Kiwis fight back in second surf test
Thursday 3 February 2011, 7:42AM
By Surf Life Saving New Zealand
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A fighting New Zealand team came back strongly in the second test of the DHL International Surf Challenge in Mount Maunganui today but it wasn’t enough to stop another Australian win.
Australia took out the test by 106 points to 102 but unlike Monday’s 18-point trouncing, they didn’t have things their all way.
New Zealand’s sprinters dominated, with Morgan Foster and Chanel Hickman winning both beach flags events, while the beach relay teams also won.
But board paddlers Nikki Cox and Andrew Newton also stepped up to break Australia’s water domination, sparking a flurry of victories in more flat conditions at the East Coast beach.
Newton also combined with Mike Janes to win the board rescue, while that pair plus Glenn Anderson and Travis Mitchell also won the tube rescue.
Kirsty Wannan, Maddie Boon, Ayla Dunlop-Barrett and Teneale Hatton also combined to win the women’s tube rescue, while Hatton – fresh from competing at a Grand Prix kayaking meet in Sydney, was second in the ski race.
The champion Titahi Bay boat crew all but took out their test series against Australia’s Whale Bay with two wins in the three races today, needing just one more win in Friday’s third test to claim the overall win.
Foster’s triumph was the highlight of the day, however, with the 35-year-old Hamilton firefighter brilliantly fighting off the challenge from Australian young guns Ben Mispelhorn and Tommy Nolan.
It capped a remarkable return for Foster, who last competed for his country at the 2006 world championships.
“Five years have been a long time but this feeling I’ve got right now was what kept me going,” a tearful Foster said after winning. “It’s everyone’s dream to wear your country’s colours and to get first place and competing with all my teammates and being part of the New Zealand squad is the best feeling.”
But Australian captain Shannon Eckstein warned that things will again get tougher for the home side in Friday’s last test.
“The Kiwis came back really strong today and they were probably a bit shell-shocked on Monday,” Eckstein said. “We raced really well on day one but a few things didn’t go our way today and we were a little big complacent in some areas. We’re definitely going to go all out on Friday and put out our best combinations. We want to dominate.”
Eckstein sat out the ironman but teammates Hugh Dougherty and Ali Day still dominated, while third place went to New Zealand development schoolboy Cory Taylor. Australia’s Liz Pluimers beat under-21 compatriot Bonnie Hancock in the ironwoman, with Cox grabbing third.