Sue Biscoe and Brian Hannibal, selectors for the Duchy, said at the press conference after the fixture.
“We were a league above them” commented Sue.
“That’s where we are headed if we can maintain this form in our last two matches” remarked Brian Hannibal.
Indeed the Cornish are hitting good form at the right time, and an away win against Avon in a couple of week’s time would give them the opportunity to beat West Glamorgan in the final fixture and gain promotion.
The Cornish singles players set the bench mark high right from the start with Kelvin Edwards, James Whetter, Jo Philip and Bron Wotton all winning. Credit to James, who held on against a very fast and deceptive left hander and in the final end showed good determination winning through 21-11.
Although injury troubles thwarted the Duchy side in the Ladies doubles, it evidenced the strength Cornwall badminton has developed in depth. Vicky Thomas (Mounts bay) and Lorna Riggs (Fraddon) were called into the team at late notice. Vicky partnering regular Jo brought off two fantastic results winning both their ties. Lorna partnering Bron won one and lost one.
“It was like they had been playing together for years, they were so unlucky not to win both” commented Brian.
“It was marvellous to watch them floating round the court replied Sue.
Like an army of heavy artillery the Cornwall men’s doubles pairings of Tom Lyle and Ross Lashbrook, James and Guy Michell nothing short of destroyed the Dorset pairings on all counts. Kelvin, who coaches the squad remarked “If this was boxing the referee would have stopped it in under 30 seconds” he continued “Any club player wishing to improve their game need to come to these matches and watch these guys play, it’s truly brilliant. As a pair they hunt down the shuttle and like a sniper finding its target, they find spaces on the court exploit it and destroy the weak return. The Dorset men could do nothing but run for cover.”
The mixed doubles inevitably went to the Cornish, only Bron and Kelvin lost out narrowly in the third end of their tie. Final match score 13 – 2 and a message to the rest of league, be ready when you travel to Cornwall. One and all.
