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Megan Craig Prevents Home Victory In WSA North Coast Open
by Matt Wagg

September 10, 2012 - Top seed Megan Craig held off a stern challenge from local interest Sarah Cardwell to win the WSA Tour 5 North Coast Open at Coffs Harbour, Australia.

Both finalists were yet to drop a game going into the match, with Craig easing her way past Larissa Huffer, Grace McErvale and Samantha Davies, whilst Cardwell saw similar score lines in wins over Aimee Slatter, Taylor Flavell and Christine Nunn.

It was the No.2 seed Cardwell who drew first blood in the final, taking the lead after a 12-10 tiebreak but the New Zealand international hit back, drawing level after the second game.

Cardwell, ranked at No.55 in the WSA World Rankings, just two places below her opponent, continued her attacking threat and again the lead after the third game.  From there however, her game plan began to unravel as Craig claimed a quick fourth 11-2 to level the tie, before finishing off the contest just shy of the hour mark, 11-7.

The Kiwi maintains her unbeaten run against Cardwell, which stretches five competitive matches, and this win earns Craig the third WSA World Tour title of her career, having won the Tasmanian Open back in June and Caboolture Open in November last year.

Final:

[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [2] Sarah Cardwell (AUS)        10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-7 (59m)

Semi-finals:

[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [4] Samantha Davies (AUS)     11-8, 11-0, 12-10 (24m)

[2] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [3] Christine Nunn (AUS)   11-6, 11-3, 13-11 (21m)

Quarter-finals:

[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [8] Grace McErvale (AUS)        11-1, 11-6, 11-6

[4] Samantha Davies (AUS) bt [11] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS)       11-7, 12-10, 11-13, 11-7

[3] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [6] Karman Siu (HKG)        11-5, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9

[2] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [14] Taylor Flavell (NZL)    11-4, 11-4, 11-8

2nd round:

[1] Megan Craig (NZL) bt [10] Larissa Huffer (AUS)        11-3, 11-5, 11-3

[8] Grace McErvale (AUS) bt [9] Selena Shaikh (AUS)     11-6, 11-4, 11-6

[4] Samantha Davies (AUS) bt [13] Natalie Newton (AUS)         11-6, 12-14, 11-9, 11-7

[11] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) bt [7] Jessica Turnbull (AUS)         11-3, 11-9, 11-4

[6] Karman Siu (HKG) bt [12] Jennifer Brown (AUS)      11-6, 11-5, 11-8

[3] Christine Nunn (AUS) bt [16] Nicole Stoneham (AUS)          11-7, 11-3, 11-9

[14] Taylor Flavell (NZL) bt [5] Maggy Marshall (AUS)   5-11, 11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 11-2

[2] Sarah Cardwell (AUS) bt [15] Aimee Slatter (AUS)    14-12, 11-2, 11-8

1st round:

[1] Megan Craig (NZL)         bye

[10] Larissa Huffer (AUS) bt Stacey Cope (AUS)  11-4, 11-4, 11-6

[8] Grace McErvale (AUS) bt Lakeesha Rarere (AUS)      11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 2-11, 11-6

[9] Selena Shaikh (AUS) bt Rebecca Baum (AUS) 12-10, 11-4, 11-4

[4] Samantha Davies (AUS) bye

[13] Natalie Newton (AUS) bt Heather Pilley (AUS)         14-12, 11-8, 11-6

[7] Jessica Turnbull (AUS) bt Melissa Bonello (AUS)        11-7, 11-2, 11-2

[11] Zoe Petrovansky (AUS) bt Jacqueline Barnes (AUS)            11-5, 11-7, 11-7

[12] Jennifer Brown (AUS) bt Jasmin Burnard (AUS)      11-4, 11-7, 11-6

[6] Karman Siu (HKG) bt Samantha Calvert (AUS)          11-4, 11-2, 11-4

[16] Nicole Stoneham (AUS) bt Kristen Nightingale (AUS)         11-2, 13-11, 11-6

[3] Christine Nunn (AUS)    bye

[14] Taylor Flavell (NZL) bt Moana Gray (AUS)    11-3 ret.

[5] Maggy Marshall (AUS) bt Victoria Leow (AUS)           11-2, 11-4, 11-3

[15] Aimee Slatter (AUS) bt Iritana Gray (AUS)    11-3, 11-1, 11-7

[2] Sarah Cardwell (AUS)    bye