badminton match 24

Howard 6
St Andrews 3

Hybrid Division 1

Final match of the season, so it was somewhat disappointing to fizzle out. We needed to score 4 rubbers at the very least in order to ensure survival in the division, and  in typical St Andrews fashion we started the match in slightly too cavalier end-of-season mood.

Scott & reserve Sarah B were up first, just stealing the first game of the opening rubber but badly succumbing in the following two games 20-22 21-9 21-14. Steve & Sarah K went a bit closer in the 2nd rubber, but still lost 21-19 21-19. I struggled with Gerry throughout the 3rd rubber, going down in the first end but we fought back valiantly to take the 2nd game before bowing out in the final, 21-14 18-21 21-16. So having been set a target of 4 rubbers to stay in the division, we were 3-0 down after the first 3. Far from ideal was an understatement.

The ladies started to put up a fight and won the 4th rubber, again in 3 games. Scott & Steve continued our ascension by winning the 5th in a close encounter 19-21 20-22, but our progress finished there as Gerry & Sarah K couldn't find a way past their opponents, losing in straight games. Next, I was up with Sarah B (a good first team player) and felt reasonably confident about my chances, given I had beaten this pair on home turf last month. They made a good fight of it however, and we needed all our determination and concentration to take the 7th rubber 23-25 13-21.

With our 3rd rubber won, we needed to win 1 of the last 2 to ensure survival. Sadly for us, Steve & Gerry were blocked by their Man 1 & 3, losing a very close best of three in 20-22 22-20 21-18. It was now or nothing - and the final rubber of the season fell to myself & Scott...we didn't really get into a comfortable rhythm against our opponents and they won in straight games to deny us survival.

We finished this interesting season tied on points and rubbers won/lost with New Malden. After this point, survival is determined by rubbers, games and then points between the bottom two sides. We lost 6-3 away at New Malden but then fought back to win 6-3 at home. So that was still tied. Unfortunately our match secretary crunched the numbers and found us to lose by 20 games to 21 over the two legs. Relegation by the tightest of margins! Still, Steve will be pleased to play so many rival teams next year which have bars on their venues...