1996 - New Zealand Nationals
by Gary McMurray
On the 1st of November the Auckland Framebenders
captained by Grant Sharman took on the best of New
Zealand and Australia in the 1996 wheelchair rugby
nationals. For four of the team this would be the final
tournament before a much needed rest from rugby after
training non-stop for 18 months and three newer players
eager to prove that they were as important and able as
the Wheel Black members of the team.
First up on what would prove to be a long day of 4
games for the Framebenders, Canterbury Rams, much
depleted from the team played in the Nationals in April
but still with very capable players Rick Foulsham and
Justin Muschamp, and surprise turnout Kevin Griffiths,
who would soon discover that hitting Auckland would be
like the Rallying crash he had the day before, as
Auckland won 63 -14 the highest margin (49) game ever
played in New Zealand Wheelchair rugby history, and still
the players felt their was room for improvement. Mean
while on court 2 the Mooloo Maulers put up a spirited
display against a reborn Victorian Wanderers going down
31-27.
Next on the list The much improving Wellington
Hurricanes lead by Wheel Black Speedster Sholto Taylor,
Auckland Starting line up of Leefe, Palmer, Stonham, and
Sharman started strongly and Auckland lead by 7 at the
end of the first quarter and then with subs went on to
victory 47- 27 the second highest points Auckland would
concede in the tournament, Paul Leefe lead the scoring
with 21 goals and a quality debut by wellington 2 pointer
Ross Livingston top scoring for wellington with 11 goals.
New South Wales on court 2 accounted for a spirited
Barbarians team containing promising Aucklanders Nigel
Heremaia and Henry Mathews 32 -23.
Now a much earned break for lunch and round 3 for the
Framebenders, where the Mooloo Maulers went close to
victory against the Barbarians losing 37- 39 with David
Fontaine top scoring with 16 goals. On court 2 Canterbury
came back from the mornings slaughter to beat Wellington
39 -25 With wellington conceding 6 sin bin fouls to
Canterbury’s none the only other team to do this
being New South Wales.
Onwards to round 4 where Auckland would play their
arch nemesis New South Wales, a change to the Auckland
starting line up surprising the opposition. An average
start by the Aucklanders fighting with a 2 point lead,
but with some poor Auckland concentration and discipline
warranted substitutions, bringing on Paul leefe, and Ross
Stonham saw the Aucklanders spring to a 4 point lead and
then on to a half-time lead of 7 points. Auckland then
went on to victory by 39 - 26 Auckland’s lowest
number of goals for in the tournament and a whopping 9
foals (the highest of any team in any game). Those to
perform well were Grant Sharman and Ross Stonham with
Paul leefe scoring 22 goals. The Victorians gaining in
strength, beat Canterbury 34 -23, with the
‘Truck’ Graeme Gorden top scoring with 11 goals
in 2 quarters.
In the next round Victoria played New South Wales in a
crucial match going goal for goal, finishing 21 -20 where
the deciding factors being a 4- 0 sin bin penalty against
victoria and 1.5 point player Peter Simpson coming to the
fore with 6 goals for NSW. Wellington won in another hard
fought game against the Barbarians 25- 24. Sholto Taylor
dominating with 15 goals.
Lastly at 8.00pm Auckland played The Mooloo Maulers
winning 44-13 with Gary Mc Murray dominating the scoring
with 17 goals but extremely strong performance by Iri
Kingi promising a good Saturday to come.
Round 5 Saturday saw a well rested New South Wales
team crush Canterbury 42- 16, Brad Dubberly scoring 20
goals. Wellington took on the Victorians needing a win to
strengthen chances of a semi final berth and finished
strongly out scoring Victoria by 4 goals in the final
quarter but still went down 34 - 32.
Round 6 Auckland took on the Barbarians with Henry and
Nigel looking to prove that they should have been in the
Framebenders squad, even with Henry acquitting himself
admirably the framebenders won 49 -10 with Gary top
scoring with 19 goals and Curtis close with 16 goals. New
South Wales went on to beat the Mooloo Maulers 34 -22.
Round 7 saw Victoria play the Barbarians with Graeme
Gordon dominating (when on) a hard fought game with the
Victorians running out winners to a tiring Barbarians
side 38- 29, the Wanderers highest score for the
tournament and Gordon Caldwell getting free for 10 goals
one behind Barbarian captain Brett Boylan. Wellington
beat Mooloo Maulers 47- 38 with Sholto Taylor scoring an
incredible 29 goals.
Next Auckland showed that they prepared well for the
challenge of the strong Victorians and literally blew
them off the park in an awesome display of pace and power
rugby. Ross Stonham and Grant eliminated the threats and
Curtis (21) and Paul (22) on a scoring spree Auckland
winning 51 -23. Mean while drama on court 1 as Canterbury
drew with the Mooloo Maulers after regulation time 35 all
and Canterbury took a 2-0 lead in over-time to run out
winners 37 - 36 Justin Muschamp scoring 20 goals closely
followed by mooloo’s David Fontaine 19.
Next up in the last round of the round robin important
to seedings for the finals round saw New South Wales beat
Wellington 41 - 33 and the Barbarians beat Canterbury
35-25.
The semi finals saw Auckland No.1 seed against the
Barbarians No.4 (on count back equal with wellington and
Canterbury) and New South Wales No.2 versus Victoria
No.3. Auckland won 48 -12 with Gary top scoring with 19
goals; New south Wales controlled the game against
Victoria to win 29 - 20 and once again Peter Lock was to
the fore with 14 goals and only one sin bin foal against
NSW and 5 to Victoria.
The 3rd v’s 4th play off saw Victoria win 31- 20.
Before the final the crowd were entertained by a
referees against coaches match which finished in a draw
???
The final match arrived with a tired but very focused
Auckland team about to play the only team to have beaten
Auckland in the year and to whom Auckland had lost 2
finals to in previous final meetings. New South Wales won
the Jump off but Auckland gained a turnover and scored
first, then Auckland pressed New South into their own
half to get another goal and lead 2-0. The writing was on
the wall, Auckland would not lose today. At the end of
the first quarter Auckland lead by 6, after 2 minutes of
the second quarter first subs and Auckland sustained the
pressure to lead by 9 at half time.
By the final whistle Auckland had dispelled any ghosts
of the past and destroyed New South Wales 49- 28, a 21
goal thrashing.
On to the presentations, Best players being named as ;
3.5 Paul Leefe, 3.0 Peter Martin, 2.5 Curtis Palmer,
2.0 Gary Mc Murray, 1.5 Ian Simpson, 1.0 Peter Van Ralte,
0.5 Wayne Sweeny.
1996 All Star Team
2.5 Curtis Palmer, 2.5 Sholto Taylor, 2.0 Rod
Hamilton, 1.0 Grant Sharman.
MVP Sholto Taylor
Best & Fairest Sholto Taylor
Most Improved Ross Livingston
Golden whistle Greg Sloane (Best Referee)
National Champions GP Healthcare Trophy to Auckland
Frame Benders.
A special thanks must go to all those who helped out
and the sponsors, who all went to make the tournament the
most successful so far. An enjoyable time was had by all.
This tournament wrapped up a successful year for
Auckland Framebenders winning New Zealand Regionals
champs , Australian champs, New Zealand Low pointers
tourney and the New Zealand club champs well done to all
those involved and continued success next year.
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