Kiwi teams top all four pools of the men’s competition, claiming some big scalps in a strong international field at Mount Maunganui main beach today, and are poised go to deep in tomorrow’s quarter finals.
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GJ Gardner Homes NZ Beach Tour presented by Tip Top men’s champions Tom Reid and Jack McManaway took down second seeds Likejiang Ha and Jiaxin Wu in three sets, while Brad Fuller and Alani Nicklin beat Australian fourth seeds James Takken and Solomon Bushby comfortably 21-12 and 21-17.
Tom Hartles and Tom Heijs beat third seeds Zhuoxin Li and Tao Xue from China 21-14 and 21-14, while Sam and Ben O’Dea weren’t troubled in both their games.
On the women’s side, the New Zealand teams are also well placed with Beach Ferns Shaunna Polley and Alice Zeimann top their pool with two wins out of two, as do Olivia MacDonald and Julia Tilley, who beat the second seed Australian pair of Jasmine Fleming and Georgia Johnson 21-11 and 21-17.
Rosa Vesty and Kiana Stevenson also upset fifth seeds Miharu Kashihara and Harumi Sakai 15-21, 21-10 and 14-16 in another strong result.
“We’re just focused on ourselves and our game, controlling what we can control in the wind, with good serving,” said Shanna Polley.
“It's so cool seeing all the international teams playing and walking around here at the Mount,” said Alice Zeimann.
All the kiwis teams will be in action in Saturday quarter finals day at the Mount main beach with the action starting from 9am, with semis and finals scheduled for Sunday.
