The New Zealand shearing and wool handling teams have returned home to lick their wounds after losing both trans-Tasman tests in Australia.
The New Zealand shearing team of Hawke's Bay's duo John Kirkpatrick and Golden Shears champ Rowland Smith together with Central Otago's Dion Morrell went down by nearly 30 points to their Australian rivals in Victoria.
It was a much closer shave in the wool handling test, where just over three points separated Keryn Herbert, of Te Awamutu, and Tia Potae, of Milton, from the triumphant Australian pair of Angela Wakeley and Kayle Garner.
