Badminton: Aussies must win to stay in hunt for honours

By JULIE ASH

National badminton coach Graeme Robson expects Australia to come out firing in a test they must win to keep their Whyte Trophy series hopes alive in Waitakere tonight.

New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series in Wellington, clinching the tie 4-1, and are one win shy of keeping the biennial trophy for the third year running.

"I think we can play better than we did, but I also think Australia can play better," Robson said.

"I am still optimistic going into the second test, and if we play well, then we will hopefully take it."

New Zealand started strongly on Saturday with a convincing win in the mixed doubles.

Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen easily beat Travis Denny and Kate Wilson-Smith 7-2, 8-6, 7-1.

Geoff Bellingham extended the lead in the men's singles, fighting back from two sets down to beat Stuart Brehaut 3-7, 1-7, 8-7, 7-1, 7-0.

Australia picked up their only victory when Lenny Permana beat No 1 Rhona Robertson in the women's singles 4-7, 4-7, 7-1, 7-3, 7-3.

New Zealand clinched the test when Shirley and Chris Blair won the men's doubles over Australian brothers Ashley and Stuart Brehaut 7-0, 7-5, 7-1.

Tammy Jenkins and Robertson won the women's doubles, but only after a tough battle with Rhonda Cator and Rayoni Head.

The Kiwis lost the first set 4-7 but came back to take out the match 4-7, 8-6, 7-3, 3-7, 7-1.

Robson said he was particularly happy with Shirley and hoped to lead the team to a series victory tonight.

A new scoring system was used in the Whyte Trophy for the first time.

Instead of three sets of 15 points, five sets of 7 points were played.

"It made it a bit more exciting especially for the crowd, and some of the games were quite long," Robson said.

"The men's singles match was 43 minutes and the women's singles and doubles 39 minutes."

The third test is at the Auckland association hall in Epsom on Thursday.

Both the second and third tests start at 6.30 pm.