Judo: Slyfield wins bronze for New Zealand

9.30am

MANCHESTER - Tim Slyfield won a judo bronze medal for New Zealand he outclassed Australia's Morgan Endicott Davies in the 81kg division at the Manchester Commonwealth Games tonigh.

London-based Slyfield notched up two waza-ari throws to end the bronze repechage bout in two minutes 28 seconds.

Slyfield had been beaten in the same manner in the semifinals by former world champion Graeme Randall, of Scotland, who went on to take the gold medal in the final against Winston Gordon of England.

It was the first major tournament for the powerful Scot since being sidelined with a neck injury for six months. Any thoughts that Slyfield would catch him out of form were soon dispelled as Randall scored one waza-ari for throwing Slyfield and then another for holding him down.

It was Randall's third victory against Slyfield in international competition -- one of them being at the Commonwealth judo championships in Edinburgh in 1998 when Slyfield also had to settle for bronze.

Slyfield, 27, who hails from Auckland, said today's medal was the highlight of his sports career.

"I won bronze at the Commonwealth judo championships but this is the real thing," he said.

The atmosphere in the G-Mex judo venue was electric with fans barracking for the English judokas. But many of the aficionados were also behind Slyfield, knowing him from local competition.

Slyfield also had his own personal fan club on hand. His wife Alison had travelled up from London along with many of his workmates and friends, and his father Colin had flown over from New Zealand.

They joined him straight after the medal ceremony to share in his celebrations.

Slyfield said Randall felt stronger than on their previous encounters.

"I just could not get past his grips," Slyfield said.

"His forearms and upper body strength are awesome. All credit to him."

Although he also rated Endicott Davies as a player, Slyfield went into the bronze medal bout knowing he had the measure of him.

"I knew I could get him if I could control the grips. He made a few mistakes which cost him in the end," Slyfield said.

Slyfield easily accounted for Ghana's David Agbugbuah with an ippon in the first round but encountered some controversial refereeing decisions and penalties before beating India' Vinod Solanki in a quarterfinal that went the five-minute distance.

Auckland's Gareth Knight also fought for a bronze medal in the 90kg division but was outscored by Scotland's Steven Vidler, who clocked up a half-point waza-ari as he kept Knight on the defensive for much of the bout.

Knight put in some attacks of his own but said he could not quite get around the tough Scot's grips to make his attacks effective.

"I think I have better attacks but he outgripped me," Knight said.

Knight had won his two earlier reperchage bouts by ippons, but he felt agrieved at having been adjudged the loser in the first round against England's Winston Gordon, the eventual gold medallist.

Gordon was awarded a yuko for a late threw which Knight was convinced he actually initiated.

Two judges' decisions against Knight earlier in the bout had been been overruled, but the vital third one was not.

"I definitely knocked him over," he said.

The third New Zealand judoka fighting today, Melissa Jones, fell to a quick ippon against Canada's Luc Baillargeon in her first round bout in the women's 57kg division and lost her repechage to India's Devi Brojeshori by another ippon.

MEN

Up to 90kg:

Repechage 2: Steven Withers (Wal) bt Gbenga Oteje (Ngr), GARETH KNIGHT (NZL) bt Paul Green (Nir)
Semi-final: Keith Morgan (Can) bt Steven Vidler (Sco), Winston Gordon (Eng) bt Rostand Melaping (Cmr)
Bronze Final: Rostand Melaping (Cmr) bt Steven Withers (Wal), Steven Vidler (Sco) bt GARETH KNIGHT (NZL)
Gold Final: Winston Gordon (Eng) bt Keith Morgan (Can)

Up to 81kg:

Repechage 2: Morgan Endicott Davies (Aus) bt Epoki Fakaosi (Ton), Vinod Solanki (Ind) bt Majemite Omagbaluwaje (Ngr)
Semi-final: Graeme Randall (Sco) bt TIM SLYFIELD (NZL), Thomas Cousins (Eng) bt Luke Preston (Wal)
Bronze Final: TIM SLYFIELD (NZL) bt Morgan Endicott Davies (Aus), Luke Preston (Wal) bt Vinod Solanki (Ind)
Final: Graeme Randall (Sco) bt Thomas Cousins (Eng)

Up to 73kg:

Repechage 2: Jean-Francois Marceau (Can) bt Jamal Ant. Grosvenor (Bar), Craig Ewers (Wal) bt Bernard Mvondo Etoga (Cmr)
Semi-final: Tom Hill (Aus) bt Lee Burbridge (Eng), Chr. Christodoulides (Cyp) bt Lee Mc Grorty (Sco)
Bronze Final: Lee McGrorty (Sco) bt Craig Ewers (Wal), Jean-Francois Marceau (Can) bt Lee Burbridge (Eng)
Final: Tom Hill (Aus) bt Chr. Christodoulides (Cyp)

WOMEN

Up to 57kgs:

Repechage 1: Devi Brojeshori (Ind) bt MELLISA JONES (NZL), Maryann Ekeaada (Ngr) bt Non Evans (Wal)
Semifinal: Jenni Brien (Sco) bt Sophie Cox (Eng), Maria Pekli (Aus) bt Luce Baillargeon (Can)
Bronze Final: Luce Baillargeon (Can) bt Maryann Ekeaada (Ngr), Sophie Cox (Eng) bt Devi Brojeshori (Ind)
Final: Maria Pekli (Aus) bt Jenni Brien (Sco)

Up to 63 kg:

Semifinals: Sarah Clark (Sco) bt Claire Scourfield (Wal), Karen Roberts (Eng) bt Biliksu Ayijimoh Yusuf (Ngr)
Final: Karen Roberts (Eng) bt Sarah Clark (Sco)

- NZPA

Full coverage:
nzherald.co.nz/manchester2002

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