Paralympics: Wheel Blacks roll to gold

5.45pm

New Zealand responded to a packed stadium and the pressure of a final as they won the Paralympic wheelchair rugby gold medal against Canada in Athens today.

The Wheel Blacks won 31-19 after being behind for most of the match, reaching the lead in the third quarter then holding their nerve for the final eight-minute period against the reigning world champions.

Coach Grant Sharman said that the key to victory was the faith each player had in the other.

"We have worked together for 18 months for this and we consider ourselves as the Wheel Black family," he said.

"We are here to support each other, and to play for each other. When things are not going right for one player, the others will always step up."

Geremy Tinker, playing one of the best games of his long career, pulled off two crucial turnovers that kept New Zealand in front.

This is Tinker's 13th year in the sport and his third Paralympics, having won bronze at both Sydney and Atlanta.

"I was nervous for this game, which is what you want, but I was also pretty confident, even when we trailed by two goals at the end of the first quarter," Tinker said.

"As soon as they went to their bench I knew we could beat them.

"It has been a long campaign, and there have been times when I have had my doubts, but I must say that it has been the best campaign I have ever been in."

Tim Johnson was the top scorer with 13, followed by Dan Buckingham on nine and Tinker seven.

In such a strong defensive game, captain Bill Oughton was the unsung hero to force several turnovers.

For Jai Waite, who did not get game time off the bench, it was a winning return to the city where he broke his neck four years ago, almost to the day.

The Wheel Blacks' gold wasn't the only New Zealand medal on day eight, with swimmer Daniel Sharp winning bronze in the men's 100m SB13 breaststroke.

Sharp, of Auckland, shaved eight seconds off his previous best in recording a time of one minute 12.93 seconds.

Coach Jo Sullivan said she was apprehensive about Sharp's chances in the final, even though he had qualified second fastest.

"Some of the big boys had only cruised the heats, so I was expecting about a fifth placing," Sullivan said.

"In the end he swam a superb race, finishing strongly over the last 50m, finishing less than a second behind the winner and well clear of fourth."

Sharp is back in the pool on Monday in the 50m freestyle, a distance he favours.

Theresa Griffin made her last appearance in the pool in the S10 100m backstroke, finishing seventh.

Christchurch's Paul Jesson battled a flat tyre over the last 2.5km of the 57km road race to finish a gallant second and set up a medal shot on Monday in the time trial.

Both events are combined, the gold medal winner being the rider with the best overall performances.

Sprinter Matt Slade was looking to add a second gold to his 200m medal when he contests the 100m final early tomorrow (NZT).

Slade cantered home second in his heat of the 100m, and finished second fastest qualifier.

Willie Beattie of Rotorua failed to make it through to the finals of the F56 shotput, finishing with a throw of 9.56m.

It was a tough day for the Boccia (bowls) team, with all three New Zealand competitors knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Ross Flood of Auckland and Maurice Toon of Waikato won their first matches in the round of 16, but were well beaten in the afternoon, while Auckland's Liam Sanders fought back from a four point deficit in his quarterfinal to take the game to a tiebreak before losing.

- NZPA