Megan Hull is desolate after the Black Sticks fell to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympics. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
In the second part of his top 21 in 21 years CHRIS COGDALE reveals his picks for number eight to 14.
14 – Kerry Mountcastle
Kerry Mountcastle was a member of the New Zealand team that went close to claiming the 2018 Eisenhower Trophy in Ireland.
The Kiwis held a three-shot lead heading into the final round of the World Team Amateur Championship before fading to finish fourth.
Mountcastle was in stunning form in 2018, winning the NZ stroke play championship and finishing runner-up in the national amateur championship.
He then won a second major title of the season – the Carrus Open in Mt Maunganui, his first win in a professional tournament.
Mountcastle, an electrician, turned professional after a second placing in the 2021 NZ stroke play championship.
Mountcastle played a key role as Masterton won the prized Duncan Cup for Wellington interclub supremacy in 2019 and 2020.
13 – Zane Hopman
Zane Hopman came to prominence in Muay Thai, winning the 2014 heavyweight title at the world amateur championships in Malaysia.
Hopman later turned to boxing and won nine of his 12 fights, including his last eight, before hanging up his gloves in late 2020.
His final bout was memorable, winning the Pro-Box New Zealand Light Heavyweight belt in a unanimous points decision over Ratu Dawai that moved him a step closer to a top 15 world ranking.
Since retiring, Hopman has been training several promising Muay Thai exponents out of the Fortitude Gym in Masterton.
12 – Wairarapa-Bush Rugby 2005-6
The 2005 and 2006 Wairarapa-Bush rugby teams won the last NPC Third Division title and the first Meads Cup under the coaching of Peter Russell.
In 2005, Wai-Bush qualified top for the playoffs after winning eight of their nine round-robin games. The Green and Reds won a home semifinal against Buller to set up a Memorial Park final against Horowhenua-Kapiti.
Centre Simanu Simanu starred with a hat-trick of tries in Wai-Bush’s 28-23 victory.
The following year, Wai-Bush were underdogs going into the away final against Whanganui, who beat them two weeks previously.
Winger Francis Seumanutafa scored their only try, while Paddy Harding-Rimene kicked 11 points as Wai-Bush held for a famous 16-14 victory and became the first team to hold the Meads Cup.
11 – Megan Hull
Former Wairarapa College student Megan Hull first came to national prominence in the New Zealand U-21 side in 2016, the year she also made her senior international debut.
After four appearances, Hull was overlooked until her improved form resulted in her return to the team in 2019.
The 25-year-old defender has since become a first-choice selection and played an important role for the national side in the inaugural International Pro League, and in New Zealand beating Australia and qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hull was part of the team that made the Olympic quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual gold medallists the Netherlands.
Hull has 43 caps for the Black Sticks.
10 – Ben Campbell
Ben Campbell is a former world number six amateur and one of New Zealand’s most promising young golfers for many years.
Campbell represented New Zealand at two Eisenhower Trophy tournaments, the highlight being the team’s fourth placing in 2010. He also finished tied for fourth on the individual rankings.
Since turning professional, his career has been punctuated by major injuries.
Campbell has huge talent and potential, and his results show that.
Campbell led the 2018 Fiji Open [co-sanctioned on the European Tour] before finishing tied for third. In the same year, he won the NZPGA championship, and was tied for fifth in the ISPS Handa Super 6s in Perth.
Before that, Campbell finished runner-up in the 2017 NZ Open in Queenstown, losing in a playoff.
9 – Elizabeth Perry
Elizabeth Perry represented New Zealand in cricket and hockey.
The former Chanel College student played 17 one-day internationals and 31 T20 internationals from 2010 to 2017.
A hard-hitting right-hand batter, Perry’s top score was 70, which she made on debut against Ireland, and is the record [shared with Lynda Powell] for the most runs scored on debut in an ODI by a New Zealander.
Perry averaged a respectable 22.33 with the bat in ODIs, and averaged 16.77 in T20s, with a top score of 50 not out.
Perry also played three internationals for the Black Sticks in 2009.
8 – Seth Rance
Seth Rance always wanted to play first-class and international cricket from his home base of Greytown without moving to a bigger centre.
He achieved that representing New Zealand in two one-day internationals in 2017 and eight T20s from 2017-19.
However, it has been at the domestic level where the 34-year-old medium-fast bowler has become an outstanding performer for the Central Stags.
In his 48 first-class appearances Rance has taken wickets at an average of 27.96. In 59 one day games, he has 89 wickets at 26.79, and in 73 T20s, he has 87 wickets at an impressive 22.47.
An underrated lower order batsman, Rance has scored 907 first-class runs with a top score of 71.
• CONTINUED TOMORROW.
