Badminton: Clean sweep puts the icing on transtasman trophy win

SYDNEY - The New Zealand team completed a 3-0 test series clean sweep against Australia, winning the dead rubber 3-2 at Ballarat in Victoria.


New Zealand had already retained the Whyte Trophy by winning Tuesday's second test near Melbourne, and maintained their impetus to emulate the 2001 team.


The selectors took the opportunity to blood North Harbour's Rachel Hindley in the women's singles, but she was unable to win on her international debut, losing to Kellie Lucas 11-1, 13-11.


Nicole Gordon and Sara Runesten Petersen saved two match points in the second set of the women's doubles, but eventually succumbed 15-3, 14-17, 15-10 to Kate Wilson-Smith and Jane Crabtree.


New Zealand dominated the rest of the tie.


Runesten-Petersen and Dan Shirley took the mixed doubles 15-6, 15-11 against Travis Denny and Wilson-Smith.


Geoff Bellingham maintained his perfect record in the men's singles, beating Stuart Brehaut 15-5, 15-4, and Dan Shirley and John Gordon overpowered Boyd Cooper and Ashley Brehaut 15-2, 15-3.


The New Zealanders now turn their attention to this weekend's Ballarat International, which is an opportunity to gain grand prix and Olympic qualifying points.


- NZPA