St Andrews 1
Chaldon 8
Hybrid Division 1
As everyone predicted, a tough home match against probable Division winners. Steve & Sarah were first on but lost in straight games. Then it was Scott & Sowji's turn to succumb to a similar fate, although reaching a respectable 17-21 17-21. I played with Gerry next, but he had an absolute howler and couldn't hit anything in the lines at all. We lost 7-21 8-21, so Chaldon had the first 3 rubbers in the bag.
The match got a bit interesting when Sarah and Sowji won the ladies rubber in a best of 3, producing a good final game score of 21-9. The next in sequence was Man 1 & 2 from each side. Steve was invaluable for this match as he had played Chaldon several times in the mixed 2 team. Though they fought valiantly in another best of 3, they couldn't quite see it out and lost by just two points. Gerry & Sarah resumed the status quo and lost in straight games, as did Sowji and I. Thus it was 1-6 to Chaldon after 7 rubbers.
Steve produced another great performance to nearly take another rubber off the opposition, but playing alongside the relatively green Gerry didn't do him any favours and, though they had a best of 3 too, they again lost by just two points. The final rubber of the night was myself and Scott vs their top two men, Clive and Chris. Just like Robin & Dennis in the New Malden match, this was always going to be an uphill struggle. We succumbed 8-21 17-21 and on another day, could've probably taken that to 3 ends too, but it wasn't to be.
Overall, Chaldon were far stronger than us and were value for the win, but with their strength in depth it was always going to be a big ask. If Steve had managed to clinch 2 of his 3 rubbers, the result would've been a more flattering 3-6, but would still have been a loss. Onwards and upwards...(after more practice of course!)
Friday, 26 October 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
badminton match 3
St Andrews 6
Fusion Leisure 0
Mens Fours Division 2
My team's first game of the season, and already racked with all manner of abstention. With five players not taking part, I was forced to call in three reserves, who are all stronger than the normal team. Our lineup in number order was Steve, me, Ringo and Kaz.
Steve & I were on first and won 21-10 21-13. Ringo and Kaz then won 21-11 21-13. Steve & Ringo won 21-16 21-4. Kaz & I won 21-15 21-11. Steve & Ringo won 21-17 21-17. To complete a clean sheet, Ringo and I won 21-16 21-19.
Fusion weren't helped by their captain admitting that they didn't even have a club night to practice their badminton on, as they were a small social side. Ron showed up to watch in his badminton gear, despite saying he didn't feel quick enough to play. He took it upon himself to coach their man 2, a young Indian boy, after the game, which could easily have been perceived as condescending given the rout we just inflicted upon them.
With the match completed by 21:30 there was still plenty of time for a knockabout, and it was good to see half of their team join in for some rotated doubles games. An excellent start to the season that we could hardly improve on, except for perhaps not giving away so many lazy points in the final rubber!
Fusion Leisure 0
Mens Fours Division 2
My team's first game of the season, and already racked with all manner of abstention. With five players not taking part, I was forced to call in three reserves, who are all stronger than the normal team. Our lineup in number order was Steve, me, Ringo and Kaz.
Steve & I were on first and won 21-10 21-13. Ringo and Kaz then won 21-11 21-13. Steve & Ringo won 21-16 21-4. Kaz & I won 21-15 21-11. Steve & Ringo won 21-17 21-17. To complete a clean sheet, Ringo and I won 21-16 21-19.
Fusion weren't helped by their captain admitting that they didn't even have a club night to practice their badminton on, as they were a small social side. Ron showed up to watch in his badminton gear, despite saying he didn't feel quick enough to play. He took it upon himself to coach their man 2, a young Indian boy, after the game, which could easily have been perceived as condescending given the rout we just inflicted upon them.
With the match completed by 21:30 there was still plenty of time for a knockabout, and it was good to see half of their team join in for some rotated doubles games. An excellent start to the season that we could hardly improve on, except for perhaps not giving away so many lazy points in the final rubber!
Monday, 15 October 2012
badminton match 2
New Malden 6
St Andrews 3
Hybrid Division 1
A difficult match against a strong New Malden side who fielded two of their top men, Robin and Dennis. First on were Steve & Sarah, who lost in straight games. Then it was Scott & Sowji's turn - they won and levelled the match. I played as Man 4 so I was third on with Gerry. After a nervy start, just losing 21-23, we woke up and returned the compliment 23-21, but both me and Gerry made a few unforced errors and didn't make them move enough, losing the 3rd game and 3rd rubber. So, 2-1 to New Malden after the first 3.
Watching from the benches, I didn't think our ladies pair would win their rubber as both women had very similar styles of play with not nearly enough contrast. I was mistaken though. After a spurious line call by Sarah which hugely irritated one of their ladies (even though the closest player to the shuttle always gets to make the call) they too won in straight games, levelling at 2-2.
Scott continued to play well and won the titanic Man 1/Man 2 clash with Steve, putting us 3-2 ahead for what was to be the only time in the entire match. I was next on with Sowji but a combination of terrible play from me and not keeping a level head saw us throw away valuable points. I rescued a few towards the end of our rubber but it was too little too late. Similarly, Gerry and Sarah got shot down in straight games, putting New Malden 4-3 ahead with 2 rubbers to go. Unfortunately my final rubber of the day was with Scott against their top two men, which was always going to be an uphill struggle. We duly lost, again in straight games to give New Malden the match and put them 5-3 up. In the final rubber, Steve fought valiantly alongside an inexperienced Gerry but also conceded the final rubber.
Overall it was a bizarre match. Before we started play, I would have considered me and Steve our top two men but we managed to win just 1 rubber out of 6 between us. Sowji showed good potential for the future, winning 2 of her 3, and Scott proved his reliability, but we should have done much better. Still, their team was stronger than this time last year so a loss was probably expected.
St Andrews 3
Hybrid Division 1
A difficult match against a strong New Malden side who fielded two of their top men, Robin and Dennis. First on were Steve & Sarah, who lost in straight games. Then it was Scott & Sowji's turn - they won and levelled the match. I played as Man 4 so I was third on with Gerry. After a nervy start, just losing 21-23, we woke up and returned the compliment 23-21, but both me and Gerry made a few unforced errors and didn't make them move enough, losing the 3rd game and 3rd rubber. So, 2-1 to New Malden after the first 3.
Watching from the benches, I didn't think our ladies pair would win their rubber as both women had very similar styles of play with not nearly enough contrast. I was mistaken though. After a spurious line call by Sarah which hugely irritated one of their ladies (even though the closest player to the shuttle always gets to make the call) they too won in straight games, levelling at 2-2.
Scott continued to play well and won the titanic Man 1/Man 2 clash with Steve, putting us 3-2 ahead for what was to be the only time in the entire match. I was next on with Sowji but a combination of terrible play from me and not keeping a level head saw us throw away valuable points. I rescued a few towards the end of our rubber but it was too little too late. Similarly, Gerry and Sarah got shot down in straight games, putting New Malden 4-3 ahead with 2 rubbers to go. Unfortunately my final rubber of the day was with Scott against their top two men, which was always going to be an uphill struggle. We duly lost, again in straight games to give New Malden the match and put them 5-3 up. In the final rubber, Steve fought valiantly alongside an inexperienced Gerry but also conceded the final rubber.
Overall it was a bizarre match. Before we started play, I would have considered me and Steve our top two men but we managed to win just 1 rubber out of 6 between us. Sowji showed good potential for the future, winning 2 of her 3, and Scott proved his reliability, but we should have done much better. Still, their team was stronger than this time last year so a loss was probably expected.
Friday, 5 October 2012
badminton match 1
St Andrews 5
South Beddington 4
Mens Division 3
An intense match against the team who came up from Division 4. Being unbeaten last season could have imbued them with an eagerness and winning mentality that we struggled against at times. In general, the quality of the games was very high and we had to produce some solid badminton to see them off. Amusingly, there was a Chinese guy called Alan on their team who Ringo and I have come across at Penguin BC in Wimbledon on Friday nights. Ringo had also played against Alan's partner, so the inside knowledge definitely came in useful.
Ringo and I were first on, but lost in straight games against a pair we really should've beaten - two guys in their 50s whose only trick was seemingly a very slow serve - upwards of 10 seconds! Luckily our other two pairs were on hand to win the next two - our top pair Steve & Kaz crucially beat their top pair, whilst Matt & Anushka beat the Chinese duo of Alan & Robert, making the score 2-1 to us after 3 rubbers. Steve & Kaz worked their magic again by beating the oldest pair, but Matt & Anushka conceded to their top pair in a best of three. Ringo & I contributed a rubber by beating the Chinese duo to make it 4-2 after 6 rubbers.
In a tense finish, South Beddington fought hard and pulled back the next two rubbers. Matt & Anushka were unable to beat the oldest pair and, against our team's theory that Ringo & I would struggle against their top pair, contrived to give it a damn good go, only just missing out 21-11 5-21 20-22. We should definitely have won this rubber as we were 20-17 up in the 3rd game and somehow threw it all away. Not only would it have possibly made the final score 6-3 but it would have eased the pressure on the final game.
The stage was all set at 4-4 going into the final rubber of the match for King Steve to work his usual magic vs the Chinese pair. He hadn't bargained on how much they wanted to win the match, though! Although the latter had yet to win all match, they weren't to be beaten without a fight as they took our guys to a best of 3, which we only just scraped in the final game 22-20.
Overall, they were a competitive bunch that definitely gave us a run for our money, and the return match at Wilsons School will be very interesting!
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