The Australian wood chopping team have let their axes do the talking, claiming bragging rights over New Zealand for the third consecutive year.
The transtasman rivals went head to head in a three-race wood chopping series at the Rotorua A&P Show at the weekend, the first time Rotorua has hosted the annual encounter, and the Australians came out on top 2-1.
In each race the two teams of seven had to complete a series of wood chopping disciplines, including underhand, standing end, single saw and double-handed saw.
Trailing 2-nil ahead of the final race today,New Zealand were desperate to avoid a clean sweep and, after making some minor changes to the team set-up, produced a dominant performance to finish the series on a high despite the overall loss.
New Zealand's Nathan McDonald in action during the trans-Tasman woodchopping series against Australia at the Agrodome in Rotorua. Photo / Ben Fraser
New Zealand team member Kyle Lemon, of Rotorua, injured his back after the first race and was forced to support his team from the sidelines for the remaining two races. He said he was proud of their effort.
"The first race was pretty tight, I think we were beaten by just over a hit, which is about a second, so we fell on the wrong side of that. We were certainly in the game but the bounce of the ball just didn't go our way.
"It's extremely competitive and can be very close, you're talking tenths of a second, and all that can be is one axe sticking, one jag of the saw or one little mistake. In the second race we were rough, we weren't clinical enough and got a good old-fashioned hiding," Lemon said.
New Zealand's Shane Jordan in action during the trans tasman woodchopping series against Australia at the Agrodome in Rotorua. Photo/Ben Fraser
He said it was pleasing to see the way the team got up for the third race despite having already lost the series.
"The boys rallied and thought about what they needed to do today. It was an outstanding effort, it's hard when you're 2-nil down in a series to pick yourself back up and put it together. The guys kept a clear head, we changed a few things around and it paid off for us today.
"[The Australians] are always top notch, they're hard to beat, they're fierce competitors and they're good mates away from the competition. They always bring their A game, it is very rare for them to make mistakes and a mistake-free race certainly gets you closer to winning."
New Zealand woodchopping team. Photo / Ben Fraser
Lemon said, despite only competing in the first race, representing New Zealand at home in Rotorua was something he would cherish.
"I've been looking forward to it for a long time, to represent your country is amazing and I'm humbled to be a part of it."
The transtasman series was just one of many titles up for grabs throughout the three-day Rotorua Axemens' 50th anniversary event.
There were five world titles up for grabs and the biggest shock came in the single saw final as Invercargill's Bobby Dowling became the first person not named Jason Wynyard or Fa'ave Sefo to win the Allan Salter Memorial Shield.
Kody Steers won the 350mm standing world title, Josh Adamson won the 325mm tree felling world title, Fa'ave Sefo and Warren Riddle won the 600mm double saw world title and Brayden Meyer won the 375mm underhand world title.
