BOP Stuns Wellington

Bay of Plenty has stunned Wellington to win the boys' Junior National Inter District Teams Event in Napier today.

The third-seeded boys from the Bay have continued their giant killing run at the Junior National Inter District Teams Event.  After beating second seeds Auckland 3/1 to make the final, BOP has once again caused a 3/1 upset win, this time over title favourites Wellington to win the Rothman's Cup for the first time since 2003.

Joseph Lyons got his BOP away to a strong start by beating Jason van der Walt 10-12 11-9 13-11 11-7.  Both players had enjoyed successful individual events, so a close match was expected and duly delivered.  Reporoa's Tyler Ranger then overcame Nelson's Chris Collins 11-9 8-11 11-8 11-6 to put BOP 2-0 up.  However, with great strength at number one string in Scott Galloway, the tie was very much still alive.  Galloway beat Luke Cooper 11-5 11-6 11-3 to keep the tie alive for Wellington, giving BOP's Ben Thornton the unenviable task of closing out the win for BOP.  After dropping the first game, he achieved this 7-11 11-5 11-6 11-5 and gave the Bay of Plenty its first Junior Inter District Teams Event title in a decade.

The girls' final went to script, with Auckland sweeping Wellington 4/0 to win their eighth consecutive Rothman's Cup.  They also completed the remarkable feat of not dropping a single game throughout the teams event.  With three New Zealand Junior representatives in their lineup - all of whom are eligible again next year - this could be one of the strongest junior District teams ever assembled.  Ellie Epke beat Sophie O'Connell 11-2 11-6 11-4.  Abbie Palmer beat Vanessa Larsen 11-6 11-3 11-2.  Hayley Hughes beat Jessie-Rose Ward-Thomas 11-5 11-1 11-8.  Anna Hughes beat Kiriana Andrew 11-1 11-3 11-2.

Auckland won back the Gifford Cup for best combined District from Wellington, continuing its long stranglehold on the trophy.

Full Results

• Junior Inter District Teams Event final results - Boys
• Junior Inter District Teams Event final results - Girls

Final Placings