Kiwis pip Wales in first test against Wales
Kiwis pip Wales in first test against Wales
Shearing legend David Fagan has kicked-off his Welsh swansong by joining New Zealand Open champion Dion King in a test match win in Wales today.
The test at the Cothi Shears was the first in a four-match week-long annual series in which the Kiwis will be trying to to score New Zealand’s first shearing series win over Wales in Wales since 2011.
Fagan agreed to come out of a brief retirement for the tests in front of crowds Welsh commenttator and team manager Bill Jones says regards him as “like god”, after an Open-class career in which the 53-year-old Te Kuiti multiple World champion has won about 640 finals around the World.
But it was a close call today as he and King beat Welsh shearers Gwion Evans and Rhys Jones by just 0.25pts.
The Kiwis did have to concede defeat in the Cothi Shears Open final, King finishing third and Fagan fourth behind Welsh World championships shearers Gareth Daniel and Richard Jones.
The second test is at the Lampeter Shears tomorrow, the third at the Royal Welsh Show on Wednesday and the last at the Corwen Shears next Saturday.
ENDS