Evans, 31, and Jones, 23, did however have previous form at Taihape, where Evans won an Intermediate final in 2007 and where 2014 Masterton Golden Shears Intermediate champion Jones reached the Open final in 2016.
Despite being delayed by visa issues and arriving in New Zealand only on Tuesday, both had been able to get immediately into their preparation, Evans getting three full days in the Te Kuiti area, where he figured in a three-stand World record last summer, while Jones got two full days in Hawke's Bay.
Following the test, the Welsh pair were among those awed by the performance of 2014 World champion Smith who retained the Taihape Open title.
He finished a sheep clear of second-man-finished Digger Balme, of Te Kuiti, shearing the 20 sheep in 16 minutes, his time of 16 minutes for his 20 sheep in the six-man showdown being the basis of an overall win by 4.45pts from eventual runner-up and 2012 World champion and Whangamomona-based Scottish farmer Gavin Mutch.
Mutch, who was 1min 11sec down on Smith at the end as they shore side by side on stands 5 and 6, had the best points in judging on the shearing board.
Reigning World champion Kirkpatrick was, however, a surprise semi final elimination, a week fter winning the national crossbred lamb shearing championship in Southland.
Marton's Logan Kamura became the fourth different winner of the Taihape Open woolhandling title in four years, with former multiple champion Tina Rimene, of Masterton, making a modern-day rare North Island finals appearance to take second place ahead of daughter Pagan Karauria, of Alexandra. Defending champion Monica Potae , of Milton, was fourth.
Results from the Taihape A and P Show Shears at Taihape on Saturday, January 27, 2018:
Shearing:
International (10 sheep): Wales 81.95pts (Alun Lloyd Jones 9min 54sec, 40.8pts; Matthew Evans 10min 3sec, 41.15pts) beat Taihape Show Team (Michael Fabish 9min 42sec, 40.1pts; James Ruki 9min 52sec, 42.1pts) by 0.25pts.
Open final (20 sheep): Rowland Smith (Hastings) 16min, 56.85pts, 1; Gavin Mutch (Scotland /Whangamomona) 17min 1sec, 61.2pts, 2; Digger Balme (Te Kuiti) 16in 54sec, 64.3pts, 3; Floyd Neil (Taumarunui) 17min 29sec, 65.85pts, 4; Turi Edmonds (Raetihi) 18min 36sec, 68.65pts, 5; Mark Grainger (Te Kuiti) 17min 58sec, 75.9pts, 6.
Senior final (10 sheep): Paraki Puna (Napier) 10min, 41.1pts, 1; Tegwyn Bradley (Woodville) 10min 17sec, 41.45pts, 2; Ricci Stevens (Napier) 11min 34sec, 43.6pts, 3 Ilan Jones (Wales) 10min 28sec, 45pts, 4; Cederig Lewis (Wales) 12min, 45.9pts, 5; Laura Bradley (Woodville) 12mins 1se, 47.75pts, 6.
Intermediate final (8 sheep): Jeremy Leygonie (France) 10min 30sec, 41.25pts, 1; Gwydion Davies (Wales) 10min 40sec, 42.25pts, 2; Gethin Lewis (Wales) 11min 28sec, 44.15pts, 3; Daniel Seed (Woodville) 10min 50sec, 45.375pts, 4; Emily Te Kapa (Scotland) 11min 47sec, 50.1pts, 5; Ruka Braddick (Eketahuna) 10min 31sec, 57.05pts, 6.
Junior final (4 sheep): Reuben Alabaster (Taihape) 7min 13sec, 31.9pts, 1; Jonathan Paynter (Mangatainoka) 7min 54sec, 32.45pts, 2; Tudor Roderick (-) 8min 16sec, 37.3pts, 3; Elis Smith (-) 8min 33sec, 37.9pts, 4; Huw Jones (Wales) 7min 18sec, 38.65pts, 5; Daniel Biggs (8min 59sec, 38.7pts, 6.
Woolhandling:
Open final: Logan Kamura (Marton) 45.81pts, 1; Tina Rimene (Masterton) 52.824pts, 2; Pagan Karauria (Alexandra) 57.812pts, 3; Amy Karaka (Gisborne) 57.83pts, 4; Monica Potae (Milton) 76.19pts, 5.
Senior final: Ricci Stevens (Napier) 36.58pts, 1; Bianca Hawea (Masterton) 51.756pts, 2; Angela Stevens (Napier) 52.88pts, 3; Danae Sciascia (Taihape) 57.8pts, 4; Cortez Ostler (Dannevirke) 62.264pts, 5.
Junior final: Nagira Puna (Kimboltona) 56.544pts, 1; Lucky Garrett (Eketahuna) 56.894pts, 2; Crystal Bird (Eketahuna) 56.94pts, 3; Samantha Baxter (Pongaroa) 57.43pts, 4; Jody Hogg (Te Kuiti) 67.97pts, 5.
Northland series continues at Warkworth
