New Zealand Win the Whyte Trophy

New Zealand have won the ILT Whyte Trophy series being played at Stadium Southland, Invercargill winning the second test 4-1, following their first test win 3-2 on Saturday night. This win gives NZ the Whyte Trophy win for 7 consecutive series, how many New Zealand sports can boast such a record against Australia?
The New Zealand team got the second tie off to a great start by winning the mixed doubles in two straight games. Daniel Shirley and Rachel Hindley were the surprise new Kiwi combination playing a well controlled game 23-21 22-20 over the favoured established Australian paring of Ben Walklate and Kate Wilson-Smith.
Joe Wu never let youngster Boris Ma get started in the men’s singles, totally dominating the play to easily win 21-8 21-8.

One match left to clench the series, all up to Danielle Barry and Donna Haliday who did not let NZ down, turning the tables on an average performance in the first test, bringing their "A" game to the court tonight winning the match in three games 18-21 21-16 21-18 to give New Zealand both the tie and the series
In the women’s singles Rachel Hindley started well winning the first game comfortably 21-8 however Leisha Cooper had other ideas and came back strong in the second game to take it 21-18. With both girls tiring after some long rallies and the game going point for point until Rachel got a break of 6 straight points to stretch out to a 16-9 lead which sealed the match, winning the game 21-12.

The final match of the night, the men’s doubles was played under very different circumstances than the first tie. In the first tie it was do or die, everything hinged on the result of the match as the score was two all, tonight there was only pride on the line and New Zealand looking for the clean sweep. The Kiwis did not look as sharp as Saturday night but of course different circumstances, the match going to three games with the Aussies taking it in three games to prevent the tie clean sweep.

Results (NZ Names First):
Daniel Shirley/Rachel Hindley def Ben Walklate/Kate Wilson-Smith 23-21 22-20
Joe Wu def Boris Ma 21-8 21-8
Danielle Barry/Donna Haliday def Eugenia Tanaka/Kate Wilson-Smith 18-21 21-16 21-18
Rachel Hindley def Leisha Cooper 21-8 18-21 21-12
Henry Tam/Daniel Shirley lost to Ben Walklate/Glenn Warfe 16-21 21-18 21-16