AGEING LEGENDS: The swansong for the Wanganui Cosmos ended with bronze against younger World Masters Games football opponents.
Their age range suggested a far less strenuous mission, but the Wanganui Cosmos dug deep playing seven games of football in a week earning bronze at the World Masters Games in Auckland.
Made up of players with an average age of early-to-mid 60s - and even a couple rapidly closing
in on 70 - the Cosmos opted to compete in the younger 55-plus open grade division where it was the only New Zealand side.
They competed against three Canadian teams, including a Canadian/Australian composite side, two Australian teams and an Italian X1.
The offshoot of the Wanganui Athletic Football Club won one game, drew three and lost two during pool play to finish on six points and go into the play-offs against the Italians for third and fourth spots.
They drilled the Europeans 3-nil to take bronze and raise the ire of an emotional Italian team.
