Australia's well-drilled polocrosse team has become the favourite to win the treasured polocrosse World Cup on Sunday after a comprehensive 29-15 defeat of New Zealand in the major semi-final at Morgan Park on Saturday afternoon.
After a week of intrigue and upsets, the two favourite teams, Australia and South Africa are in the final to be played out at 2pm on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, polocrosse's current world number one team, South Africa booked itself a berth in the final with Australia when it ran over the top of Zambia in a scrappy semi-final, winning 30-17.
That win plus Australia's brought a degree of predictability back to the week of international polocrosse in the southern Queensland town of Warwick.
New Zealand recorded a shock defeat of South Africa earlier in the week, but then lost to Ireland, who'd gone down to the UK.
Coming into Saturday's semi-final, Australia was the only undefeated team, a record it maintains into Sunday's final.
The Australian team, consisting of Abbott Grills (capt), Lance Anderson, Jimmy Grills, Will Weston, Beth Hafey, Lucy Grills Lauren Silitoe and Susette Thomas, was outstanding.
Australian captain Abbott Grills said after the match that it felt great to get another win under the belt ahead of the big day on Sunday.
"Our pool horses were great and we have all come through unscathed and will be back at 2pm tomorrow," he said.
It's been a full house at Morgan Park all week and Saturday was the same when another 6000 visitors made for an electric atmosphere, cheering the international and interstate teams all day.
In the World Cup B division, the UK team powered home on Saturday night to claim fifth place in the world, defeating Ireland 26-17.
Aussie expat Jason Webb, playing for the UK, took the male player of the match award once again while the UK's Charlotte Pykett was the best lady player.
On Sunday morning, the USA and Zimbabwe will play for world seventh and eighth position.
Zambia and New Zealand will give the World Cup crowd at Warwick more of what they came for next when they battle it out for third and fourth place, before the grand finale.
Sunday's World Cup grand final between South Africa and Australia will be the culmination of years and years of work by the host Warwick club, which has been hailed across Australia and the world for its attention to detail.
UK v Ireland at a glance:
- Men's Horse of the Match: Silver Hills Perler (#99)
- Women's Horse of the Match: Gallagher (#71)
- Overall Champion Female Player: Jason Webb (UK)
- Overall Champion Male Player: Charlotte Pykett (UK)
- Overall Champion Men's Horse: Silver Hills Perler (#99)
- Overall Champion Women's Horse: Jaylyn Downs Joy (#73)
- Champion Men's Australian Stock Horse: Silver Hills Perler (#99)
- Champion Women's Australian Stock Horse: Future Tess (#140)
At a glance:
Semi Final: South Africa vs Zambia
Final score: South Africa 30 defeated Zambia 17
- Male Player of the Match: Graham MacLarty (SA)
- Female Player of the Match: Lauren Watson (ZAM)
- Men's Horse of the Match: Nungaburra Mavis (#103)
- Women's Horse of the Match: Edenhope Hammer (#32)
Semi Final: Australia vs New Zealand
Final score: Australia 29 defeated New Zealand 15
- Male Player of the Match: Abbott Grills (AUS)
- Female Player of the Match: Lucy Grills (AUS)
- Men's Horse of the Match: Berragoon Beaches (#110)
- Women's Horse of the Match: Action man (#84)
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
