Hesitation about Wisden Cup

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33587, 16 July 1974, Page 32

Hesitation about Wisden Cup

Although the New Zealand Badminton Federation has made a bold move introducing a new-look Wisden Cup tournament for interprovincial Division I play, some associations and players seem reticent in giving complete support to the plan.

Already, one team, North Shore, has withdrawn from the round-robin tournament to be played in Wellington late npxt month, and there has been a suggestion that Southland may follow. The main problem is that some players — especially those living at the extremity of the North and South Islands—cannot afford the five days in Wellington, and then another week in September for the national championships in Dunedin. Accordingly, some provinces — particularly Taranaki and Southland—are having difficulty in naming an eight-member team. The federation’s management committee will meet tomorrow to confirm the final format of the Wisden Cup and will notify the associations. However, the withdrawal of North Shore has affected the competition for Canterbury, which was drawn in the same section. Canterbury will now play four matches—against Southland. Mana|watu, Hutt Valley and Auck-

land No. I—and this number could be reduced if Southland withdraws. NEILL CUP CHANGE In spite of this, the Canterbury Division I side will get some unexpected competition—in a triangular tournament against Southland and Otago in Dunedin on August 3, for the Neill Cup. The South Island competition for the long established trophy—used as the zone elimination of the Wisden Cup—was momentarily lost with the advent of the federation’s re-organisation. The three associations have decided to continue the competition, but in a round-robin tournament over one day. Canterbury’s resources wil] be fully stretched on August 3, with all the representative teams playing. As well as the Division I play, the Canterbury Division II side will meet Otago in Dunedin in the final elimination match for the New Zealand final. In Timaru the Division 111 and junior teams will play their final zone matches against South Canterbury.