Open Mens - Game Three
Garry Sonda had been a workhorse for the Australian team all weekend and was determined to go out a winner. Sonda lead from the front and set up the opening touchdown after a long ball to Chris Farrow.
Robert Nakhla scored an acrobatic touchdown in the corner as Joel Willoughby threw another long ball to the right corner. Willoughby had been superb all weekend and his lethal long ball is probably the best in the Australia at the moment.
Chris Farrow scored another touchdown in a low scoring first half as Australia went to the break 3-0 up.
New Zealand got back into the game in the second half with Saturdays match winner, Michael Cavanagh scoring consecutive touchdowns.
Dylan Hennessy, relishing the opportunity in the senior line-up scored again but New Zealand came right back through Lani Kaiwai after a brilliant ball and set to pounce at 4-3.
With moments remaining, Chris Farrow scored his third touchdown of the day. Farrow scored a hat-trick in all three games, truly a remarkable feat from a remarkable player.
It was raining touchdowns for the first two games of the series but credit to Tony Trad as changes in defensive policy and interchange rotations had their desired effect with Australia winning the game 5-3 and the series 2-1.
Gavin Shuker and Garry Sonda had been able to go out as winners in the Australian colours they had to work so hard to wear. Shuker had been an outstanding leader of Men and an individual his players and the Touch community respect and admire.
Garry Sonda had the difficult task of breaking back into the Australian side after injury. Eighteen months after a knee injury and in his mid-thirties, it was going to be tough for even someone of Sondaâs talent and stature in the game to fit into a talented Aussie line-up and the hectic pace of the modern day game. Sonda repaid the faith showed in him by the selectors to put in a vintage last performance. The game will miss GS7, one of the most ferocious competitors in Touch Football history.
The Australian combinations worked well with Drummayne Dayberg-Muir and Jason Stanton leading the talented team to victory but New Zealand is building an empire. The young and talented line-up on display in Wollongong will be the nucleus for a Champion Team of the future.
Last Modified on 22/01/2010 20:03