Fagan dominates last shearing test   1 Mar 2015

New Zealand shearing legend David Fagan bowed out of international test match shearing by starring in a comfortable win over Wales today in the tiny Manawatu outpost of Apiti.

Fagan first represented New Zealand in 1985, and announced recently he will retire from all competition at the New Zealand Championships in home-town Te Kuiti in April.

But today, the second of two Elders Primary Wool Series tests, was the 53-year-old’s last time in a New Zealand singlet, as he and Rakaia shearer Tony Coster completed a 2-0 Elders Primary Wool series win over Welsh shearers Gwion Evans and Rhys Jones with a comfortable margin of over 12pts.

Fagan showed his mastery by shearing his 12 sheep in 10min 57sec, more than a sheep quicker than the two Welshmen, and almost two ahead of his own teammate. Fagan alsso had the best quality points.

Fagan put in a similar performance as New Zealand won the first test at the Southern Shears in Gore last week.

Such was the prestige of seeing the Kiwi great’s last international, Welsh manager Bill Jones was unworried about the fact that Wales is still to win a test in New Zealand.

He said it was “fantastic” to be a part of the historic moment. Last week he told an audience in Gore that Fagan is “like God” to shearing fans in Wales.

Fagan said: “I think God might have something to say about that.”

The respect, however, is mutual, Fagan having shorn more than 40 tests in Wales, starting at Corwen about 25 years ago. It was at Corwen in 1998 that he shore a 20-lambs final in 10min 17sec, regarded as a record for a 20-sheep event.

He loves shearing in Wales, and said: “The Welsh are very passionate about their shearing. The crowd support is remarkable.”

“The lamb (shearing) shows in Wales are pretty special,” he said. “When the lambs are good they’re the best in the World.”

While Fagan heads to Masterton for his last Golden Shears this week, the Welsh return home for lambing, Jones spending a day settling his wife and two daughters back into the household before heading-off to work in Norway.

Result of the Elder Primary Wool Shearing test between New Zealand Wales at Apiti today (February 28): New Zealand101.583pts (David Fagan 10min 57sec, 46.85pts; Tony Coster 12min 28sec, 54.733pts) beat Wales 4113.717pts (Gwion Evans 12min 9sec, 55.95pts; Rhys Jones 12min 12sec, 57.7667pts). New Zealand won the series 2-2. A series in Wales last July was tied 2-2.

ENDS

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