Day 3 Summary - 2024 Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship

Division 2 Gold Medal Match: QLD Tornadoes 52 vs SA Sharks 58

In what can only be described as a classic, both the Sharks and Tornadoes produced one of the games of the tournament in the division 2 Gold Medal match. A vocal home crowd ensured the Sharks never allowed QLD to get comfortable, as the lead changed on a number of occasions. Matt McShane was instrumental for the Tornadoes as he led their charge, ably supported by Damien Mortaud and Cam Whittaker throughout the contest. The combination of Josh Hanlon and Mitch Bond however, proved too good for the Tornadoes, as the pair combined late in the game to take back the lead and assume a commanding position as the clock ticked down deep in the fourth. The SA Sharks going back-to-back with victory on home soil. Final score 58-52

Division 1 Bronze Medal Match: NZ Wheel Blacks 45 vs VIC Protect Thunder 44

Rounding off an exceptional tournament for the Kiwi’s, captain Cam Leslie’s side were out to ensure their trip across the ditch ended on a high note. Partnered by the ever reliable Hayden Barton-Cootes and Maia Marshall-Amai, the Wheel Blacks showed their class with many passing combinations to take home the Bronze in a tournament where the growth of the team has been visible across the 3 days of competition. The Thunder stayed with the Kiwi’s the whole way, spearheaded by Jayden Warn and Shae Graham, however they fell short. Special mention to Korean international Park U-Cheol who was a valuable addition to the Victorian team across the weekend both on and off the court. Final score 45-44.

Division 1 Gold Medal Match: NSW Gladiators 49 vs Suncorp QLD Cyclones 46

With a healthy crowd building in the SA Netball stadium stands for the match, the Gold Medal final was always going to deliver. The Suncorp Queensland Cyclones had been in blistering form across the prior days play, and with Head Coach Ben Newton at the helm delivering the team strategy, they had seemed one step ahead of their opponents all weekend.

Facing them, the three-time defending champions, the NSW Gladiators, featuring the world’s best player in Ryley Batt, and an in-form support crew of international stars in the form of Andrew Edmondson, Cody Everson and Dutch national Davy Van Den Dop.

An end-to-end contest saw the lead change multiple times with a tied-game going into half time, the start of the third saw two crucial QLD turnovers, allowing NSW to assume control of the contest with a 4-score lead. Beau Vernon and Josh Nicholson were immense for QLD on the defensive side of the ball, whilst Batt, Everson and Edmondson displayed calm heads and expert clock management to wind things down in the fourth and ensure the NSW Gladiators were crowned four-time champions.

National Champions: NSW Gladiators (photo credit: Brenton Edwards)

Division 2 Champions: SA Sharks (photo credit: Brenton Edwards)

Award Winners

Division 2 All Australian Team

Best High Point Player: Jack Watson (QLD Tornadoes)

Best Mid Point Player: Antonio Vecchio (ACT Buccaneers)

Best Low Point Player: Tye Angland (ACT Buccaneers)

Best Coach: Andy Phillips (SA Sharks)

MVP: Luke Matthews (QLD Tornadoes)

Division 1 All Australian Team

Best High Point Player: Jonathan Hivernat (West Coast Enforcers)

Best Mid Point Player: Josh Nicholson (QLD Cyclones)

Best Low Point Player: Beau Vernon (QLD Cyclones)

Best Coach: Ben Newton (QLD Cyclones)

MVP: Ryley Batt (NSW Gladiators)

Quentin Fleischfresser Spirit of the Game: Michelle Nicholas (Head Table Official)