Monash prove a point in New Zealand
Monday 20 April
A team of 55 headed across to the Taranaki region of the New Zealand’s North Island last week to represent Monash in the New Zealand University Games. Expectations were high after the 4 teams in 08 returned with 3 golds and 1 silver. All teams started the event well dismissing weak opposition on the first day of competition.
The level of games stepped up on the Thursday with the Hockey Men being knocked of 7-2 by a skilled and well organised Auckland University unit. Women’s Basketball also went down to Auckland University of Technology after starting slowly and not being able to hit crucial free throws at the end of the game. Hockey Women were also pushed against a strong Victoria outfit with the teams playing out a 3-3 draw. Men’s Basketball continued on their strong form and a rematch of last years final against Victoria was on the cards.
With teams on return flights Friday afternoon from Auckland (5 hour drive from Taranaki), NZ university sport were kind enough to reschedule our games to the morning. Women’s hockey won up first 2-1 putting them on top of the pool and in position for Gold, Victoria had to win in the afternoon by 3 or more goals to knock us off. Women’s Basketball took revenge on AUT by beating them by 1 point in a nail biting final. After being up by 11 with 3 minutes to go AUT scored the final 10 points of the match to make it a lot closer than expected.
Unfortunately Men’s Basketball managed to play their worst game of the week in the final against Victoria, claiming silver for the second year in a row. Just as we were about to board the plane we received a call that Victoria had won 2-0 in the Women’s Hockey keeping Monash in number 1 position. After a very long 3 days of competition (and driving) the team returned to Melbourne with 2 golds and 1 silver. All athletes competed extremely well the whole week and Men’s Basketball and Men’s Hockey will have a point to prove in 2010.
|
