Auckland set to win badminton cup

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 16

Auckland set to win badminton cup

If racing parlance can be applied to badminton, then th two Auckland teams at the isden Cup tournament — bcint played at the Skellerup Hall in Christchurch — would probably have to “fall over” for the province to lose the cup.

I This was the inescapable conclusion to be drawn front the wins I that the teams had in (section rounds yesterday. : In group one Auckland (White won both its games—against Central Districts and 'Otago—-15 matches to one. and in group two Auckland Blue made just about sure of (a place in the semi-finals by beating Canterbury, 10-6. j However. Canterbury could be well satisfied with its effort, and if it plays as well in its two remaining section games—against Wellington today and Waitemata tomor-row-then it could still realise its objective of a place in the semi-finals. Canterbury actually led 3-0 after the first three singles matches, Geoff Miller, Paul Boatwood, and the late replacement in the team, Diane Erikson, all winning in straight games. But thoughts of an upset did not last for long. The top Auckland players quickly put paid to them by winning the other five singles without much difficulty. OUTSTANDING The outstanding individual performance of the day was by Auckland Blue’s top man, Bryan Purser. He was all power and purpose in crushing Peter Whiting, 15-4, 15-1, and Whiting did not play al! that badly; certainly “well enough to test any lesser opponent. It was simolv that Purser was in a different league. The top women’s singles was just ag one-sided. Canterbury’s Alison Ross tried hard, but she was no match on the day for Alison Branfield and lost, 3-11, 1-11.

Honours were shared in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles, but Auckland retained the advantage it had gained in the singles by comfortably winning both the women’s doubles. As was expected the Auck-

! land women (in both teams); are in a class of their own.' Just how dominant Auck-( White was in its two appear-' ances is shown by the fact, (that all but one of its 30 match wins were straight-( game victories. Its top man. Ross Livingston. showed that he is close (to his best form with a comfortable win over Steve Wilson (Otago), who has beaten Livingston. The score was ( 15-4. 15-7. i There were two very close contests yesterday. Wellington was unexpectedly, extended to beat Waitemata (on games—22 to the (most notable result here was the 11-7. 11-8 victory of Lyni

h Shirley over the top Wei . lington woman. Gilda Tom (kins. In all her matches Mr Shirley played well, and i (was largely through he efforts that Waitemata mad l (the decision so close. Wellington played tur games yesterday, but it hac fewer worries at its seconr appearance—beating South land. 14-2. The other close battle wa between Taranaki and Hut Valley. Taranaki won tlv four men’s singles and hot' men’s doubles, and the Hut (Valley women did the same Taranaki had an edge in the mixed doubles, and its thre' (wins to one here gave it over (all victory. 9-7.