Fleming in the middle 
session. 
Sinclair resumed in the same fashion he left off with boundaries off Heath Streak and Henry Olonga after the interval. 
He was well set for his second test 50 till he prodded at Olonga and was caught by Stuart Carlisle at third slip. He 
batted 129 minutes for 44, adding 64 with Richardson. 
Fleming also looked untroubled but after half an hour of batting, on nine, he slashed at a wide Mpumelelo Mbangwa 
delivery and was well caught low down by Alistair Campbell at second slip. 
It left the New Zealand captain still to get past 40 in seven innings on this tour. 
Astle got underway confidently with two cover drives for four off Mluleki Nkala while Richardson continued the 
disciplined, patient approach that netted him 306 in the tour game in Kwekwe. 
Olonga, in his comeback test from injury, ended the session with 2-28 off 11 overs. 
New Zealand had recovered well from the loss of an early wicket to be 60-1 at lunch. 
The Black Caps lost their only wicket in the morning session in the third over when Craig Spearman, on two, gloved 
an attempted hook shot off Olonga to wicketkeeper Andy Flower. 
Spearman, who still has stitches in a leg, had replaced first test century-maker Matthew Horne, who has a chipped 
bone in his right thumb. It was his first innings since the third test against Australia in April. 
  
  Lajpold, Paikea to Wellington's rescue 
  
TWO former Wellington coaches Tony Lajpold and Tyrone Paikea were yesterday invited to rescue the 
representative league side after the three-year suspension of Duane Gwiazdzinski on Monday. 
The side, which has a national second division match against Taranaki at Rugby League Park on Sunday, was in 
danger of disintegrating till the pair agreed to fill the breach. 
Manager Dave O'Sullivan was in the process of writing his resignation till he was advised Lajpold would be joining 
him. 
O'Sullivan contacted the existing squad members yesterday to invite them to a training run tonight at 6.30pm at 
Naenae Park, and another was planned for Friday. 
Lajpold had also named a couple of other players from the Randwick club, Feta Luamanu and Matt Sootaga. 
"I was concerned on Monday night. We didn't have a team," O'Sullivan said. 
"I even contemplated trying to coach the team myself. I'm pleased Tony's come on board, and I'll be backing him 100 
per cent." 
O'Sullivan said Gwiazdzinski, who also coached the Te Aroha premier team to the Wellington title, had suggested to 
his players they continued to make themselves available for representative selection. 
Meanwhile, Te Aroha chairman Star Olsen said they regarded Gwiazdzinski's suspension from all coaching for three 
years as unreasonable, and they would be taking legal action to overturn the decision of the Wellington League's 
judicial committee. 
Before moving they needed written confirmation of the suspension. 
Gwiazdzinski was suspended on a charge of threatening behaviour after an incident on September 10 involving 
Wellington League chairman Colin Edmonds. 
 
 
  Vettori's injury mystifies 
  
  
 
THE injury to New Zealand cricket's premier spinner Daniel Vettori continues to mystify team management who do 
not know when he will be back. 
Vettori was to have a bone scan yesterday to determine whether his back contains a stress fracture but regardless, 
he looked set to return to New Zealand to recover. 
The 21-year-old, who has 106 wickets from 31 tests. The back problem has forced him out of two tests within five 
months. 
He sat out the second innings against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last week after bowling 52 overs. 
Coach David Trist, fully aware of Vettori's huge value to the team, said there was not much more that could be done 
medically. 
"We'll look closely at his situation and try and get to the bottom of it because as yet I don't think we have," Trist said. 
_ NZPA 
 
 
 
 
  Top Aussie coming 
  
  
 
One of the great names of Australian motor rallying will be back competing in New Zealand next month. Ross 
Dunkerton, five-times Australian champion, is bringing a Datsun 240Z to contest the Dunlop Targa, which begins at 
Mangatawhiri, south of Auckland, on October 24. Dunkerton heads an Australian contingent of 10 in a field of over 
100 for the five-day event, which will finish in Tauranga. 
 
 
      Li draws world No 1 Wang in first knockout round 

New Zealand's Li Chunli awaits a serve from Berta Rodriguez Olate, of Chile, in her final pool match in the table 
tennis. Li won in straight games. 
  
A POSITIVE spin has been put on a draw which sees New Zealand's Li Chunli face world champion and No 1 seed 
Wang Nan in the first knockout round of the table tennis competition. 
China-born Li became the first New Zealand table tennis representative to reach the main draw at any Olympics, 
when she made light work of Chile's Berta Rodriguez Olate yesterday to finish top in her pool. 
The prospect of meeting Wang today might seem daunting, but New Zealand team manager Murray Finch remains 
an optimist. 
"Li Chunli wants to win this tournament and so probably had to beat Wang Nan at some stage," he said. 
"To be honest the best place to play her is in the first round. Chunli's had two singles and two doubles matches [in 
qualifying rounds] and is used to the conditions in the tournament hall." 
As a seeded player Wang has not been allowed to play in the hall, in front of a normally boisterous crowd. Finch said 
Wang also had a reputation of being a slow starter. 
"Two years ago Chunli beat the then world No 1, so there's going to be mental issues for both players tomorrow and 
who copes with them best comes out on top," he said. 
"If you're playing for a silver or bronze, this is a crappy draw, but if you're going for gold it's not so bad." 
The two women have played each other only once before, three years ago in a World Cup tournament when Li lost. 
Li was straight on the attack against Rodriguez Olate and only let up slightly in the third set as she cruised to a 21-7, 
21-4, 21-3 win. 
"Today I tried much harder because the singles is the only event I have left," Li, who with sister Karen was eliminated 
from the doubles on Monday, said. 
Li served a couple of aces, rare at this level of table tennis, when she caught the Chilean off guard. 
Former Aucklander Peter Jackson ended his third Olympic campaign when beaten by a clinical Petr Korbel, of the 
Czech Republic. 
Korbel, a semifinalist at the Atlanta Olympics, combined brilliant back-court defence with sound strategy against his 
taller opponent. 
The 11-21, 13-21, 15-21 loss was Jackson's second in pool play. _ NZPA 
 
Fickle winds play havoc with yachting programme 
  
SYDNEY'S fickle winds yesterday played havoc with the Olympic yachting schedule for the third day in succession, 
allowing just four of the scheduled 10 races to proceed. 
Only two Soling races, and one each in the men's and women's boardsailing - out of 12 scheduled races - were 
completed, and they produced little real change in New Zealand's standings. 
The Soling crew of skipper Rod Davis, Don Cowie and Alan Smith remained second overall in the keelboat class, 
looking in good shape to qualify for the matchracing phase with a high seeding. 
A 10th placing in the day's first contest dropped them marginally down the table, but they pulled themselves back up 
with a second in the latter race. 
Leading the event were the Norwegians, skippered by Herman Horn Johannessen, thanks to a win and a third this 
afternoon. 
The big surprise has been the performance of three-time Olympic champion Juergen Schuemann, whose crew were 
back in eighth position overall and faced a battle to qualify. 
"I'm not confident at all," the German said. "The conditions out in the ocean are very difficult and the results prove 
that. Crews that do well in one race are struggling in the next. Most of the fleet is still fighting to be in the top 12." 
The Solings are scheduled to sail their final two fleet races today, when the 12 crew will be determined for the 
matchracing phase beginning on Saturday. 
In the women's boardsailing, the domination of German Amelie Lux, Italian Alessandra Sensini and New Zealander 
Barbara Kendall continued with the three again occupying the top three places. 
Once more it was the petite Lux who outshone her more illustrious rivals to grab her third win and pull four points 
clear of Sensini after four heats, with Kendall a further point back. 
In the men's boardsailing, New Zealand's Aaron McIntosh finished 10th to advance one place overall to 14th, with 
Argentine Carlos Espinola heading the standings. First across the finish line was China's Zhou Yuanguo, but he was 
disqualified after New Zealand and Australia successfully protested that he had received outside help. The jury found 
that Zhou was handed his jacket by his coach after the preparatory signal had sounded. 
It was the second time that Zhou had had a race "win" taken from him. On Saturday, he and McIntosh were in a 
group of three adjudged to have jumped the start gun. 
On the Tornado course, where New Zealanders Chris Dickson and Glen Sowry were seventh overall, the conditions 
forced racing to be abandoned before a start could be made. 
In a bid to make up some of the lost time, regatta organisers will send eight fleets into action today. 
Among them will be the Europe and Laser dinghies, where New Zealand's representatives, Sarah Macky and Peter 
Fox, will make their first appearances. 
 
 
  Tall Blacks no match for taller Chinese opposition 

New Zealand's Mark Dickel lays up as China's Batere Mink defends during their basketball match yesterday. China 
won 75-60. 
  
THEY call the New Zealand men's basketball team the Tall Blacks. 
Make that the not quite so tall Blacks after New Zealand's 75-60 loss to China in their second group game. 
It is not often the Kiwis' near-seven footers Sean Marks, Tony Rampton and Robert Hickey have to look up to the 
opposition. But they were craning their necks to see the Chinese big men, 2.13m (7ft) centre Wang Zhizhi, 2.24m 
Yao (7ft 4in) Ming and the physically imposing Batere Mink. 
"They're extremely tall, extremely talented and athletic guys. I look to them to get better and be great NBA players in 
the future," Marks said yesterday. 
But as New Zealand coach Keith Mair said, it was not China's big men who beat the Tall Blacks. 
The Kiwis produced a much better performance than in their opening-round loss to France, but poor shooting 
percentages and "crucial concentration lapses" proved New Zealand's undoing, he said. 
"We've never beaten China and we've never played in the Olympics before. But we certainly targeted it as a game in 
which we gave ourselves a competitive chance, but we had to stick with the job all the way through," Mair said. 
"Really there was a couple of mental lapses, one in the first half and one in the second, which gave them the break. 
These teams don't miss many open shots . . . and we had an awful lot of open shots." 
New Zealand started the game strongly and led 10-6 at the five-minute mark and 18-16 after 10. But the Chinese 
clawed their way back in the third quarter to establish a 40-30 lead by halftime. 
New Zealand whittled back the deficit to three points early in the second half, and Marks and Mark Dickel - who both 
scored 13 points - tried to ignite the offence. 
The 8357-strong crowd began to sense a comeback but China played with more composure and their perimeter 
shooting was sublime, especially from Hu Weidong, who slotted 16 points. 
 
 
  White Sox thrashed, playoff hopes slim 
   
 
A SUBDUED New Zealand could do little to prevent a 10-0 routing by China last night and will now be hard-pressed 
to make the playoffs in the Olympic women's softball tournament. 
It was a disappointing sequel for the White Sox who had shown plenty to enthuse about in their opening two games. 
They now probably need to tip over top countries Japan or the United States to make the medal rounds. 
New Zealand used their full complement of four pitchers last night in an effort to control China's ability to consistently 
get bat on ball but to no avail as they were hit out of the game. 
The White Sox reply with the bat made sombre reading with Fiona Timu and Jackie Smith getting the only safe hits of 
the night. In comparison China had 10. 
New Zealand had trouble on the plate and found the skills of pitcher Wang Lihong too hot to handle. China were 
clinical and thorough in all aspects of the game, and dominated a lack lustre New Zealand who failed to fire a shot. 
A marathon two games on the pitching mound, where the 3-2 loss to Australia and 3-2 win over Canada, both went to 
10 innings took its toll on No 1 hurler Gina Weber. 
The veteran pitcher, who exceeded expectations with her stamina against Australia and Canada, was replaced by 
Wellington's Ruta Lealamanua at the bottom of the fourth inning last night with China 2-0 ahead. 
China captain Wang Ying hit an automatic home run over the left outfield fence off Weber to also score Yan Fang 
and open the scoring in the third inning. 
The right-handed Lealamanua found the going just as tough. She also failed to stem the flow, conceding another two 
runs and was replaced by the left-handed Timu after pitching just one inning. 
Utility Timu, who only converted to pitching duties earlier this year, had a nightmare time on the mound when four 
more runs were conceded and China had an impressive 8-0 lead after five completed innings. 
Timu did not last long either, replaced by Jaye Bailey, of Christchurch, in the sixth inning after conceding four runs. 
New Zealand's misery was complete and Bailey hardly warmed up when Wang blasted her second automatic home 
run to add a further two to the total. Under international rules the game was then called off. _ NZPA 
 
 
  Van Welie bows out of Games on a high 
 
  
 
NEW ZEALAND swimmer Elizabeth van Welie bowed out of the Olympic Games last night, thrilled to have set a 
national record and improved her world ranking to 15th. 
Van Welie, 20, finished seventh in her 200 metres butterfly semifinal, clocking 2min 11.68s in a race won by 
Australian world record holder Susie O'Neill. 
It was almost an exact replica of the morning's heats, when she carved 3.39s from her own New Zealand record, 
stopping the clock at 2min 11.62s. 
Unlike the other New Zealand swimmers, there were no pre-Olympic nerves. 
"I was thinking in the warmup, well I'm at the Olympics but I haven't put it up there, so I haven't been overwhelmed by 
it," she said. 
"I wished I could have gone faster, but that shows me that's as fast as I can go at the moment." 
Van Welie felt that she swum to her limit in both races. 
She took delight in improving from 16th in the heats to 15th in the semifinals, despite not feeling smooth in the water. 
All this from a swimmer who failed to qualify for the Games, missing by the agonising margin of 0.01s - a fingernail. 
The selectors who took a punt on her must have been patting themselves on the back, as she swam beyond her own 
expectations. 
Irrespective of the semifinal result, it was a special moment for army Second Lieutenant Michael van Welie, who took 
leave from East Timor peacekeeping to see his little sister swim. 
He watched as she stormed home late in her heat to set the third New Zealand swimming record of the Games. 
As children the pair swam together in Central Otago. 
Elizabeth's determination to beat Michael laid the mental and physical base that took her all the way to the Olympic 
semifinals. 
"He just said good luck to me . . . he's brought me a present," van Welie, whose family were among the 17,500 crowd 
at the Sydney Aquatic Centre last night, said. 
"I'm glad that I've swum well, because he's here to watch tonight. 
"Often when my brother watches I don't swim well, or it's not at big meets. 
"I'm glad they've come all this way and they're having a good time as well." 
Ranked 24th coming into the Games, van Welie joined 400m individual medley swimmers Helen Norfolk and Dean 
Kent by setting a national record at the Games. 
Norfolk and Kent also placed in the top 16, but there were no semifinals in their events. 
Steven Ferguson had his second outing of the Games, in the heats of his backup event, the 200m breaststroke. 
He started quickly, leading through the first 50m but slipped back to finish sixth in 2min 19.31s. 
His time, almost two seconds slower than his best, placed him 31st. _ NZPA 
 
 
  Selectors were wrong, says Clark 

Didier Disero, groom for Andrew Nicholson with his horses New York, left, and Dawdle. Both horses were ruled out of 
the three-day individual event after a veterinary inspection. 
  
  
 
ATLANTA Olympic Games silver medalist Sally Clark takes no pleasure in being able to tell the New Zealand 
eventing selectors "I told you so". 
The Manawatu equestrian sat at home yesterday helpless and disappointed as New Zealand's high hopes of Sydney 
Olympic Games eventing glory crumbled. 
Clark, runner-up to gold medalist Blyth Tait in the individual three-day event in Atlanta in 1996 on her now 16-year-
old gelding Squirrel Hill, was not wanted for Sydney. 
New Zealand were poised to win a teams medal yesterday but were knocked out of contention when Tait's mount 
Ready Teddy failed a veterinary check just before the showjumping finale. 
That left New Zealand without the three riders they needed to remain in the competition after Paul O'Brien's horse 
Enzed was a casualty following Monday's cross-country at Horsley Park. 
Clark understands Tait and O'Brien's misfortune is an unavoidable part of the "horsey game". 
However, it rankles that New Zealand will start today's individual three-day trial one horse short with Andrew 
Nicholson's two mounts, New York and Dawdle, both being ruled out yesterday. Mark Todd (Eye Spy II) and Tait 
(Welton Envoy) are the only riders with horses left fit. 
Clark believes the selectors erred by leaving reserve Heelan Tompkins (New Plymouth) and her horse Glengarrick at 
home, and herself and Squirrel Hill off the shortlist altogether. 
She still feels she was unfairly punished for Squirrel Hill's off-colour performance at the 1998 World Games in Rome 
when the combination was eliminated after the cross-country. 
However, Clark believes a ninth placing at last November's Adelaide trial proved Squirrel Hill still "had it". 
She feels Vaughn Jefferis's strong showing on Bounce in Sydney this week vindicated her strongly criticised decision 
to bypass May's national trial at Taupo. 
Jefferis also opted against running his veteran mount at Taupo, not wanting to overwork Bounce in an Olympic year. 
"I was talking with [former NZ yachtie] Leslie Egnot and she asked me what was going on, why I wasn't in the team. I 
said the selectors said they didn't think Squirrel Hill had another [big trial] in him, and she turned around and said, 
`What do they know, surely you [Clark] know what your horse is capable of'," Clark said. 
"That came from a totally non horsey person and said heaps to me. 
"I can't say 100 per cent I told you so because that would put me in the shoes of the selectors and we could still win 
gold and silver in the individual. 
"But I think some serious questions need answering. Why didn't they [the selectors] improve our odds by increasing 
the numbers on the shortlist and taking them to Australia at a minimal cost? Selectors can't be perfect but the point is 
you've got one fit combination [Tompkins and Glengarrick] and one very experienced combination with a good recent 
track-record [Clark and Squirrel Hill] sitting at home when they could be in Sydney ready to go." 
Meanwhile, New Zealand chef d'equipe Arthur Grenside last night defended the decision not to send Tompkins and 
Glengarrick to Sydney. 
Grenside said that when the decision was made team officials felt they still had seven horses fit for the team and 
individual competitions. 
"It's just one of those things," he said. 
 
Favourable draws for NZ rowers 
   
 
ALL the New Zealand rowers have received favourable draws for the Olympic semifinal session tomorrow morning. 
Gold medal prospect Rob Waddell is in the same race as another heat winner, Canadian Derek Porter, but the New 
Zealander should have no problem securing a top-three berth and advancing to the final on Saturday morning. His 
main rival, defending champion Xeno Mueller, of Switzerland, is in the other heat. 
Waddell's wife Sonia will race alongside fellow heat winner Rumyana Neykova, of Bulgaria. While Nekyova will be a 
difficult foe to overcome, Waddell must feel confident of beating the next-highest ranked opponents, Australian 
Georgina Douglas and Cuban Mayra Gonzalez. Waddell beat Douglas in their heat on Sunday. 
The coxless four of Rob Hellstrom, Toni Dunlop, Scott Brownlee and Dave Schaper, who were second in their heat, 
have had a dose of luck with their draw. They are in the semifinal which has just one heat winner, Italy, while Great 
Britain and France are in the other. 
New Zealand also have fellow-second placegetters Australia in their semifinal, though they have been balloted with a 
better draw if a crosswind plagues the International Regatta course in Penrith. 
If the course officials decide the winds are unfair they will place the top two seeds in the favoured lanes, on the side 
of the course where the wind is coming from. 
"We got lucky compared to Australia and the United States," New Zealand head coach Steve Gunn said. 
"We've certainly got no complaints about the draw all round. It's fair and everyone knows what's in front of them now. 
I think they're all keen to just get out there." 
While confident all could advance to their final, Gunn said there was more to think about. 
"Sure you want to make the top three but you also want a good time to ensure you get a good ranking if the wind 
does funny things in the final." _ NZPA 
 
 
    Slyfield loses in the last minute 

 Tim Slyfield is upside down in his second judo bout against Hungarian Krisztian Tolgyesi yesterday. Slyfield lost by a 
koka. 
  
A DEBATABLE call five seconds from the end of his fight saw New Zealand Olympic judoka Tim Slyfield knocked out 
in round two of the 81kg division yesterday. 
Slyfield and Hungarian Krisztian Tolgyesi had both scored a Yuko move on each other deep into an even counter, 
before Tolgyesi was ruled to have scored a Koka and was awarded the match. 
The disappointed Aucklander said he was surprised at the decision but, as is the custom with judo, was not going to 
protest against the ruling. 
"We were even and I thought it was going to come down to the judges' decision to decide the fight. But I didn't realise 
they had scored a Koka. I looked up and saw it had been scored and there was nothing I could do because the clock 
had stopped with one second to go." 
Slyfield, 25, felt he was in control of the five-minute fight for the opening three minutes but paid for not being 
aggressive enough in the closing stages. 
New Zealand coach Ralf Burger was confident the result would have gone Slyfield's way if it came down to a decision 
by the three judges. The Kiwi looked more threatening but he found the shorter, powerful Tolgyesi's European-style 
hard to counter with his more classical Tai O Toshi style. 
The New Zealander still earned a top-17 placing after winning his opening fight against Majemite Omagbaluwaje of 
Nigeria. Slyfield made an impressive move to flip the Nigerian on to his back and win automatically by Ippon. _ NZPA 
 
 
   
    
  Horror run continues 
  
LOSING the team bronze medal was bad enough, but New Zealand eventers are now a ride short for the individual 
three-day event competition at the Olympics after another horse went lame. 
Andrew Nicholson, a veteran of three Olympics, is out of the competition after losing both New York and Dawdle to 
injury. Of the eight horses New Zealand has at Sydney, half now have fitness problems. 
New Zealand lost the team bronze medal, and perhaps a silver, early in the day when two horses - Blyth Tait's world 
and Olympics champion Ready Teddy and rookie Paul O'Brien's Enzed - pulled up hurt after their arduous cross-
country run on Monday. Losing two of their four horses meant New Zealand could not post the three scores needed 
for a team result, so they were eliminated. 
Team veterinarian Wallie Niederer said the attrition rate for New Zealand horses in the buildup to Sydney, and now at 
the Games, had been staggering. 
As well as the four horses with problems at Sydney, another six had been injured during the year while one, 
Chesterfield, died in quarantine. He said Nicholson was devastated at losing both his horses, but had given up his 
Olympic hopes rather than risk aggravating their injuries on the hard ground and tight track at the Horsley Park 
venue. 
"It just doesn't seem to be our year," Niederer said. 
For Tait in particular, the Olympics have continued a horror run. He broke a leg a year ago and fought his way back 
to personal fitness to have four horses qualified for Sydney. But then his 15-year-old favourite Chesterfield dropped 
dead last month, and yesterday Ready Teddy was lame. 
"I must have been doing something wrong, because I haven't been having a very good run the past couple of 
months," New Zealand's Olympics team captain said. "Obviously it's very disappointing, not just for me. We're a team 
and we've worked hard together to try and get a team result. I feel terrible . . . I just feel I've let the team down." 
The team gold deservedly went to Australia for the third consecutive Olympics. Their four horses and riders excelled, 
and their win over Britain who secured silver, was celebrated by 20,000 delirious fans. The United States took the 
bronze. 
Two Kiwi horses did pass the veterinary inspection before the showjumping, Bounce for Vaughn Jefferis and Mark 
Todd's Diamond Hall Red, but the team were desperate for Ready Teddy to pass. 
Enzed had been too sore to be presented, and New Zealand needed a third score to complete the event. But as soon 
as Ready Teddy put a hoof on the hard, bitumen trot-up track, it was apparent there was a problem. 
Tait said later it appeared the horse had a tender rear hoof and said there was nothing more seriously wrong. He said 
he would not have risked Ready Teddy in the showjumping if he thought the horse was seriously hurt. 
Todd completed his ride on Diamond Hall Red, knocking just a rail down in the showjumping, but Jefferis did not 
bother. 
Todd now ends his career without one of the few medals that eluded him before this event. The double individual 
Olympics gold medalist has won everything, except an individual world crown and an Olympics team gold. Todd said 
his horse entered for the individual contest, Eyespy II, was in fine form. 
Tait, the defending individual champion, said the individual contest had tough riders and horses entered, but the 
cross-country test was not as difficult as the team competition. That would make the first day's dressage test today 
even more important, Tait said. His horse Welton Envoy was very good at dressage, he said. 
"So let's hope something's going to start to go right soon." _ NZPA 
* `Selectors were wrong' p52 
 
 
  Donaldson in doubt for 100m 
  
  
 
NEW ZEALAND sprinter Chris Donaldson may be about to pull out of the Olympic Games 100 metres, after an 
unhappy track workout in Sydney yesterday. 
Donaldson, 25, has an Achilles tendon injury in his left leg, which has not responded to treatment. 
Athletics manager Ken Simpson said Donaldson did not wish to be interviewed and that a decision would be 
announced today after medical staff were consulted. 
Donaldson did not stretch out fully in spikes yesterday, just three days before he is due to race in the 100m heats. He 
spent much of the session hands-on-hips, seeming anxious. 
Medical staff had talked to personal coach Brent Ward and Olympic coach Steve Hollings, but had not advised them 
on whether Donaldson should quit the 100m. 
"It really depends on his progress in the next couple of days," team doctor Chris Milne said. 
Donaldson is more competitive in the 200m, which is next Wednesday, than over 100m but it would take huge efforts 
from him to reach either semifinal, even when fully fit. 
In 1997, he made the 200m world championship semifinals, then the quarterfinals last year. He was eliminated in the 
first round of the Olympic 100m and 200m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. _ NZPA 
 
 
  American track queen applauds Kiwi walker 
  
NEW ZEALAND road walker Craig Barrett yesterday won a round of applause from American track queen Marion 
Jones. 
Jones, who is chasing five gold medals in Sydney, arrived at a Games training venue when Barrett was two hours 
into a 36km workout - 90 laps of the 400m track. 
Barrett went on to achieve his goal of getting faster throughout the walk. Jones was impressed. 
"At the end of the session Marion Jones actually clapped him," athletics coach Steve Hollings said. 
"I've never, ever seen that happen before. It was a pretty awesome session, he's very, very focused." 
Barrett has one big training session before racing the 50km road walk, on September 29. _ NZPA 
 


