AUSTRALIA'S BRAD DE LOSA CROWNED 2ND IN THE WORLD AT CHAMPIONSHIP IN NORWAY.

It was a clash of the titans between Australia and New Zealand at the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship men's final in Norway yesterday morning, everything coming down to a heartstopping final heat between the best two STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® athletes in the world.

In the best traditions of the Wallabies v All Blacks and the Baggy Green v Black Caps, a judge's decision was all that separated Aussie champion Brad De Losa and Kiwi reigning World Champ Jason Wynyard for the title, in front of a packed crowd at the 11,500 capacity Hakons Hall in Lillehammer.

Just 24 hours after raging favourite Australia's shock bronze in the Team World Championship final, De Losa clawed back pride but was just pipped at the end to take silver, the title hanging on a judge's call that went Wynyard's way in his final discipline.

De Losa, 40 from Lithgow NSW, put himself in the hot seat going into the final Hot Saw competition with a solid performance across the first five disciplines.

Despite a small slip in the Hot Saw, forcing De Losa to return for another cut, he led the field on points.

Tension grew when the Czech Republic's, Martin Komarek hit the stage only to have his chain come off, unable to overtake the Aussie as he dropped valuable points.

It all came down to Wynyard's Hot Saw run – a miss cut and De Losa would be handed the title.

Wynyard was flying through when his wood cracked, bringing the judges in for a ruling.

For a moment De Losa looked set for the title before the judges ruled Wynyard's cuts were good and the points were awarded, leapfrogging the Kiwi into first.

De Losa finished with 59 points, Wynyard 68.

De Losa, reflecting on improving from fifth last year but just missing the title, said: "I went into this competition feeling fit, fresh and ready for the win. One bad cut was all it took to lose the gold. It is always an honour to represent Australia and I'm delighted to go home with the silver."

De Losa, the 2014 World Champion, won the honour of representing his country by winning the Australian STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Championship, held in Melbourne in early October.