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Southland Stumble, But Waikato Move On

Thursday 4 August 2011, 2:19PM

By Dave Worsley

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The calculators were out in badmintons national provincial championships, the historic Wisden Cup being held at North Harbour this week as Waitakere put a temporary dent in Southland’s title hopes on a games countback, winning by just 18 to 17.

Coming into the competition the sides expected to chase the title were Waikato as defending champs and Southland, however Waikato remain the only unbeaten team after two contests so far.

Waitakere have for so long competed on the backs of the Shirley family – top player Dan, a former world champ and Commonwealth Games medallist with younger sister Gabby Aves in the team which is managed by father Paul Shirley, an ex top player.

There’s also another former top Kiwi player from the 1990’s Nick Hall in the Waitakere team. Throw in younger players Luke Charlesworth, Kritteka Gregory and Mary O’Connor as well as England players Andrew Smith and Emily Hollis and it’s a top side who were always going to push Southland.

After the singles matches against Southland the scores were locked at 4-4. The men’s doubles were split as were the women’s and the mixed. It was only on the countback that the teams were separated with Waitakere ahead by one 18-17 on games (sets). The best player for Southland was former Olympic medallist Kim Ji Hyun who won her singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She beat Aves in straight games then teamed with fellow Korean Jin Ah to win over Aves and Hollis and also teamed with Croydon Rutherford winning against Hall and Gregory.

Waikato looked good in the their 12-4 win against North Harbour as Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medallist Tracey Hallam won her singles in straight games against Australian Leisha Cooper representing North Harbour. Hallam then teamed with Madeleine Stapleton to defeat Cooper and fellow Australian Anne-Louise Slee 23-21 in the third game. In the mixed Hallam combined with New Zealand representative Oliver Leydon-Davis to beat Cooper and Brock Matheson in straight games.

Meanwhile Auckland whitewashed an injury ravaged Canterbury 16-0, dropping just one set along the way.

Results:
Wisden Cup:
Waitakere 8 Southland 8 (Waitakere win on courtback 18-17 on games), Auckland 16 Canterbury 0, Waikato 12 North Harbour 4.

Slazenger Cup:
Bay of Plenty 10 Otago 6, Wellington North 8 Auckland(2) 8 (Wellington North win on countback19-17 on games)
North Harbour(2) 11 Waikato(2) 5