NZ loses the coin toss and must put in the first competitor - we send in Johs to test the water. Brazil puts in their best sparrer to match. This guy was amazing to watch and lightning quick! Johs went in with an appropriate game plan; try not to get hit and win on warnings. Unfortunately the Brazilian was too quick, he landed a beautiful reverse turning kick plus a number of clear back kicks on Johs.
Loss - NZL 0 BRZ 1
Next it's Brazil's 'put-up' - they choose a small, agile fighter and NZ reacts by sending in Brad. Brad sparred the perfect round against this fighter, he used his longer reach to his advantage and countered the Brazilians attacks beautifully with jumping punches and dodging kicks.
Win - NZL 1 BRZ 1
After a win from Brad, New Zealand attempts to take the momentum from the previous match and strike again for another win, NZ sends up Jeremy. The round started well with Jeremy scoring with a head kick, the brazilian became frustrated as Jeremy scored with another high turning kick a bit later and collected a wild hook from the Brazilian, the contact level escilated as the match went on and the referee is strict, both competitors had 2 minus points by the end for excessive contact. Jeremy scores a 3 point downward kick as the bell rings for the end of the match.
Win - NZL 2 BRZ 1
Next it's Brazil's turn to choose a fighter and they choose their hyperweight, NZ puts in Stuart. This round started and finished in the same way - both competitors toe-to-toe, slugging it out. Stu's nose started to bleed about half way through the round, but the referee let the match continue without a stoppage. It looked like a close round but unfortunately NZ suffers a second loss.
Loss - NZL 2 BRZ 2
2-2, tied up - next win takes the match. Brazil only has one more fighter - the lightweight that Callum fought in the quarterfinal in his individual sparring (Callum gave him 14 warnings). We choose Shane Black. Our only fear was that Shane would hit the Brazilian too hard and get disqualified by the strict referee. Shane fought smart and pushed the smaller fighter out of the ring 15 times (5 minus points).
Win - NZL 3 BRZ 2
Match to New Zealand!
See all the junior male team sparring pictures...
Junior female team sparring: New Zealand vs Germany
The junior females, senior females, junior males and senior males were all on at the same time for team sparring - so I apologise where detail is mimimal.
Cori Jean is up first - she dominates the match scoring clear punches using her long legs well to close distance.
Win - NZL 1 GER 0
Candice - up against a really tall girl with massive reach and good leg control, unfortunately Candice only figured out how to get inside her opponants kicks towards the end of the round, and although she was winning by the end, the German had scored too much in the start.
Loss - NZL 1 GER 1
Alisa - faster than her opponant, Alisa worked well moving in and out changing from punches to kicks with ease, a close round against a good opponant.
Win - NZL 2 GER 1
Courtney - looked strong the whole round, a close match but Courtney looked like she was on top of her opponant. The German girl got lucky and connected with a high turning kick on the sound of the bell.
Could cost us the round, its close!
Loss - NZL 2 GER 2
Stacey - next win seals the match, the pressure is on. Another tall German girl creates problems for the girls as Stacey finds it hard to get past her long side kicks.
Loss - NZL 2 GER 3
Match to Germany - so close!!
See all the junior female team sparring pictures...
Senior male team sparring: New Zealand vs France
Clint King - up against a similarly built Frenchman, Clint managed to get ahead early and stay on top of his opponant throughout the round.
Win - NZL 1 FRA 0
Richard Lavin - again, not too much difference in height or weight. Richie dominated the ring and scored good, clean points. Well timed counters and jumping punches put him firmly on top of his opponant.
Win - NZL 2 FRA 0
Kane Baigent - this time we came up against a slightly bigger fighter, however, Kane moved well - using the ring effectively, he launched quick barriages of attacks and took advantage of any hesitation on his opponants behalf.
WIN - NZL 3 FRA 0
Match to New Zealand!
Senior female team sparring: New Zealand vs Scotland
NZ loses the coin toss and has to choose the first competitor.
Looking for a win straight off the bat, Carolina steps up.
Carolina Dillen - Scotland chooses their microweight to match NZ. This girl has good timing and is very experienced. Unfortunately the Scottish fighter pulled off a nice clean body kick at the begining of the match and spent the rest of the ring evading Carolina's attacks as she tried to get those valuable points back.
Loss - NZL 0 SCO 1
Scotland puts up their HUGE hyperweight sparrer. NZ sends our heavyweight to match.
Lizzie Faafili - the Scottish hyperweight is much taller than Lizzie, and both hit hard. The fight is spent toe to toe, trading solid punches and kicks (mainly punches) to the head and body. Lizzie struggles to land the clearer shots against her taller opponant.
Loss - NZL 0 SCO 2
Scotland wants to finish the match quickly and put up Julia Cross - 4 times lightweight world champ. Estee is ready to go.
Julia Cross underestimated Estee, coming out from many exchanges worse off than she would have liked. Estee lands a head kick and drops her with a punch. The world champion's ego is suddenly under attack and she is warned for not listening to the referee when she continues to attack as both competitors leave the ring. A huge effort from Estee against a living legend.
Loss - NZL 0 SCO 3
Match to Scotland.
Junior male team sparring - New Zealand vs Netherlands
NZ wins the coin toss, Netherlands chooses first.
They choose their heavyweight (who Shane knocked out in the quarter finals in individual sparring). We choose Johs, hoping to unsettle the Netherlander with his dominant style.
Johs van Pierce - his opponant is quick, and likes to counter with quick, 'in-and-out' manouvres such as jumping punches. Luckily, we had already seen this fighter in action and quickly came up with an appropriate game plan. Johs stuck to the plan and kept the other fighter away with straight kicks (side/front/pushing kicks) and punishing the Netherlander with solid punches when he came too close.
Win - NZL 1 NED 0
NZ's turn to choose a fighter. We choose one of our middle weights - Brad who can adapt well to many situations, and well suited to any of the Netherlands well-rounded team. Netherlands sends up their middleweight also - one of Master Willy Van De Mortel's students, a good fighter.
Bradley Wickman - both sparrers are built similarly, Brad tried a similar game plan to his fight against Brazil - use the ring and counter effectively. The Netherlander has been tought well and has an exceptional side kick - offensive and defensive. Brad finds it hard to get past the side kick, but still scores a few points when he does manage to get through.
Loss - NZL 1 NED 1
Netherlands puts up their microweight - NZ looks like they choose David, who gears up. A brief discussion between Jeremy and Mr Ballard follows and David sits back down.
Jeremy Hanna - even though Jeremy has 15-20kg on the micro-weight, the two stand at roughly the same height. Jeremy waits for his opponant to make the first move, the Netherlander pumps out solid side kicks and Jeremy narrowly misses with two reverse turning kicks - change of plan - Jeremy wears the sidekicks on his arm, pushes past and slugs it out. Multiple knockdowns ensue and although not many points are scored by Jeremy (the Netherlander turns away and falls over a lot), by the end of the round Jeremy has no warnings and his opponant has 7 (2 minus points).
Win - NZL 2 NED 1
Next up is David, Netherlands send in a similarly built fighter.
David Burr - the Netherlander gets off to a good start as a couple of his side kicks manage to slide up David's arm into his face, I'm not too sure whether or not they would have scored though. David soon shrugs them off and by the end of the round the Netherlands fighter is falling into every trap David lays - David is definately coming out better off from each exchange but those head kicks at the beginning may sway the decision.
Loss - NZL 2 NED 2
All tied up, next win takes the match and a spot in the semi final against Germany (into medal contention). Netherland puts in their Bronze medal winning hyperweight, NZ puts up Shane.
Shane Black - not many people can make Shane look small; this guy dwarfed him. The Netherlander also wore a full-face helmet (apparantly he is still recovering from a nose reconstruction). Shane was getting pushed around a fair bit during the beginning of the match, he managed to collect a couple of points with body kicks but the Netherlander was dominating. During an early exchange of punches, Shane went down - he stayed down for about 20 seconds as Mr Ballard checked him over - a broken nose. Shane sent the medics away and continued to fight - this was the 'amp-up' Shane needed to get busy. Shane landed kick after kick - head, body, whatever (he also managed to split his opponants lip through the full face helmet somehow).
DRAW! - NZL 2 DRAW 1 NED 2
One more round...
Shane can't fight again.
Their Hyperweight doesn't want in either.
Jeremy is put up.
They choose the middleweight that Bradley fought (Master Van de Mortel's student)
Jeremy Hanna - the round starts of slow, both testing eachother, waiting for a move. The Netherlander begins with his sidekick, Jeremy gets scored on a couple of times before he manages to get around it. Once he does manage to get around it he scores a few clear punches and finishes cleanly with a body turning kick. They take turns at dominating the ring as both pump out firm side kicks. Jeremy seems to be up at the end - but it's definately close!
Another draw!! - NZL 2 DRAW 2 NED 2
Sudden Death...
Both sparrers from the previous round are selected again.
Jeremy Hanna - sudden death - first point wins. The pressure is on - it's a shot at the medals. Both start slow, again waiting for a counter attack. The Netherlander pumps out his sidekick and Jeremy stands his ground, taking the impact on his arm. The referee stops the bout and goes to the flags. One blue (Netherlands) - none red (New Zealand). More waiting. More faking. Jeremy again takes a sidekick on the arm, this time rolling with the impact and closing the distance for two clear punches and a turning kick. The referee goes to the flags again. none red - two blue. the match continues (need three judges to see the point). More waiting, Jeremy guides the Netherlander into a corner - he fakes with a side kick then quickly changes to jumping punches. The Netherlander also jumps. Both score. Who was first?
One judge blue... another blue... one red... and the last is blue.
Loss - NZL 2 DRAW 2 NED 3
Match to Netherlands.
Netherlands continue to face Germany (who beat Poland in the quarterfinal) and win - putting them in the final against Argentina.
The result of the team sparring final will determine who will win the 'best junior male team' award - it's between Argentina and New Zealand.
Argentina wins the final 3-2, taking the team sparring gold and the best junior male team trophy.
Senior male team sparring - New Zealand vs Slovenia
New Zealand faces off against Slovenia in the quarter final of male senior team sparring.
Clint King - a close match, although a lot of action - not many points are scored. Clint is down on warnings at the end of the round.
Loss - NZL 0 SLO 1
Richard Lavin - the Slovenian is slick, and moves well - countering Richie with straight punches and kicks, very clear points. Richie fights smart though, and manages to pin his opponant a couple of times - scoring with kicks of his own.
loss - NZL 0 SLO 2
DJ Thompson - NZ can't afford another loss, DJ is up against the Slovenian hyperweight - he is huge! DJ is pushed around a lot, a couple of long side kicks make their way through his guard but DJ is lightning quick, once he got his momentum going foreward, DJ began to score good points. DJ connects with a massive turning kick, hitting his opponant flush in the stomach in the closing seconds - it could be heard clearly from the stands above all the noise.
Loss - NZL 0 SLO 3
Match to Slovenia.
Junior female individual power test
Eliza breaks everything; knifehand for two points, side kick for four points, and turning kick for four points, putting her in first place.
Kristy also breaks everything, putting her in a tie breaker with Eliza.
Stacey misses the knifehand - putting her out of medal contention.
ELiza wins the tiebreaker - Gold medal!!
Silver for Kristy as well!
Senior male team power
Jon misses punch (first time ever)
DJ smashes the knifehand for 6 points
Carl misses the side kick
Luke nails the turning kick for 6 points
Clint breaks the reverse turning for 6 points
Bronze medal!
Senior female team power
Chanthie breaks the knifehand side strike for 4 points
Lizzie misses the side kick
Rose breaks the turning kick for 4 points
unfortunately 4 teams got all three breaks so NZ is out of the medals this time.
Junior male team power
Jeremy breaks punch - 4 points
Johs breaks knifehand - 4 points
Bradley smashes the side kick - 6 points
David breaks the turning kick - 6 points
Shane powers through the reverse turning kick - 4 points
Perfect run!!
Still in the lead with one team to go - Netherlands, still in the team sparring final..
We wait..
And wait..
Finally they report to the power ring.
The first competitor lines up the punch, and bounces his fist off the boards!
GOLD!!
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