Eastland get a little help from friends

FRONTING UP: The Eastland super veterans' badminton team members who competed at North Harbour were (from left) Ruth Ledger, Lois Harrison, Ron Prebble, Matheus Batlajeri, Carol Nelson, Linda White, Edward Li and Chris Koe. Picture supplied

Loan players helped Eastland compete in the second round of Division 2 of the super veterans' inter-association badminton competition.

The effects of Covid-19 and the unavailability of players meant Badminton Eastland had to borrow outside talent to be represented in the latest round at North Harbour.

Team members were Ron Prebble, Linda White and Ruth Ledger (Patutahi Badminton Club), regular Manawatu loan player Matheus Batlajeri, who flew in from Rarotonga, and North Harbour loan players Edward Li, Chris Koe and Lois Harrison. Carol Nelson, who plays social badminton in Gisborne, happened to be holidaying on the North Shore and joined the team.

In the first tie, Bay of Plenty won all the men's and women's doubles in two games.

In the mixed doubles, Batlajeri and Harrison lost their first game by two points, changed tactics and took the next game by three points, and then after a to-and-fro tussle lost the last game 22-20.

Top pairing Prebble and White won their first game 21-13, lost the second by 10 points and, in a battle of wits, lost the last by two points, 23-21.

Bay of Plenty won the tie 9-0.

Later in the day, Eastland beat Auckland (3) with a match score of 7-2.

In the men's doubles Batlajeri and Prebble won in two games, and then Batlajeri and Li also won in two.

Prebble and Koe settled but couldn't stop their opponents winning in two games.

The women won two of their matches. Harrison with partners Nelson and then White won close matches in two games.

Ledger and first-time rep Nelson lost in two games, but put up a good fight in the second, clawing their way back into the match before losing by three points.

Eastland won all the mixed doubles matches. Li and Harrison easily won their match. Koe and Ledger took a while to settle, first losing 21-13, then taking the next game 22-20 and the third 21-11. Prebble and White easily won their first game 21-7, lost the second by two points, then refocused and won the third 21-13.

The team's next trip is to Hamilton in July.

Eastland lost to Bay of Plenty 9-0.