Day 3 - All the Action from the Finals
Counties Manukau have started well today defeating Wellington in the Under 19 Boys final. The final scoreline of 7-3 reflected the dominance of Counties throughout the Under 19 Boys championship. (full match review)
Manawatu's Under 21 Women are currently on a high after they held off North Harbour 7-6 in a thrilling Final that saw both teams gain the lead and have a chance of victory. Manawatu held their nerve though for a deserved win. (full match review)
Counties Manukau made it two from two in the Under 19s after their girls overcame Waikato in a tight game, 4 tires to 3. (full match review)
North Harbour picked up the Under 21 Mens championship getting the better of Counites Manukau in en end-to-end match full of action-packed movements. The game went down to the wire with Harbour eventually winning 9-8. (full match review)
Counties Manukau continued their winning day by capturing the Open Womens Championship. The game got down to a 3 player drop off, Waikato giving their all but coming up short, 4-3. (full match review)
Canterbury's Open Mixed team brought home the silverware in the afternoon, beating Bay of Plenty 5-4 in another Final where no side dominated and plenty of classy play had the crowd cheering. (full match review)
It was Canterbury again in the Open Mens, winning 9-4 and dominating Counties Manukau, who can still be proud in what was an excellent tournament for them. (full match review)
Big Day of Finals Ahead
A massive day of Touch finals looms on Saturday after the qualifying rounds of the 2010 National Touch Championship wrapped up today at Moire Park. It was a hot day in Auckland, but the action on the field was hotter as a feast of touchdowns was put on by the best Touch players from all over New Zealand.
Canterbury and Counties Manukau have got one hand each on the Graham Vesty Shield for best overall province after dominating in the. Canterbury will be doing everything to repeat their win in 2009 and the Open Mens final at 4:30pm against Counties Manukau who won the qualifying final against Auckland this afternoon will be a must-see game.
One team that won’t be defending their title from 2009 is the Under 21 Mens team from Canterbury. North Harbour and Counties Manukau will compete to determine the new champion at 1:30pm. Canterbury , the defending Open Womens champions, also failed to make the final this year and one of Waikato, Wellington or Counties Manukau will fight it out.
New Zealand Youth and Touch Blacks selections will continue tomorrow so the players in involved in Finals and play-offs have everything to play for when the Championship moves to Trusts Stadium in Waitakere.
Open Mens Final 4:30pm - Canterbury Vs Counties Manukau
Open Mixed Final 3:30pm - Bay of Plenty Vs Canterbury
Open Womens Final 2:30pm - Waikato Vs Counties Manukau
Under 21 Mens Final 1:30pm - Counties Manukau Vs North Harbour
Under 21 Womens Final 12:30pm - Manawatu Vs North Harbour
Under 19 Girls Final 12:30pm - Waikato Vs Counties Manukau
Under 19 Boys Final 11:30am - Counties Manukau Vs Wellington
For all the latest scores and news visit the 2010 Nationals page.
Day 1 overview:
Title defences looking shaky for many
After the Masters had their time to shine, the Youths and Open players took to Moire Park today and provided plenty of tries and some exciting Touch. With national selections up for grabs players were giving their all and it was an action-packed opening to the tournament.
Canterbury were out to defend the Graham Vesty Trophy for best overall Province in 2009, but Auckland and Counties Manukau are hot on their heels in what looks to be a tightest race in years.
Defending their titles are
2009 National Tournament Winners
Under 19 Men Counties Manukau over Wellington
Under 19 Women Counties Manukau over Manuwatu
Under 21 Men Canterbury over Auckland
Under 21 Women Canterbury over Waikato
Open Mixed Bay Of Plenty over Counties Manukau
Open Women Canterbury over Waikato
Open Men Canterbury over Auckland
Status after Day 1
· Auckland and Canterbury drew 6-6 in a thrilling game in the Open Men’s grade and they will go into Friday locked on 8 points each.
· Waikato and Counties-Manukau have been the front runners in the Open Womens competition.
· The Under 21s Men contest is neck and neck between Counties Manukau and North Harbour. The teams meet on Friday morning at 10:10 in what could be a warm-up to the final.
· In the Under 19 Girls competition, Waikato are setting the pace with three wins from three starts. Counties Manukau and Auckland have also started strongly and are well in the mix for the finals. The
· Under 19 Boys has been a tight race, with no teams dominating.
While it’s early days, it’s not looking likely that there will be many repeat title holders. Day 2 will be a very intense day and it’s do or die for many.
2010 Masters Champions Decided in 7 Grades - 3 by drop offs!
The Masters finals of the 2010 New Zealand Community Trust National Touch Championships were completed today with plenty of sensational Touch action and results that went down to the wire.
The first ever Over 50 Mens final contested at Nationals was a tense encounter between Wellington and North Harbour. In a thrilling game, Wellington clinched it in the final minute to win it 4-3.
North Harbour were victorious in the Over 45 Mens category, securing a strong 5-2 win over Auckland. Harbour pulled away in the second half after a 2-2 halftime score.
The club got another win soon after when their Over 35s Mixed team got the better of Auckland, who came back after a sluggish start to tie the game and force a drop off. Harbour wasn’t to be denied though and eventually won 5-4.
A high-scoring Over 30s Mixed Final had the crowd on their feet as Wellington came from behind to tie the game at 9-9 and then win in the drop off. Wellington’s final try in regular time featured the ball passing through nine sets of hands in an amazing play the finished well after the final whistle was blown.
The tight finals continued in the Over 30s Womens category when Canterbury and North Harbour got down to three players in the drop off. North Harbour eventually prevailed 4-3 after Canterbury could not chase down a break of the line.
The final match of the day saw a dominant Canterbury side put away Bay of Plenty in the Over 30 Mens final 7-3.
Overall Results
Over 30 Men’s Canterbury def Bay Of Plenty
Over 30 Mixed Wellington def Auckland (Extra time drop off to decide winner)
Over 30 Women’s North Harbour def Canterbury (Extra time drop off to decide winner)
Over 35 Mixed North Harbour def Auckland (Extra time drop off to decided winner)
Over 40 Men’s Auckland def Counties Manukau
Over 45 Men’s North Habour def Auckland
Over 50 Men’s Wellington def North Harbour
North Harbour 3 Golds 1 Silver
Wellington 2 Golds
Auckland 1 Gold 3 Silver
Canterbury 1 Gold
BOP 1 Silver
To top off an exhilarating afternoon of top Touch 3 of the Masters Trans Tasman teams were named. View the Over 40 Mens, Over 45 Mens, Over 50 Mens selections.
Congratulations to all of those who were selected and to all of those who participated over the past 3 days.
Masters Overview Day 2
Day 2 is all about stack ranking for Semi Finals. You always hope that the competition will be tight right through to the finals and this year, we have just that.
Auckland 45 Mens and Canterbury Over 30 Mens are the only teams to go through unbeaten, for everyone at the top of their grade they have had at least one loss or a draw and teams placed 2nd and 3rd nipping at their heels. While the first place finisher goes straight through to the final, it does set up exciting finals in most grades and of course the title could be anyone’s.
Masters Overview Day 1
With over 28 teams in 7 grades, day 1 did not disappoint. Remembering there is a lot at stake for a lot of these players who are hoping to be selected for the Masters Tran Tasman teams, it was not surprising that today in all grades we witnessed some fast and skillful Touch.
There are some key standouts in a few of the grades but in many it’s still anyone’s guess who will make the finals. Canterbury are looking very strong in the 30 Men’s and they are the defending champions. Auckland are showing strength in the 40 Men’s and Wellington in the 50 Men’s. With all other grades wide open, day 2 will be a telling day.
upgrade now