Robson takes N.Z. men’s title

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 18

Robson takes N.Z. men’s title

PA Invercargill Graeme Robson, of Auckland, won his second New Zealand men’s title when he beat Phil Home, of North Shore, in straight games 159, 15-11, in the New Zealand international badminton championships in Invercargill on Saturday. Neither player was prepared to make mistakes of service and therefore the rallies were quite long. Horae obviously wanted to get into the fast, flat, driving type of game at which he excels. However, Robson used the depth and height of the court to slow the speed own. The women’s singles final was won by the secondseeded Allison Sinton, of Waitemata, who beat New Zealand’s number one rank-

ing player, Toni Whittaker, of Auckland, 11-1, 12-11. An obviously nervous Whittaker could not contain the initial onslaught from Sinton, who hardly made a mistake and waited for the

shot to kill. Whittaker pulled herself together in the second game and led, 6-0, then 9-3, and was at this point playing much more like her normal self. However, Sinton fought back and tied the score at 9-9. She was 2-0 down in the setting but again came back to win 12-11. The men’s doubles final was won in rather hollow fashion by Jacob van Seim, of Waitemata, and Steven Lobb, of Auckland, who beat Robson and Kerrian Harrison, of North Shore, 15-6,15-8. Toni Whittaker got some measure of revenge when, partnered by Karen Phillips, of Counties, they beat Sinton and Belinda Persson in the women’s doubles, 1813, 15-5.

Horne won his first New Zealand title when, with Sinton, they beat the top seeds, Robson and Whittaker, in a scintillating display of mixed doubles. The score w|s 15-5, 15-8.