Masterton sawyer Faavae Sefo had a leading role in the 2-1 test series win secured by the New Zealand wood chopping and sawing team over their Australian counterparts last week. Sefo and his partner in the double saw discipline, Warren Riddle of Feilding, sat out the first of the three trans-Tasmaninternationals at Waitomo which the Australians won in comfortable fashion. However, that failure was to benefit them in that the selectors called them into the New Zealand squad for the second test at Otorohonga and they responded brilliantly, playing their part in a narrow victory to the home team. By the time Sefo and Riddle got into action New Zealand were behind but they made up much of the leeway to leave the Kiwis in a position from where success was possible. Not surprisingly, that performance saw Sefo and Riddle retained for the vital third test at Taumarunui which saw New Zealand clinch the series with about one quarter of a block to spare. This time the two countries were neck and neck when Sefo and Riddle were introduced to the action and they managed to give the Kiwis a slender lead. Sefo was delighted he and Riddle had proved their worth in both tests in which they had participated. "It went well for us, we got into a good rhythm and were able to keep it going," he said. Sefo is hopeful that he and Riddle will continue to be the first string New Zealand double sawing pair when New Zealand against takes on Australia at the Royal Easter show in Sydney in April. "We can't take anything for granted, there's always keen competition for starting places so you can never rest on your laurels," he said.
