Late sport

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 6

Late sport

The top seeds, Bryin Purser and Diane Erikson, won through to the finals of the open singles at the Yonex New Zeeland badminton championships last evening at the Skellerup Hall. But in Miss Erikson’s case, she had many anxious moments before beating the Counties play-, er, Karen Phillips, in her semi--final. Miss Phillips showed speed and sharpness to take : the first game but Miss Erikson produced some delightful shots to take the second comfortably.

In the third game Miss Phillips raced to an 8-3 lead, from which she should have won. But Miss Erikson battled back, aided by some errors from Miss Phillips, to win the match. . Purser overcame a slow start to finally beat Nigel Skelt comfortably in his semi-final. Skelt led, in the opening game 12-5, but could not capitalise on his excellent start. He did not win another point in the first game and, although he saved five match points at 14-3 in the second, could 4o nothing on hl? service.

Graeme Robson gave a fine display to beat Jacob van Seim in the second semi-final. The match featured some superb rallies, but van Seim : lacked Robson’s consistency and, despite a determined- late bid, .went down. Toni Whittakers; refund to give in won her a' place in the

final after beating Alison Sinton in three games. Her retrieving was, at times, outstanding and she made the most of her opportunities. ■ The top two seeds, Richard and Bryan, Purser, and Nigel and Peter Skelt, will contest the men’s doubles final, after winning two entertaining semi-finals. However, the second seeded women’s pairing of Miss Whittaker and Miss Erikson lost to the unseeded, Gaynor Weatlierley and Carol Harris. sii Results:— i . s •

Open men’s single. — Semifinals: B. Purser (Taranaki) beat N. Skelt (Southland), 15-12, 15-4; G. Robson (Auckland) beat J. van Seim (Wellington), 15-7, 15-10. Open women’s singles. — Semifinals: D. Erikson (Canterbury) beat K. Phillips (Counties), 6-11, 11-1, 11-8, T. Whittaker (Auckland) beat A. Sinton (Waitemata), 11-12,. 11-6, 11-7. ' -!

> Open men’s doubles. — Semifinals. R. and B. Purser beat P. Horne and R. Kelly (North Shore), 15-6, 154; N- end P. Skelt beat P. Shirley and M- Telford (Waitemata), 15-6, 154. Open Women’s doubles — Semifinals: Mrs glnton and L. Shirley (Waitemata)' beat Ml?? Phillips and M.’Livingstone (Auckland), 15-7, 15-9; ,G. Weather, ley (North Shore) and C. Harris (Auckland) beat Miss Erikson and Miss Whittaker, 15-13, 10-15, 15-11.