Canty qualifies for play-off

Press, 4 July 1981, Page 48

Canty qualifies for play-off

Canterbury achieved its aim of qualifying for the play-off for third place in the C.B.A. Wisden Cup national badminton championships when it hammered Otago, 151, at the Skellerup Hall yesterday. That win made North Shore’s victory over Wan-ganui-Manawatu meaningless, as Shore’s only chance of qualifying for the top four depended on Otago beating Canterbury. Otago’s only win came in the women’s singles where its No. 3 player, Liz Brown, was a comfortable winner over Jenny Hood. It gives Mrs Brown three singles wins from her five matches at the championships.

Brian Williams’ win at No. 4 for Canterbury will have given him particular satisfaction. He beat Peter Clarke in straight games. 15-2, 15-9. Williams began the tournament with losses to lan Will (Tarananaki) and Kieran Harrison of North Shore, , both in three games. He was then replaced by David Ross, but was recalled yesterday with a successful result.

The singles results mean two Canterbury players, Steve Wilson and Rosey Stanton, have completed section play without a defeat. North Shore beat Wan-ganui-Manawatu, 12-4, losing two of its men’s singles. Miles Atkinson gave Kevin Ross a good tussle before going down, 6-15, 9-15. Ross gave another display of his considerable retrieving skills, and his consistency and percentage play was too much for Atkinson. North Shore’s four women were untroubled to win their singles matches. Their doubles matches were also won in straight games, although Gaynor Weatherley

and Katrin Blair needed setting to overcome a determined bid by Teresa Penman and Natalie Wallace. Warren Johns and Richard Kelly had an absorbing contest with Ross and lan Lane, while Wanganui-Manawatu can be happy with its two mixed doubles victories, as three of the four beaten North Shore players are past or present national representatives.

Auckland Blue overwhelmed Taranaki, 16-0. none of the matches going beyond two games. Its place in the final this afternoon has always been assured, the more interesting point of conjecture has been how many matches it would drop in section play.

Points.—Section one: Auckland Blue 89, Canterbury 76. North Shore 61. Otago 34, Wanganui-Manawatu 23. Taranaki 17. Canterbury 15, Otago 1. Men's singles.—S. Wilson beat D. Charlesworth, 15-3. 15-8; P. Whiting beat M. Lindsay. 15-9, 15-7; G. Miller beat D. Hunt. 15-1. 15.-8; B. Williams beat P. Clarke, 15-2, 15-9.

Women's singles.—A. Ross beat B. Smith, 11-1, 11-4; J. Clarke beat A. Holst 11-4, 11-2; J. Hood lost to L. Brown. 6-11, 3-11; R. Stanton beat T. Barnes. 11-6, 11-8.

Men's doubles.—Wilson ' and Whiting beat Charlesworth and Lindsay. 15-6. 15-2; Miller and D. Ross beat M. Christie and Clarke, 15-3, 15-6. Women’s doubles.—Miss Ross and Miss Clarke beat Miss Smith and Mrs Brown. 15-5, 15-5: Miss Hood and Mrs Stanton beat Miss Barnes and Miss Hoist, 15-3, 1617, 15-6. Mixed doubles—Wilson and Miss Ross beat Lindsay and Miss Barnes. 15-3, 16-17, 15-6; Whiting and Miss Clarke heat Christie and Miss Holst, 15-6, 15-8; Miller and Mrs Stanton beat Hunt and Miss Smith, 15-0, 15-4; Ross and Miss Hood beat Clarke and Mrs Brown, 15-7, 15-9.