Cousins compete for different lands

MATES: Off-field Managamau cousins Bayley Phillips (left) and Katie Wills are top mates despite being on opposing polocrosse teams from different lands.

It may have been hugs and kisses off-field, but no love was lost on-field during the under-21 polocrosse clash between New Zealand and New South Wales from Australia in Taumarunui last weekend.

The opposing sides featured Whanganui cousins Bayley Phillips and Katie Wills who both grew up riding station hacks in the hills of Mangamahu.

Both sets of parents - Curly and Sharron Phillips and Phil and Tracy Wills - have worked in the Mangamahu Valley where the cousins were born for decades, so it is hardly surprising the girls can ride.

Phil Wills still works on Aranui Station where many polocrosse ponies were bred and educated by the Collins family (Rick and Andy) who imported Australian-bred stock.

At one time in recents seasons the now 20-year-olds were on the same side in the New Zealand under-21 team until Wills moved to Australia settling in with a polocrosses family. She was soon selected for the NSW under-21 team.

Phillips has been a regular in the Kiwi age group national team alongside fellow Whanganui riders Jack Kinder and Jeffrey Marshall. Both are also farm-raised horsemen.
Kinder is from the Matthews clan near Fields Track near the Burma Hill that runs down to Mangamahu, while Marshall grew up in the hills around the Parapara Highway.

Last Saturday in Taumarunui was the first time the cousins had met on opposing international sides and NSW with Wills had the edge winning 24-15. On Sunday Phillips, Kinder and Marshall took their revenge beating the visitors 24-16.

New Zealand was the defending champions and held the Roger Ross Memorial Trophy, but unfortunately lost it to NSW on goal diffedernce.

New Zealand Polocrosse board member Gary Malcolm said because rthere were only two matches scheduled at the weekend it was decided before play began that goal difference with decide the outcome if it came down to a drawn series.

"The Aussies won by 10 on the Saturday and unfortunately the Kiwis could only claw back nine on the Sunday, so the trophy went home with NSW," Malcolm said.

Malcolm is also from solid polocrosse stock and is the son of the late Ken Malcolm, the first president of the oldest polocrosse club in New Zealand that celebrates its 50th anniversary on the weekend of March 18-19 in Taumarunui.

"My father was the first president of the Kaitieke Polocrosse Club near Owhango," Malcolm said.

"It was established in April, 1967, but were are celebrating the 50th on March 18-19. While the actual club is just outside Owhango we will be using the Manunui grounds in Taumarunui for the games. We have invited past and current members to come and celebrate with us and hopefully a few of our old foes from down the line will also turn up."