IIIrd Team Continue Division 6 Struggle

Cambs IIIrds travelled away to Northants IInds with hope of overturning their defeat a few weeks before. Kaylan Sutton-Ziaian had a long battle eventually loosing 17-21, 21-16, 21-14. Aiden Foo making his first senior start had a nervy first end but found form in the second. Sadly with a net cord here and a line shot there he lost 21-13, 22-20. In the ladies Emma Brewster lost against a good Northants lady 21-6, 21-16. Stacey Knoop had a narrow defeat in the first but the second slipped away, 23-21, 21-14.

The doubles was next and in need of a first win, Will Hodgkinson and Kaylan led the way with a 16-21, 16- 21 win. Kaylan was growing in confidence with a solid defence and tight serve. Damien Dugmore and Aiden took it all the way. There were some great moments with an increased tactical awareness. Sadly it ended 19-21, 22-20, 21-15. Will and Kaylan took the next again with some great skill and nerve from Kaylan. Damien and Aiden built on their display to win 19-21, 19-21 victory. Damien looked very good and Aiden was mixing the shots well.

The ladies was important, with points still possible. Stacey and Emma took it to three, loosing 20-22, 21-9, 21-14. Holly Gayle and Jacquie Dennis showed spells of good working, but the more experienced Northants pair featuring last year's Cambs star Jess James won 21-15, 21-16. The second games were not as close with both pairs going down in straight sets.

Mixed next, with Kaylan and Stacy up first but loosing 21-18, 21-19 in a close game. Will and Jacquie were next, they had an odd game, starting quickly but not able to take control loosing 7-21, 21-14, 21-14. Last game was the two lefties. Playing well together they won 21-16, 19-21, 16-21.

Final score: Northants 11, Cambs 4.

Captain's man of the match Kaylan Sutton-Ziaian.

More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.

Cambs III in Day of Might-Have-Beens

Cambs IIIrds took on Beds IInds in their 2nd ICC Div 6 East match of the season last week, hoping to improve on their first match defeat against Northhants.

Geoff Green got the team off to a perfect start winning at first singles in straight sets, but Tom Zhang (J), Emma Brewster and Holly Gayle couldn't match him as they all went down to strong opposition.  Geoff teamed up with Will Hodgkinson at first mens pair and produced an epic game against their Beds counterparts, losing a close 3rd set.  They faired better against the Beds second pair, winning the first set and then taking the game as the Beds pair were forced to retire though injury.  Second pair Paul Martell and Tom again had 2 very close games and were unlucky to lose both.

In the ladies Holly and partner Jacquie Dennis had a bit of an off day as they lost to both Beds pairs in straight sets, but Stacey Knoop and Emma battled well to beat the Beds first pair and narrowly lose in 3 against the Beds second pair.

With the score now at 9-3 to Beds, Cambs had only pride to play for in the mixed, but again Beds proved why they are one of the favourites for the division this year by taking all 3 games, and the match 12-3.  Stacey and Tom were the closest at 3rd mixed, going down 21-19 in the final end.

As against Northhants it was a match of 'might-have-beens'.  The team lost three very tight 3-enders.  The other way around would have changed to match score to 9-6.

The return match against Northhants is up next on the 11th November.

More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.

New-Look Cambs IIIrd Team Struggle Against Northants

A new look Cambs IIIrd team had a number of new faces to start the season to face Northants IInd team. Debutant Tom Zhang settled in after a hard introduction losing 9-21, 21-18, 26-28 in his singles. A hard working talent, and one for the future. Geoff Green lost in straight sets against a hard working Northants player in a close game 17-21, 20-22. The ladies brought out old juniors Holly Gale and Emma Brewster who are a welcome return. Holly had a hard start, loosing 14-21, 11-21. Emma however powered her way to a 3 set victory: 15-21, 21-12, 21-14.

The doubles had new pairings on show. The men each went to 3. Tom playing with Paul Martel were unlucky to lose both, but showed exciting moments of what could come. Will Hodgkinson and Geoff took 1 game but slipped to a loss in the other. The new ladies Holly and Emma were undone by experienced Northants pairs. Stacy Knoop and Sharon Chandler were on form winning the first 21-16, 21-17. However, they narrowly lost in 3 ends in the next.

Going into the mixed, Cambs were still positive. Paul and Sharon were quick in winning 21-17, 21-10. Geoff and Emma also won. Strength and power taking them to 30-29, 21-13. Will and Holly lost in 3 with a close game. Holly showed great touch, but the pair were defeated by a steady and experienced Northants pair.

Final result: Cambs IIIrd 5, Northants IInd 10

A loss, but lots of positives with exciting new players.

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​Cambs IIIrd Team 2012-13

Match report by Will Hodgkinson.

More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.

County Selection 2012-2013

As always, County selection has been a very long and difficult process, with many players making strong cases for their inclusion.  Please appreciate that the Selection Committee apply a considerable amount of thought to the decision, and that there are only a very limited number of places we can offer.  We have tried to be as objective and fair as we can in applying the following selection criteria:

• Results at the restricted tournament;
• Results at other tournaments over the last twelve months;
• County performance from the previous season;
• Potential for improvement / Development trajectory;
• Availability;
• Commitment to the County;

For anyone who is disappointed at not making a team, it is worth noting that in previous seasons there have been more than enough times when players have been required to play up to support higher teams. It is likely that everyone will get their chance to shine at some point.

This season we are submitting three teams: Ist team (Division 3 Central), IInd team (Division 5 Central) and IIIrd team (Division 6 East).  More details are available in the 'Senior County Squads' sections.

The targets for this year are for the Ist team to obtain promotion back to what is now Division 2.  The IInd team have got a very strong challenge, to do well in their division which includes the Ulster team.  The IIIrd team excelled themselves to go through the playoffs last year, and we would hope that they might be able to do the same again this season!

The teams as selected are:

Ist Team

Ladies: Olga Bryant, Jen Hewitt, Sara Mason (c), Natalie Taylor

Men: Min Dabasinskas, Tom Li, Neil Place, Simon Woodhouse

IInd Team

Ladies: Laurel Bennett, Katie Morton, Jessica Sharman, Louise Tarbit

Men: Daniel Bates (c), Paul Heads, Stephen Pickering, James Wilson

IIIrd Team

Ladies: Sharon Chandler, Emma Brewster, Jacquie Dennis, Holly Gayle, Stacy Knoop

Men: Graham Barr, Geoff Green, Aiden Foo, Martin Harvey, Will Hodgkinson, Paul Martell, Kaylan Sutton-Ziaian, Tom Zhang

John Tibbutt (Non-playing Captain)

Squad

(These are players who might be available for selection from time to time, but are not nominated to specific teams)

Kevin Barron, Damien Dugmore, Owen Mugeridge, Joe Pickering, Sam Scharf, Abu Kaher

There is of course the possibility that other players from the County may be asked to play as and when options become available.

The first County match is for the IInd team on 14th October, with the Ist and IIIrd teams playing the week after on 21st October.  All three are home matches at CRC.

Have a great season, enjoy your games, and play well!

The Selection Team (Daniel, Neil, Sara and John)

Cambs III Flying High

Cambridgeshire IIIrd team hosted Lincolnshire IInds at the weekend, in their last Badminton England Inter County Championship Division 5C match. A repeat of their 10-5 away win before Christmas would pip long time leaders Bedfordshire II by a point and clinch the division title.

Graham Barr and Josh Males (J) opened proceedings in the first and second mens singles and got the match off to a perfect start, both winning comfortably in straight sets. Kate Marshall at first singles matched the men with a good straight sets win, but Laurel Bennett was unlucky to lose in two very closely fought sets. 3-1 to Cambs, 7 more games needed.

Graham and Josh teamed up as first pair in the first round of mens doubles and continued their strong form with a convincing win over their opposite numbers. Will Hodgkinson and Damien Dugmore at second pair came back strongly after dropping the first set against the Lincs second pair to win the second end to 9, but a few crucial errors in the third saw victory slip frustratingly away. Kate combined with Sharon Chandler at first ladies pair and battled well in a long three-ender against the Lincs first pair, but eventually lost a very close third end. Laurel and Lisa Lim were not troubled at second pair, winning in straight sets. This left the score at 5-3 to Cambs with 5 more games needed from the remaining 7. It was going to be close.

The men kept hopes high as both Graham and Josh, and Will and Damien came through long three set games to record wins, with Will and Damien improving all the time and eventually dispatching the Lincs first pair to 9 in the third. The ladies continued the momentum although Kate and Sharon had to work hard to overcome a strong display by the Lincs second pair. Laurel and Lisa again showed strong form, winning in straight sets. With the score now at 9-3 to Cambs the match was won, but the team still needed one from the three remaining mixed games to gain maximum points and clinch the division.

Playing out of order, Damien and Lisa at third pair started first and after very close first set edged it 21-19. The second set continued in a similar vein with both pairs producing some fine badminton but neither able to pull out a lead. At 20-20 the pairs were still locked together, but eventually Damien and Lisa broke the deadlock and pulled out the crucial two point gap to win the game 26-24 and secure the division win! With the pressure off, Graham and Kate at first pair struggled against the Lincs first pair and lost in two, but Sharon and Josh at second were able to finish off the match in style winning in three.

This fine win means that Cambs IIIrds are now in the divisional playoffs to fight for promotion into ICC division 4. These games will be played on the 21st and 28th of April, the opponents TBD.

More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.

IIIrd Team Continue in Promotion Hunt

Cambridgeshire IIIrd team travelled to Wellingborough to take on Northamptonshire IIIrds last weekend for their penultimate ICC Division 5C match. A repeat of their 12-3 home win at the start of the season would keep the pressure on division leaders Bedfordshire II.

Geoff Green and Kaylan Sutton-Ziaian (J) (winning his first senior cap) opened proceedings in the first and second mens singles respectively and got the match off to a perfect start, both winning comfortably in straight sets. The ladies were equally dominant as both Kate Marshall at first singles and Laurel Bennett at second won in straight sets. 4-0 to Cambs.

The first round of mens doubles continued in a similar vein, with both first pair Will Hodgkinson and Josh Males (J) and second pair Geoff and Kaylan beating their opposing Nhants pairs in straight sets. Yet again the ladies matched the men by winning both first round ladies as Kate and Jess James (J), and Laurel and Lisa Lim were not troubled, winning in straight sets. 8-0 to Cambs.

With the match victory already in the bag, talk turned to the possibility of a whitewash. The men kept our hopes high with only Geoff and Kaylan dropping a set in the return doubles games and so securing all 3 points. Kate and Jess also dispatched the Nhants ladies 2nd pair in straight sets and the team watched with baited breath as Laurel and Lisa battled against the Nhants 1st pair in a long 3 setter. Eventually though it became clear that we had jinxed the whitewash, as they fell behind in the final end eventually losing to 9. 11-1 to Cambs.

With the match won and all the points decided the team could have relaxed, but instead maintained their level and took all three of the mixed games. First pair Will and Kate battled away for 3 long sets to eventually win to 11 in the 3rd. Second pair Josh and Lisa cruised through both of their games in two comfortable sets and Geoff and Laurel wrapped things up by winning in 3 at 3rd. The 14-1 win is a great result for the team and keeps the pressure on Beds. Special mention must go to Kaylan for a great display in his first senior county match. I’m confident there will be many more to come!

!! STOP PRESS !!

It seems the pressure finally got to Bedfordshire as they managed to lose their final match of the season 8-7 to Lincs II. This means that a 10-5 or better win for Cambs III against Lincs II on Sunday 4th March will give Cambs III the league title and put them into the playoffs!

More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.

Cambs III Full Points Against Lincs II

Cambs IIIrds went into this match against Lincs IInds knowing that Beds II had only won the same fixture a narrow margin, and so knew it would be a tough game. The hall was freezing and the shuttles not ideal. However, in the men's singles Josh Males fought hard to win in two ends. Geoff Green, then won a closely fought match to make it two for two in men's singles. The women played some excellent badminton with Kate Marshall winning well in two. Jess James (J) played with a high work rate, exhausting her opponent and winning comfortably in two ends.

An excellent 100% start! This continued with both Will Hodkinson and Josh managing to beat the awkward Linc's pairs taking both men's in two sets. Geoff and Owen Mugridge lost their first, not really managing to get into the game. However, in the second game they fought back like lions to win in three ends with a 27-25 victory in the second! A combination of tight net play and hard hitting was too much for the Lincs pair.

The ladies was steady with some close fought games and dodgy shots (by the Lincs team). A superb Sharon Chandler combined with Jess to clean up comfortably. Kate and Laurel Bennett playing together for the first time lost narrowly in a tight three ended set, loosing 23-21 in the last and loosing in a straight set loss against the second pair.

Cambs went into the mixed with nine points on the board, needing one more for the bonus point. This was provided by through a clever and steady performance dominated by Sharon's excellent net play and Josh's range of shots. Both Will and Kate were disappointed to have lost in straight sets against the Linc's first pair, not really finding their games. Laurel and Owen played some good badminton with Laurel dominating the net, however loosing closely 21-19 in the third end.

At the beginning of the day the Cambs III team had aimed for all three points, which they got! It's tight at the top of the division and all to play for! Long may Sharon's calf hold up.

More information about results of the Cambs III team is available on the Team Page.