N.Z. FENCING TEAM

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29989, 26 November 1962, Page 14

N.Z. FENCING TEAM

Collapse On Second Day (Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) PERTH, November 25. The manager of the New Zealand fencing team, Mr M. Gittos said, “it was just not our day,” after the collapse of the New Zealanders yesterday afternoon. New Zealand, after running England and Australia close in the morning play, fell away in the afternoon, going under 6-3 to Wales and 6-2 (last game conceded) to Canada. Gittos said: “We started very well. We came within an ace of beating England and Australia. The final result in both cases was 6-3, but we kept up with them for quite a while, •‘We spent everything on them. We just did not have the required stamina in the afterenoon. It was not just our day.” After Miss M. D. Coleman’s win on the first day of the fencing, the New Zealanders were held in a higher regard, but unfortunately they were not able to rise to the heights of Miss Coleman. The eclipse of the New Zealand team on Saturday afternoon was unexpected after its good form in the morning bouts. It was expected they would beat Wales easily after the latter’s defeat at the hands of England, 8-1. One-armed Brian Pickworth, of Auckland, was in good forri, constantly working his way under the guard of bigger more aggressive opponents. It was difficult to see how he could keep cool as the temperature at 11 a.m. was 104 degrees in the Army drill hall where the fencing is taking place. It stayed around the century mark for the rest of the day.