Badminton: Robertson seeks birthday bonus

By JULIE ASH

Retaining the Whyte Trophy would be the perfect birthday present for New Zealand No 1 Rhona Robertson.

She celebrates her 31st birthday on Thursday - the day of the final test in New Zealand's three-test series with Australia.

New Zealand have won the trophy in their last two battles, but Robertson says the Australians could hardly be rated underdogs.

"The Aussies are tough. They prepare well and they fight hard," she said. "It is always good to go one up on the Aussies, but we know it won't be easy."

The Whyte Trophy is contested every second year. It involves five matches - men's and women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles.

The first test is tonight in Wellington, the second at Waitakere on Monday night and the third at Epsom on Thursday night.

Leading the New Zealand charge are Geoff Bellingham, Daniel Shirley, Nick Hall (Waitakere), Chris Blair (North Harbour), Robertson, Rebecca Gordon (Auckland), and Tammy Jenkins and Sara Runesten Petersen (North Harbour).

Coach Graeme Robson's line-up for tonight is expected to feature Robertson in the women's singles, Hall or Bellingham for the men's singles, Robertson and Jenkins the women's doubles, Blair and Shirley the men's doubles and Runesten Petersen and Shirley for the mixed doubles.

"Our players are playing well," Robson said. "I know if they play like they can then I am very optimistic we can retain it.

"Our toughest game will be the women's singles. But I really think we will have it over them in the doubles and men's singles."

Jenkins returns to the national side after missing the world championships in Spain.

"Tammy moved to Australia for a while last year.

"She wasn't quite right for the world championships, but I would say she is playing better than she has been," Robson said.

The inclusion of Denmark's Runesten Petersen had also been a boost.

"She certainly brings strength to the mixed doubles, and having another strong woman in training means we are in better shape now. She is hoping to qualify for the next Commonwealth Games."

Robson said the Australian team was young, with Rhonda Cator and Rayoni Head the only survivors from the last Whyte Trophy series.

"They are really blooding players for the Commonwealth Games."

The series will use a new scoring system. Instead of three sets of 15 points, the matches will comprise five sets of seven points.

This system will be used at next year's Commonwealth Games.

"It will make it a little more interesting," Robson said. "Games to seven mean bad line calls, net rolls and lucky shots have more of an impact on the match, and you must get off to a good start."

He said New Zealand's performance at the world championships proved they were on track for the Commonwealth Games. New Zealand finished third in group four in the teams event and were placed in the top 16 in three events in the individual competition.

In the women's doubles, sisters Rebecca and Nicole Gordon finished in the top 16, as did Hall and Leanne Shirley, and Daniel Shirley and Runesten Petersen in the mixed doubles.

"The results of the world championships made a few people sit up and take notice," Robson said.