Ferns hope to be cut above rest and leave Aussies in dust

AXE TO GRIND: The New Zealand women's woodchopping team is Sheree Taylor (left), Darcell Apelu, Ashleigh Heath, Paula Poasa, Jackie Brown, Rochelle Molan, Kylea Heaton and Alma Wallace.

That was pretty much our final training run before the Adelaide Show and we were happy with our form.Rochelle Molan,

NZ team member Two Wanganui woodchoppers will be taking reinforcements to the Royal Adelaide Show next month in an attempt to beat the Australians and the Americans.

Rochelle Molan and Jackie Brown have been regulars at the Adelaide show for the past few years, but the New Zealand women's team, the Axe Ferns, have not competed in South Australia since 2012.

Molan and Brown are members of the national team and will be trying to avenge defeat, by one race, by the Australians three years ago. The American women's team finished third.

Meanwhile, the Wanganui women have their own axe to grind as well.

Molan will defend her single saw title she won in Adelaide last year, a title she also won in 2013. Brown finished runner-up to Molan last year. The pair teamed up to win the double-handed saw title in 2013 and will be seeking to repeat that effort again next month.

To prepare, the Axe Ferns travelled to Wanganui's Westbourne Estate on Mill Rd last weekend to train, and were joined by the New Zealand Under-21 men's team and several development cutters.

"That was pretty much our final training run before the Adelaide Show and we were happy with our form," Molan said yesterday.

"The Axe Ferns haven't competed in Adelaide since 2012 when we came second to Australia after they beat us by one race. We will be aiming to avenge that this year.

"Our first race is on Saturday, September 5, and we will be there six days before coming home. Then, six days after that, I head back to the Melbourne Royal Show to defend my single title there."