Convincing wins put Bay Masters on course for shot at national title | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Bay of Plenty Masters have kept their national badminton title hopes alive with convincing wins against Taranaki and Waikato.

The Bay team competed against the two regions in the championship round of North Island competition at Rotorua during the weekend.

Event organiser Tony Jackson said the team had a strong tournament and are now a chance to take out the national title if they can beat Counties Manukau on September 4.

Bay of Plenty player Nick Page said they were happy with the latest results.

"The [team] spirit is awesome, we've been focusing on playing well and putting in the hard work. Everyone is really pumped."

Page said the team was now focused on their next tournament against Counties Manukau.

"It's a bit of a pity it's so far away. But we need to win it to ensure we take out the title."

To win the competition the Bay will want to continue with the form they showed during the weekend.

They had a clean sweep in their first up match against Taranaki 12-0. But it was not without a fight in two games, with Taranaki's Tanya Riddick and Sharon Devlin pushing Bay of Plenty's Wai Craven and Delwyn Cooper to three games.

This was backed up again by Riddick when she paired up with Clive Gaustad in the mixed against Craven and Nick Page, which also went to three games.

In the afternoon while winning against Waikato, Bay of Plenty dropped two matches, both in the mixed session where the Bay are usually at their strongest.

Waikato had the misfortune to suffer two injuries which hampered their cause.

In another hard-fought regional clash also in Rotorua during the weekend, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki had a close contest, with Hawkes Bay winning to keep their competition hopes alive.

They had a good run in the doubles leading 6-2. They eventually pulled away, only dropping one mixed match on the way to a 9-3 win.

Results for the day:

Waikato v Hawkes Bay 10-2, Bay Of Plenty v Taranaki 12-0, Hawkes Bay v Taranaki 9-3, Bay of Plenty v Waikato 10-2.

Bay Of Plenty Squad members: Karen McGee, Wai Craven, Delwyn Cooper, Leeanne Fraser, Alaster Gatt, Nick Page, Tony R Hall, Tony S Hall (Mount Maunganui).