A grade title seems safe for Air N.Z.

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 22

A grade title seems safe for Air N.Z.

Air New Zealand has the Canterbury Badminton Association’s A grade title within its grasp with one round to be played. It maintained its four-point lead on Saturday when it beat Bryndwr Y.M.C.A., 5-3. Air N.Z.’s only challenger, Railway, beat Christchurch I by the same score.

Air New Zealand has only to win five games in its final match next week to secure the title. It has 224 points and Railway is four behind. Air N.Z. will play bottom-of-the-table Christchurch II so it would be a serious upset for the competition leader to lose.

The singles in the Air N.Z.Bryndwr clash on Saturday were shared. The advantage was gained by Air N.Z. in the doubles, where it won three of the four contests.

Mark Reid had a good day for Bryndwr. He won his singles against Andrew Duckmanton, and teamed with Jenny Hood to beat Duckmanton and Fiona Pizzey in the mixed doubles. But Reid and Mark Chambers had to bow to the superior combination of Graham Sercombe and Duckmanton in the men’s doubles.

Railway had to fight for its win against Christchurch I. Railway gained its advantage in the mixed doubles when Geoff Miller and Karen Rogers beat John Fletcher and Terri Perry by default. Perry and Robyn Haley fought bravely in the women’s doubles, taking Gil!

Barns and Rogers to three sets before losing, 10-15, in the third. Christchurch II lifted its points at the bottom of the table' when it beat South Brighton, 5-3, but it is still doomed to being the wooden spoon team this season.

Hagley II beat Hagley I, 71.

Rowan Adam was the only successful Hagley I player. She won her singles clash with Christine Moller, but only after a three-set struggle, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7.

Points with' one round to play are: Air New Zealand 224, Railway 220, Christchurch I 171, BryndwrY.M.C.A. 144, Hagley II 107, Hagley I 92, South Brighton 89, Christchurch II 73. Results were.—• Railway 5, Christchurch I 3 Singles: G. Miller beat J. Fletcher, 15-12, 15-12; G. Rogers lost to D. Lester, 1215, 8-15; G. Barns lost to T. Perry, 6-11, 10-12; K. Rogers beat R. Haley, 11-7, 11-2. Doubles: Miller and Rogers beat Fletcher and Lester, 155, 15-12; Barns and Rogers beat Perry and Haley, 15-6, 10-15, 15-10; Mißer and Rogers beat Fletcher and Perry by default; Rogers and Barns lost to Lester and Haley, 14-17; 5-15. Air New Zealand 5, Bryndwr-Y.M.C.A 3

Singles: G. Sercombe beat M. Chambers, 15-11, 15-6; A. Duckmanton lost to M. Reid, 7-15, 5-15; P. Thorpe beat WL Williams, 11-6, 11-3; F. Pizzey lost to J. Hood, 9-11, 11-9, 7-

11. Doubles: Sercombe and Duckmanton beat Chambers and Reid, 15-7, 15-11; Thorpe •and Pizzey beat Williams and Hood, 15-12, 10-15, 15-3; Sercombe and Thorpe beat Chambers and Williams, 1512, 15-3; Duckmanton and Pizzey lost to Reid and Hood, 10-15, 4-15.

Christchurch H 5, South Brighton 3

Singles: T. Campbell lost to N. Barnes, 3-15, 14-17; N. Leemlng beat A. Spinks, 1815, 15-10; L.' Smith lost to V. Adams, 11-2, 8-11, 5-11; K. Neame beat B. Thorpe, 11-6, 12-10.

Doubles: Campbell and Leeming lost to Barnes and Spinks, 15-13, 12-15, 3-15; Smith and Neame beat Adams and Thorpe, 15-9, 1511; Campbell and Smith beat Barns and Adams, 15-12, 1517, 15-9; Leeming and Neame beat Spinks and Thorpe, 1215, 15-12, 15-13.

Hagley II 7, Hagley I 1 Singles: B. Williams lost to M. Porter, 11-15, 15-9, 11-15; K. Julian lost to P. Mundy, 015, 10-15; T. Watts lest to L. Henson, 8-11, 9-12; R. Adam beat C. Moller, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7. 7.

Doubles: Williams and Julian lost to Porter and Mundy, 17-18, 18-17, 15-18; Watts and Adam lost to Henson and Moller, 10-15, 10-15; Williams and Adam lost to Porter and Henson, 8-15, 6-15; Julian and Watts lost to Mundy and Moller, 10-15, 1511, 12-15.