N.Z. rowers overpower Australians

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 40

N.Z. rowers overpower Australians

NZPA Sydney New Zealand’s colts completed a three-nil clean sweep over New South Wales in the Tasman rowing series on the Nepean River at Penrith.

The Kiwi eights capped the series win with a magnificent performance, covering the 2000 metres in 5 minutes 54 seconds — only the second time a colts crew has beaten six minutes.

Not even a serious injury to the stroke. Richard Bindon. hampered the Kiwis in their bid to complete the clean sweep. Bindon injured shoulder ligaments in the first test two weeks ago and missed the next two regattas, but his replacement in the stroke seat. Merv Troughton. of Hauriki. proved more than equal to the challenge. The reshuffling of the eights crew forced New Zealand to withdraw Stuart Henderson from the single sculls so that he could row in the number two seat.

An Auckland University student. Allan Rowe, blasted his way to his third succes-

sive win in the lightweight single sculls and the New Zealand lightweight four, superbly coached by Mr Brian Hawthorn, swamped N.S.W. by more than three lengths in the third international.

The only joy for the N.S.W. team came in the women’s single and double sculls where Anne Piper of Mosman and a Penrith teenager Marilyn Kidd, proved too strong. The New Zealand women’s fours annihilated the opposition to win by an easy eight lengths. The four of Robyn Clarke. Maree McCoy, Julie Saul and Arewynn Lofthouse, stormed to the lead from the outset and had it parcelled up by the half-way mark.

The N.S.W. coach and former New Zealander. Mr Rusty Robertson, said he will be pressing strongly for future Tasman series to be full internationals involving the Australian senior, colts and women’s crews — a move that is certain to be supported by the New Zealanders.