Badminton: NZ win Whyte Trophy for 5th time

New Zealand won badminton's trans-Tasman Whyte Trophy for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time last night.

They beat Australia 5-0 for the second time in the series in Hamilton with a test still remaining.

The 2-0 series win gives New Zealand their fifth consecutive Whyte Trophy in this bi-annual series which started in 1938.

New Zealand had the tie wrapped up after the first three matches last night.

However the test was much closer than the first one, with three matches going to three sets and the clash finishing just before midnight.

The first match, won by the mixed pair Dan Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen over Travis Denney and Kate Wilson-Smith, took over an hour.

The New Zealanders lost the first set 8-15 and won a tight second 15-12 before completing an easy third set 15-5 for the victory.

The Australians had Tania Luiz playing in the women's singles. Kellie Lucas played the singles at North harbour.

However, Rebecca Bellingham, ranked 30th in the world, won the singles 11-1 11-1 in just 14 minutes.

Geoff Bellingham then guaranteed New Zealand victory by beating Australian No 1 Stuart Brehaut 15-4 15-9.

"She has been playing well, winning the North Harbour International and then both of her Whyte Trophy matches. She raced through her match so quick that I was still warming up for my game," Bellingham said of his wife Rebecca's victory.

"This series win has been very important for New Zealand Badminton as it meets the performance target for Sparc.

"We want to win the third test (in Invercargill) on Sunday as well to make a complete sweep of the series."

The New Zealand women's pair of Nicole Gordon and Runesten-Petersen won their match in just over an hour after taking the first set 15-7.

They dropped the second 12-15 before winning the third 15-11.

The men's doubles saw John Gordon and Shirley beat Boyd Cooper and Denney in three sets.

- NZPA