Canterbury badminton runner-up

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 6

Canterbury badminton runner-up

Wellington reversed last year’s result when it beat Canterbury, 8-3, in the final of the New Zealand junior teams table tennis championship in Petone on Saturday. Canterbury’s second placing further embellished the province’s grand record in the event. Since 1971 it has won the final three times and has finished runner-up in the other three years. A fine win by Michael Hamel against the nationally ranked junior Lloyd Richards and effective teamwork by Hamel and Stuart Armstrong in the first doubles gave Canterbury two of the first four matches. However, the three Wellington players all won their second round singles and also the second doubles to clinch the championship. Earlier Canterbury had come from behind to defeat the fancied Auckland side, 6-5. The turning point was Armstrong’s win against Bruce Couper and he also gained a vital victory over the 1975 North Island champion, Rodger Catton. It its other match, Canterbury beat Manawatu, 7-4. Detailed results of the final were: Canterbury 3, Wellington I S. G. Armstrong lost to M. EUey, 11-21, 9-21; lost to D. J. Williment, 19-21, 16-2 t; lost to L. J. Richards. 21-17. la-21. 18-21. M. Hamel beat Richards, 19-21, 21-15, 21-14; lost to EUey, 21-9, 12-21. 14-21; beat R. Williment, 21-8, 21-19 R. H. Dixon lost to B. Williment, 21-18. 14-21. 12-21; lost to Richards, 17-21. 15-21. G. Halliburton lost to EUey. 9-21. 9-21. Doubles: Armstrong and Hamel beat D. WiUiment and Elley. 21-15. 22-20; Dixon and Hamel lost to EUey and Richards, 18-21. 19-21.