N.Z. shuttiers successful

Press, 21 August 1989, Page 44

N.Z. shuttiers successful

PA Wellington One year ago, the idea of winning a badminton medal at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland would have seemed a daunting task for New Zealand. But events in the last three months have given the New Zealand team manager, Chris Bullen, hope that a medal is not beyond his team. The team has successfully scaled two peaks since June — it earned, promotion from group five to group four in world championship rankings and on Saturday ( night, regained the WhyteTrophy from Australia, i The 4-1 win gave New Zealand a 2-1 series victory after losing the first test in Auckland by 3-2 oh Tuesday. The score was levelled in Hamilton with

the ; New Zealanders notching a 3-2 win on Thursday. On Saturday night. New Zealand drew first blood through Graeme Robson and Phil Horne in the men’s doubles. Robson and Horne combined well to defeat Gordon Lang and Peter Blackburn 15-7, 15-8 in just under . r 35 minutes. / Robson , and Horne interchanged positions smoothly, with Robson ■ dominating the net exchanges and Home smashing strongly from the back of the court to set lip Robson for the net kills. ; But Australia levelled in the women's doubles when its pair of Lisa Bryant and Tracey Small overcame Julie Still and Katrin Blair 11-15, 15-10, 15-10. /.

The best of New Zealand was yet to come however — in the men’s and women’s singles. Glenn | Stewart put the score; 2-1 in New Zealand’s Ifavour when he completely dominated young j Paul Stevenson tactically and physically to win 15-7, 15-10. Robertson brought .the winning point by beating a surprisingly subdued! Rhonda Cator, the Australian No. 1. Robertson lost to Cator 511 and 9-12 in Hamilton but showed no sign that the defeat was preying on her mind. The mixed doubles saw Australians Gordon Lang and . Tracey Small put up a spirited fight to salvage ■ .a consolation win but Phil r Horne and Toni Whittaker 7. proved to be the better combination and won 15-

9, 15-17, 15-10 in an exciting encounter.

Mr Bullen said afterwards the next task ahead was to prepare for the Commonwealth Games. “We have scalecrLlwo peaks with success and this cei*tainly makes us hopeful of a medal in the Games — I won’t- say gold, Silver or bronze — but a medal.” Results (New Zealand names first): Graeme Robson/Phil Home bt Gordon Lang/Peter Blackburn 15-7, 15-8; Julie Still/Katrin Blair lost to Lisa Bryant/Tracey Small 15-11, 10-15, 10-15;,Glenn Stewart bt Paul Stevenson 15-7, 15-10; Rhona Robertson bt Rhonda Cator 11-7, 11-2; Home/Toni: Whittaker bt Lang/Small 15-9, 15-17, 15-10.

New Zealand won 4-1 and won the series 2-1.