NZ Junior Ultimate teams set for trans-Tasman Trophy

Thirty young Ultimate Frisbee players will cross the Tasman next weekend to represent New Zealand against Australia. This event will be the third Under 18 trans-Tasman Ultimate competition, now a regular fixture in the youth high performance calendar of both countries and traditionally held in the off-year of the biannual World Junior Ultimate Championships.

The tournament will take place at the Balmain Road Sporting Grounds in Sydney on 30 September and 1 October 2017 with three games each for the Under 18 Men’s and Under 18 Women’s teams. This year will see the event livestreamed for the first time, allowing fans in both Australia and New Zealand to follow the action live through the Ultimate Australia YouTube channel.
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New Zealand are the holders of the trans-Tasman Trophy in the U18 Women’s division after an exciting 2-1 series win in Auckland in 2015. Kahu (NZ Junior Women’s team) will be aiming to be the first team to win the trophy away from home with the host country winning all previous encounters. They head into the competition with a strong team of 14 players including 7 who were part of the team that finished 6th at last year’s World Junior Ultimate Championships. 

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The New Zealand Junior Men’s (Katipo) will be looking to avenge their 1-2 series loss in 2015 and bring the trans-Tasman trophy home for the first time since the inaugural competition in 2011. Despite only 4 returners from WJUC, the team has a lot of skill and athleticism and is looking forward to the challenge Australia will present.

The trans-Tasman Trophy is a key stepping stone for both teams as they look to prepare for the 2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships to be held in Waterloo, Canada next August.

Tournament Schedule (times are listed in Sydney local time and NZ Time – note the change in time difference due to Australian Daylight Savings on Sunday morning).

Saturday 30 September
9.00am: NZ U18 Men v Australia – Game 1 (12.00pm New Zealand Time)
10.30am: NZ U18 Women v Australia – Game 1  (1.30pm New Zealand Time)
1.30pm: NZ U18 Men v Australia – Game 2 (4.30pm New Zealand Time)
3.00pm: NZ U18 Women v Australia – Game 2 (6.00pm New Zealand Time)
 
Sunday 1 October
9.00am: NZ U18 Women v Australia – Game 3 (11.00am New Zealand Time)
12.00pm: NZ U18 Men v Australia – Game 3 (2.00pm New Zealand Time)
 
More information:
Tournament Facebook Event
New Zealand Ultimate website
Livestream Coverage via Ultimate Australia YouTube Channel
 
The New Zealand teams are:
 
KAHU – NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR WOMEN’S ULTIMATE TEAM
                                                                                                               
Abi Liddell (Wellington High School)
Anna Crosby (Auckland University)
Beth Thompson (Hutt Valley High School)            
Bianca Mercer (Epsom Girls High School)
Bridget Forsyth (Hutt Valley High School)
Emma Doile (Hutt Valley High School)
Farren Halliday (St Catherine’s College)
Helena Cvitanovich (Hutt Valley High School)
Hillary Sheridan (Hutt Valley High School)
Lucy Parsons (Epsom Girls Grammar School)      
Maia Mance (Canterbury University)                     
Nicole Svensden (Takapuna Grammar School)                   
Sunny Zhou (Epsom Girls Grammar School)                        
Zoe Risner (Victoria University)
 
Head Coach – Iain Stewart
Assistant Coach – Sally Neal
Manager – Riah Mildenhall

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KATIPO – NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR MEN’S ULTIMATE TEAM

Andrew Fitzpatrick-Cockram  (Auckland Grammar School)
Campbell Nauman (St Bede’s College)
Graydon Scott (New Plymouth Boys' High School)
Hamish Forde (Westlake Boys' High School)
Jack Doherty-Eagles (Auckland Grammar School) Replaced by Daniel Linklater 
Jack Doile (Hutt Valley High School)                          
Josh Driscoll (Auckland Grammar School)
Luca Mercer (Auckland Grammar School)                              
Luke Rabe (New Plymouth Boys High School)
Max Benter-Lynch (Cashmere High School)                          
Nicholas Whitlock (Auckland Grammar School)
Rory Coxill-Bogacki (Wellington High School)
Rowan Burns (Auckland Grammar School)
Russell Syder (Hutt Valley High School)
Sean McKeown (Auckland Grammar School)
Tane Rolfe (Hutt Valley High School)

Head Coach – Warren Buckingham
Manager – Mike Sheridan