Waitakere Have Trophy Within Grasp

Home side Waitakere look set to win badminton’s provincial team championships, the Wisden Cup, after winning their fourth contest in a row and now knowing that only a big upset could hold them back from the title they last won in 2009.

Waitakere put away the previously unbeaten North Harbour 11-5 and were again led by its men’s singles players, Geoff Bellingham, Luke Charlesworth, Chance Chenge and Joe Wu who all won in straight games. The only singles success for North Harbour was in the women’s No3 singles as Variella Putri defeated Aishwarya Nair in straight games.

Meanwhile defending champs, Waikato dropped just one match as they accounted for Southland 15-1. Southland won the second women’s singles thanks to Aussie import Vinning Mak beating Felcitiy Leydon-Davis 22-20 in the final game. Meanwhile big brother, Oliver Leydon-Davis won his singles, then men’s doubles with Michael Fowke and mixed with Tracey Hallam.

In the battle between the two Auckland sides it was the top team which won easily 15-1 to still remain on six points in joint equal place with North Harbour.

In Slazenger Cup top seeds Wellington North were beaten 12-4 by Waitakere who now have eight points, two ahead of the team they beat. North Harbour and Canterbury both had easy wins over Bay of plenty and Otago respectively.

The final round robin matches start at 10am for Slazenger Cup and 3pm for Wisden Cup on Saturday with Waitakere playing Auckland(1), North Harbour face Waikato and  Auckland 2 take on Southland in the dead rubber all at the Waitakere badminton centre.

Results Wisden Cup and Slazenger Cup from Waitakere:
Wisden Cup round four.
Auckland(1) 15 Auckland(2) 1,  Waikato 15 Southland 1, Waitakere 11 North Harbour 5.  
Slazenger Cup round three.
Waitakere 12 Wellington North 4,  North Harbour 11 Bay of Plenty 5, Canterbury 14 Otago 2.