Editorial: Celebrating a weekend of remarkable Kiwi sporting success

Kiwi sports fans had a weekend to remember. Photo / Photosport

EDITORIAL

Liam Lawson’s ninth-placed finish in yesterday’s US Grand Prix capped one of the most remarkable weekends of sporting achievement New Zealand has ever seen.

Outside of rugby and Olympic events, there can be few other weekends that have delivered ceaseless displays of Kiwi sporting excellence like the one that has just passed.

The successes came on the field and off it. There was a battle on the Mediterranean Sea for the oldest international trophy in world sport and the fresh arrival of a new family-friendly fixture in Auckland.

Amelia Kerr and her White Ferns teammates were utterly dominant in the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup final on Monday, setting the South Africans a hefty target of 159 and bowling beautifully to restrict them to just 126. The Ferns’ victory was made all the more remarkable by their poor form going into the tournament – they arrived on the tail end of a 10-match losing streak.

The women’s efforts capped a magical couple of days for Kiwi cricket. When Will Young hit the winning runs for the Black Caps, closing out their test match in Bengaluru, he nudged the men’s team into a realm they’ve not entered in 36 years. Test victories in India are among the hardest to achieve for our cricketers, who develop their skills in vastly different conditions on green pitches in New Zealand.

Team New Zealand’s defence of the America’s Cup in Barcelona was more expected than the triumphs of the cricketers, but it is no less laudable.

The Grant Dalton-led syndicate became the first team to defend the Cup in three consecutive regattas since the New York Yacht Club were beaten by Alan Bond’s Australia II in 1983. Team New Zealand’s victory temporarily assuaged disgruntlement on these shores at the side taking the racing series offshore.

The sold-out crowd at Auckland FC’s first A-League match on Saturday were treated to some decent football on the park and a taste of what a real family-friendly sporting fixture can offer. Football’s biggest competition in this part of the world runs through summer and Saturday’s game was played in balmy sunshine, with kids enjoying the sideline activities as much as the eventual 2-0 scoreline.

For rugby and league fans used to shivering on the sideline on a cold Auckland winter’s night, the Black Knights offer a refreshing experience of footballing codes.

There were other highlights. The Silver Ferns defeated the world champions Australia in the opening test of the Constellation Cup. Any victory against the Diamonds is hard-fought, but the dominance of the Ferns on their way to a 64-50 scoreline was unarguable.

Lawson’s stunning drive – before finishing ninth, the Kiwi ace started in 20th position at the back of the pack – would have brought knowing nods from anyone who has closely followed his career. His return to Formula One (he filled in for five races last year when Daniel Ricciardo was injured) could be considered a debut of sorts – it certainly heralds a reinvigoration of Formula One interest on these shores.

These successes point to promising seasons ahead for Kiwi sports fans.