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Witt in last-gasp gold rush
Friday, April 17th, 2009
By Gabriel Ferguson
In a thrilling finish to the 2009 Uni Games in Taranaki, hosts Witt won a last-gasp gold medal in the rugby league competition to go with its earlier gold in mountain biking.
Witt player Jamie Henshawood chases down a TWA opponent. Photo / Stephen Neil
With a minute remaining, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki kicked penalty to draw level at 32-all with Te Wananga O Aotearoa (TWA).
After much backroom discussion Witt was awarded the gold.
Earlier Hayden Fitzgerald took gold in the mountain bike cross country after finishing fourth in the downhill.
The rugby league score reflected the intensity of the game at Yarrows Stadium, with both teams refusing to give any ground.
”It was a typical rugby league game - it had everything,” said referee Lew Kahui.
During the game each side kept pushing to gain an advantage and the hits could be heard in the stands.
”The last 20 mintues brung (sic) out the men in us,” said TWA centre Jai Withers.
Withers was chosen at fullback in the 2009 Uni Games rugby league tournament team - a side made up of the top 13 players in the competition.
The Hamilton-based side kept Witt on their toes by scoring a series of run-away tries - seizing any chance they could to reach the try line.
Witt captain Beau White was happy with how his team performed in their first official competition.
“They played well - they stuck to the game plan and did what they had to do.”
Gabriel Ferguson is a Witt journalism student
