New Zealand
Day 4
Gold rush in Rotorua!
The pouring rain continued to dampen spirits but our teams were hopeful the flood would bring plenty of gold medals in the upcoming finals.
While the netballers had three games set out for the day, the basketball team was able to advance straight to the gold medal game based on their win-loss record and winning margins. AUT ended with the same win-loss record in Pool B and officials tried to convince organise to hold semi-finals so their team could get into the grand final, with no success.
Both badminton teams advanced after an amazing run through the early rounds, winning every singles game and dropping only one very close doubles game.
Badminton
Monash Women 6 Auckland A 0
Monash Men 6 Auckland A 0
The womens and mens teams made short work of most singles and doubles opponents on the way to gold.
Adhika Rusly had the toughest match, going up against Auckland University’s best mens player. Rusly kept his cool through a tough 21-16 first game, losing the second 19-21 but regaining form to easily take third 21-10.
Xueli ‘Cheryl’ Song also had a close singles match. Song’s hard forehand drivers to the backcourt rattled her opponent enough to win two tight games 21-14 and 21-18 and help give Monash the victory.
Pei Gee Lim’s opponent had no response to her ability of blocking against the hardest smashes and the top Monash player won her match 21-12, 21-8.
Basketball
Victoria A 55 Monash 54
This was a heart-wrenching loss for the Monash boys that went down to the dying seconds. While the Aussies’ shooting accuracy was less than impressive in the first half, a determined third quarter effort brought them back in contention and they were extremely unlucky not to take the gold.
Some outrageous umpiring decisions in the first half had a disheartening effect on the team. A referee who had been troubling the team all tournament with unintelligible foul calls gave them further grief and halfway through the first quarter, even cut off Lachlan Horde as he turned for a fast break. Victoria University rode over the bumps and worked the boards brilliantly as Monash struggled to get a lead in the game.
Horde, Tom Ford and Paul McMasters steadied the side in the second and third quarters, backed by Rob Jensen on the rebounds. In the fourth quarter, Monash finally evened at 53-all with one minute remaining, setting up for an exciting climax. Ford was fouled and made one free-throw but Victoria made a big basket with 30 seconds to go and held the lead to take the gold.
Netball
Monash 91 Massey University Albany 6
The underclassed Massey side did their best in attempting to slow down the Monash passing game. Carolyn Simmonds was inspiring in goal attack, getting long passes into the shooter Sophie O’Shea to set up an unbeatable 43-4 lead in the first half. The rout continued in the second and Monash charged to another huge margin.
Monash def Auckland on forfeit
Auckland could only provide four players for the match, giving Monash a welcome break before the gold medal match.
Grand final:
Monash 58 AUT A 31
AUT had achieved similarly big margins against NZ teams in earlier rounds and looked to have the goods to trouble Monash in the final. A smoother passing game and consistent goal shooting in those games had Monash players and coach Gillian Lee hoping for a challenge in the final.
AUT posted the first score and showed some good defensive efforts early but was unable to sufficiently trouble O’Shea, who barely missed a shot in the first half. Stephanie Teague in goal defence and Briony Mack in goal keeper restricted AUT from getting any shots.
The game still looked closer than reflected on the scoreboard as AUT kept pressure up on the centre circle passes. Jen Luxford at centre and Emily Gillies at wing attack kept the opposition guessing with quick passes to the goal circle. Monash were too consistent, disciplined and dynamic in creating shooting opportunities. |
