Day 1 Summary - 2024 Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship
Day 1 of the new-look 2024 Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship tipped off at Netball SA Stadium this morning, with a healthy crowd in attendance for the morning session. In a sign of the events progression, French superstar Jonathan Hivernat represented WA, whilst fellow international stars Park U-Cheol (KOR) and Davy Van Den Dop (NED) also debuted in the tournament for VIC and NSW respectively.
Some high quality matches resulted in some spectacular footage broadcast across the country live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo, with many first time fans loving their introduction to wheelchair rugby.
Match 1: VIC Protect Thunder 41 vs Suncorp QLD Cyclones 60
Park U-Cheol provided a spark offensively in his national championship debut. However it was not enough as the Suncorp Queensland Cyclones grabbed the victory 60-41, with a clinical display running multiple line-ups. Brayden Foxley-Conolly impressed for the Cyclones.
Match 2: SA Sharks 45 vs QLD Tornadoes 62
Strong hometown support was not enough for the Sharks as they went down 45-62 in a highly contested game. Co-captains Luke Matthews and Damien Mortaud both strong and leading from the front in a dominant QLD performance.
Photo credit: Kelly Barnes
Photo credit: Kelly Barnes
Match 3: West Coast Enforcers 45 vs NSW Gladiators 64
A strong start to the tournament for the defending champions NSW Gladiators as they defeat the West Coast Enforcers despite French superstar Jonathan Hivernat’s quality touches. Steelers hopeful Jayden Jackson finding plenty of quality pass options in the victory for NSW. Final score 64-45.
Match 4: NZ Wheel Blacks 33 vs Suncorp QLD Cyclones 48
An astonishingly low score line for wheelchair rugby indicating the high level of defensive strategy on offer in this fixture. Maia Marshall and Cam Leslie impressed for the Wheel Blacks however the Cyclones flexed their heavyweight status as a genuine competition favourite as they easily accounted for the Kiwi’s across the four quarters. Ella Sabljak and Mick Ozanne featured prominently in QLD’s win. Final score 48-33.
Match 5: SA Sharks 45 vs ACT Buccaneers 38
Match of the tournament so far with multiple lead changes throughout. Ultimately the high-low line-up of SA proved too strong for ACT. A strong home crowd, highlighted by the Governor’s attendance (Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC) saw the SA Sharks record their first win of the tournament with a close 45-38 victory. Zak Robertson and Will Taheny impressed for the Sharks whilst Ben Leaudais and Antonio Vecchio were immense for the Buccaneers.
Photo credit: Kelly Barnes
Photo credit: Kelly Barnes
Match 6: VIC Protect Thunder 62 vs West Coast Enforcers 52
The penultimate division 1 fixture saw the well oiled trio of AJ Holloway, Park U-Cheol and Shae Graham prove too much for WA. Robyn Lambird was strong again for the Enforcers, however it was the Thunder proving too strong, winning 62-52.
Match 7: ACT Buccaneers 33 vs QLD Tornadoes 63
Having lost their high pointer for the afternoon, ACT fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to an impressive QLD side who dominated from start to finish. Final score 63-33.
Match 8: NSW Gladiators 51 vs NZ Wheel Blacks 44
Rounding off the day was again reigning champions NSW looking ominous for a fourth straight title. Taking on the NZ Wheel Blacks, the Kiwi’s challenged NSW the entirety of the game and never allowed NSW to settle into a rhythm. Impressive defense from Hayden Barton-Cootes and Gareth Lynch rattled NSW who needed to push the whole way to secure the result. The star power of Riley Batt ultimately proved too much for NZ with NSW victors by a margin of 51-44.
Photo credit: Kelly Barnes