Te Hapara, Te Wharau win badminton finals

AERIAL ACTION: Makauri’s Miah Somerton makes good contact with the shuttlecock at the Primary School Badminton Competition. Pictures by Paul Rickard

THE Primary School Badminton Competition finals were held at the Badminton Centre after the preliminary rounds were held at the Ilminster Intermediate School gymnasium.

A total of 110 students took part in the preliminary rounds. They came from Kaiti, Makauri, Te Wharau, Sonrise Christian, Manutuke, Awapuni, Te Hapara, Ormond, Waikirikiri and St Mary’s schools.

Thirteen girls’ teams and 14 boys’ teams, each of four to five players, played singles and doubles.

This was a big increase on the entry last year, so the venue for the preliminary rounds was changed from the Badminton Centre to the Ilminster gymnasium. School principal Peter Ferris and Lance Terekia were acknowledged for their part in having the gymnasium set up for the competition.

Many students had never played the game but — with the help of parents, school staff and Badminton Eastland volunteers — the day was a success. Ilminster students helped by umpiring.

In the boys’ competition, Te Hapara High Flyers defeated Te Wharau Smashers five matches to one in the final.

The girls’ final, between Te Wharau Flickers and Te Hapara Slammers, finished 3-3. In a countback on points, Te Wharau Flickers took the title 90 points to 87.

ResultsBoys — Preliminary rounds: M2K Tama 4 Sonrise Rackets 2; Te Hapara Soarers 4 Maka Boys 2; Te Wharau Smashers 4 Waikirikiri Hitters 2; Te Hapara High Flyers 4 Kaiti Boys B 2; Kaiti Boys A 5 Makauri Massive 1; Awapuni Boys 3 Combined (Tigers) 3, Awapuni won on countback 76 points to 55; Te Wharau Squeaky Shoes 6 Ormond Boys 0.

Main round-robin — Group A: Te Hapara High Flyers def Te Wharau Squeaky Shoes 91 points to 57; def Te Hapara Soarers 105-56.

Te Wharau Squeaky Shoes def Te Hapara Soarers 92-60.

Winner Group A: Te Hapara High Flyers.

Main round-robin — Group B: Te Wharau Smashers def Kaiti Boys A 95-82; def M2K Tama 102-74.

Kaiti Boys A def M2K Tama 86-62.

Winner Group B: Te Wharau Smashers.

Final: Te Hapara High Flyers 5 Te Wharau Smashers 1.

Girls — Preliminary rounds: Te Hapara Smashers 6 Maka Girls 0; Kaiti Girls A 3 Combined (Bears) 3, Kaiti won on countback; Te Hapara Slammers 6 Awapuni Girls 0; Te Wharau Charmers 3 Sonrise Short Sticks 3, Te Wharau won on countback; Waikirikiri Winners 4 Makauri Mermaids 2; M2K Kotiro 4 Ormond Girls 2. Te Wharau Flickers had a bye.

Main round-robin — Group A: Te Wharau Flickers def Te Hapara Smashers 100-48; def Waikirikiri Winners 117-53; def M2K Kotiro 153-50.

Te Hapara Smashers def Waikirikiri Winners 97-93; def M2K Kotiro 98-73.

Waikirikiri Winners def M2K Kotiro 97-79.

Winner Group A: Te Wharau Flickers.

Main round-robin — Group B: Te Hapara Slammers def Te Wharau Charmers 101-67; def Kaiti Girls A 119-67.

Te Wharau Charmers def Kaiti Girls A 79-73.

Winner Group B: Te Hapara Slammers.

Final: Te Wharau Flickers 3 Te Hapara Slammers 3, Te Wharau won on countback 90-87.