Cornwall’s top badminton team took on visiting rivals Devon at the weekend at Polkyth Leisure Centre, hoping to avenge their 9-6 defeat before Christmas, and resplendent in new One and All shirts.
The Cornish team, without their number 1 singles player Shane Maton, and the experienced Rose Willis, struggled in the singles. Despite good efforts from James Whetter, young Liam Sillifant, Emily James and Jo Philp, the Devon team had a strong lead of 5-0 going into the doubles.
The established pair of James and Guy Michell stormed into the lead in the first mens and held on to take a fine victory over a talented pair, with excellent defence and lightening quick attack. Next game up saw a new pairing of Ross Lashbrook and Richard Townsend, who fought all the way to take an exciting three ender by a narrow margin. Both pairs then lost their other mens doubles, meaning that Devon only needed one more game to win the match.
The ladies doubles also saw some fine games – Jo and Bronwen Wotton playing particularly well and complementing each other to win both their games in three ends, despite losing each of the opening games, their fighting spirit and good tactics gave them well deserved victories. Emily and Lynda Beer came close in their opening game but found both Devon pairs just too strong.So although Devon had won the match by this time, the Cornish team were determined to do well in the mixed doubles and earn at least a point.
James and Jo duly obliged at first mixed, winning their game in two ends of exhibition mixed, reviving their old partnership. Ross and Bronwen pushed the second pair all the way, and were unlucky to lose, which left Guy and Lynda to finish the match off in style, winning another close three ender and securing the vital point for the league position.
The result, 9-6 again to Devon, leaves Cornwall second in the table with one last home match, versus Buckinghamshire to go, on Saturday 28th March, when Cornwall aim to finish their successful season with a resounding victory.
Team – James Whetter, Guy Michell, Ross Lashbrook, Richard Townsend, Jo Philp, Emily James, Bronwen Wotton, Lynda Beer.
