Poor performance catalyst for selection

Faavae Sefo admits poor results at the recent Carterton A and P Show were the catalyst to his selection in the New Zealand wood chopping sand sawing team to compete in a three test series against Australia in February.
A member of the Masterton Axemen's Club, Sefo was returning to the competitive scene after a two-year break at Carterton and actually went into his schedule there with the thought that only good results would see him continue any serious involvement in the sport.
But as it happened the opposite occurred with his effort to win just a single sawing event making him angry enough to intensify his training programme.
"And I couldn't give up on such a poor note, the pride wouldn't allow that."
"I was like a novice, I just couldn't get going at all," Sefo said of his Carterton performance.
"It was so frustrating that I decided there and then I wouldn't make a fool of myself again.
"And I couldn't give up on such a poor note, the pride wouldn't allow that."
Sefo said the upping off his training programme, which included sawing and cutting "heaps and heaps" of blocks, had a positive effect and he went to last weekend's training camp in New Plymouth for prospective candidates for the New Zealand team optimistic of his chances of being selected in the 11-strong squad to meet Australia.
"I'm still not in the best shape I could be but I'm getting there, I thought I could make it but then again I wouldn't have been surprised not to," he said.
Sefo has been named along with Warren Riddle of Feilding to compete in the double saw for New Zealand. They have partnered each other at international level before and while the Aussies are always a tough nut to crack Sefo is confident that come February they will be ready to give a strong account of themselves.
"We've got time to get right up to speed, there's going to be a lot of hard work between now and then," he said.
After the three-test series with Australia Sefo will turn his attention to making the New Zealand team of eight to participate in further internationals at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney but even if he doesn't make that side he has decided to compete there anyway.
A world title will be up for grabs in Sydney in the underhand chop and Sefo wants to have a "decent crack" at that.