New Zealand collects Silver on Finals Day In Melbourne
Mar 27, 2006
It was Doubles action galore at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne today (Sunday) with Men’s, Women's and Mixed Doubles medals up for grabs at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
New Zealand contested 4 Medals matches, 3 for bronze in all 3 events and the main Women’s Doubles final, where Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey took on top seeds Australian sisters Natalie Grinham & Rachael Grinham. The Kiwi pair that won the World Doubles title on the same court in January started well and took the first game for the loss of just a single point, but the home pair struck back to clinch the title 1-9, 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 after 56 minutes.
In the bronze medal play-off, England's Tania Bailey & Vicky Botwright defeated New Zealand's Louise Crome & Lara Petera 10-8, 4-9, 9-4, 9-6 in 81 minutes.
In the Mixed bronze medal play-off, the Australian pair of Rachael Grinham & David Palmer beat second-seeded New Zealanders Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson 9-4, 9-6, 9-6 in what was expected to be the final.
In the Men’s bronze medal play-off, Australian again triumphed when Dan Jenson & David Palmer beat New Zealanders Campbell Grayson & Martin Knight in a close 9-2, 9-4, 6-9, 9-6 battle.
Hosts Australia top the final squash medals table, with eight medals in total (3 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), followed by England with five (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and New Zealand with two (1 silver, 1 bronze).
RESULTS: Commonwealth Games Squash, Melbourne, Australia
Men's Doubles final:
[2] Lee Beachill & Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [1] Stewart Boswell & Anthony Ricketts (AUS)
7-9, 9-7, 9-1, 10-8 (142m)
Bronze medal play-off:
[3] Dan Jenson & David Palmer (AUS) bt [5] Campbell Grayson & Martin Knight (NZL)
9-2, 9-4, 6-9, 9-6 (89m)
Women's Doubles final:
[1] Natalie Grinham & Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey (NZL)
1-9, 9-4, 9-3, 9-3 (56m)
Bronze medal play-off:
[3] Tania Bailey & Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [4] Louise Crome & Lara Petera (NZL)
10-8, 4-9, 9-4, 9-6 (81m)
Mixed Doubles Final:
[3] Natalie Grinham & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [4] Vicky Botwright & James Willstrop (ENG)
6-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-6 (65m)
Bronze medal play-off:
[1] Rachael Grinham & David Palmer (AUS) bt [2] Shelley Kitchen & Glen Wilson (NZL)
9-4, 9-6, 9-6 (32m)