For the first matches of the new season, the team travelled to Bath University on Saturday November 9th, to play in Badminton England’s Senior County Championships.
Cornwall 1st team
Tom’s Team Talk
First up were old foes West Glamorgan with a strong singles line-up, and Launceston’s county champion Tyler Sillifantfound it tough going in the number one slot against a skillful opponent. Honour was restored when older brother Liam won the second singles after three hard-fought ends, and young debutant from Truro Harry Dyer showed impressive speed and agility to outlast the Welshman in third and take his first victory.
Liam in action
In the women’s singles both Cara Collins from Liskeard and Camborne’s Amy Polglase battled to three ends in their games, and Cara came agonizingly close but just lost 22-20 in the final game.
The Cornish men’s doubles pair of Tom Lyle and Liam wereup against a very talented pair and lost in two, but St Austell’s Guy Michell and James Whetter in the second men’s completely overpowered the West Glam men to win their game.
Guy and James winning here
The top women’s doubles game was again a tough call for Cara and Amy Cox, and they were outplayed, but the Camborne pairing of Bronwen Wotton and Amy Polglase showed great determination and skill to win their game in three close ends to make the match score 4-5 to West Glamorgan going into the mixed doubles, and Cornwall needing both to clinch the overall win.
There was never any doubt with the first mixed, as Tom and Bronwen won easily, demonstrating great technique and percentage badminton, followed by an absorbing battle which went the distance before a new pairing of Guy and Amy Cox finally triumphed, meaning that Cornwall took a fine victory 6-5.
The afternoon match was against Worcestershire and this proved a step too far for the tiring Cornish team against hard opponents.
Cornish players and fans
All the singles except Cara’s went to the midlands side, despite Amy Polglase battling to three ends. Cara’s win was as a result of her digging deep and outplaying her experienced opponent to an impressive result.
The doubles also went Worcestershire’s way, although again Cara and Amy Cox were desperately unlucky to just lose theirs after a nail-biting three-ender which should have been a draw!
The final two mixed games were also lost, to complete a heavy defeat to a side that will do well this season, but the young Cornish team can be proud of their first victory.
Cornwall team –
Tyler Sillifant, Liam Sillifant, Tom Lyle (all Launceston), Guy Michell, James Whetter (both St Austell), Cara Collins (Liskeard), Amy Cox (London), Bronwen Wotton (Bristol), Amy Polglase (Camborne)
