Give and take in transtasman titans' clash

The Wanganui East club members in the New Zealand team who played Australia. Front left, Christine Strichen, Yvonne Futher, Shirley Selwyn. Back left, and Pete (Pieman) Hamilton, and coach Richard Turfrey. Photo/Supplied

The New Zealand team and their four Wanganui East representatives split the honours in their transtasman petanque challenge with Australia in Rotorua last weekend.

Both teams brought 24 players to contest the championship within two titles - the Open and Senior (over 60-years-old) grades - with Wanganui's Yvonne Futher and Christine Strichen playing in the open while Pete (Pieman) Hamilton and Shirley Selwyn were in the seniors.

Coach Richard Turfrey, also Wanganui East, said both divisions came down to the tenth and final round.

"The seniors needed all six games to triumph, and the open [players] needed to win five of the six remaining games to claim victory," he said.

The Kiwis open team got there, virtually off the last 'boule' of the final over, while the seniors came up short by three games, Turfrey said.

"The international event was played in fine conditions and in good spirit."

Next year's challenge will likely be in Newcastle, Australia.

In the meantime, several Wanganui players will head to Auckland for the national triples early next week.