Cambs II Suffers Warks Heartbreak

With the season beginning to draw to a close, the battle for leadership in the ICC Division 5 East has been a close one.  In their penultimate match of the season, the senior IInd team faced league-leaders Warwickshire IIIrds.

There were three possible outcomes: win outright and grasp promotion out of the Division; take a narrow win and go into the last match with a chance; or suffer defeat and see the chance slip away.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it was not to be.  

Stephen Pickering played a strong game of singles, but unfortunately couldn't overcome opponent Will Kitching.  Both ladies also lost their singles against tricky opponents, so it was only Neil Place continuing his excellent singles record this season who won by beating Warwickshire's James Taylor.

Even though it was 1-3 after the singles, this was still one game better than when Cambs had lost the 8-7 reverse match at the start of the season, so there was still hope.  However, the scale of the challenge became evident when three of the four level doubles also went to Warwickshire. Katie Morton and Vicky Norris enjoyed a comfortable victory, while Adele Woodhams and Louise Tarbit couldn't overcome their opponents.  In the mens, both matches were high-octane crash bang affairs, running to close three ends but with Cambs unable to find the consistency and calmness to secure either.

After a regrouping, the reverse fixtures were a little better. Neil and Daniel came out fighting to win their game in two ends, as did Adele and Louise.  Warks however continued to build on their lead and with the final mens doubles matching reaching a pitched conclusion, and with everyone looking on, the eighth game - and with it the league title - was secured.

With heads held high, Cambs went on to complete the mixed and show their traditional strength in the discipline.  While Neil and Adele failed to secure the win, both Stephen and Lou, and Daniel and Katie, took the scant consolation of winning mixed games that had still been battled right to the last point.

In the end, the team had left everything of themselves on the court. Sadly, it was not enough.  Having been promoted to this Division only two years ago though, it is a very respectful result to be challenging so closely for a further improvement in position.

The team goes into the last match against Leicestershire to play for their pride, to match Warwickshire on points (some scant moral victory), and knowing that the match potentially has impact on others in the Division.

The team: Stephen Pickering, Neil Place, Daniel Bates (c), Graham Barr, Vicky Norris, Katie Morton, Adele Woodhams, Louise Tarbit.

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

Cambs I Battle Leics For Vital Points

It was a fighting Cambs Ist team that turned up to take on the almighty undefeated Leicestershire side and after the previous 12-3 loss we knew it was going to be a tough game. With all to play for as we near the end of the season, we knew the importance of that extra bonus point!

So it was a very excited (possibly due to a sugar rush) Cambs I Captain that bounced into the Babington sports hall, followed by the energetic (ahem) Paul, and then by Min’s usual chilled out stride. 

The singles were always going to be close, and they didn’t disappoint. Although Paul struggled against the consistency of one of the White twins, Min glided his way to win 22-20 against the other White twin. It was then the nail biting, heart racing, couldn’t watch it was that close ladies singles that really got the crowd cheering. Both went to three sets and came down to the last couple of points. Nat narrowly missed out in a 22-20 3rd end, while Alison, playing her debut singles, managed to fight back after being a few points down to take her third set 25-23.

So we went into the doubles 2-2, already a significantly better score than the previous 4-0 result. 

It was the debut match for Vicky Norris, and Daniel Bates also stepped in to play in the doubles. Although not winning their games, once settled into the faster pace of play they both picked up their games and did themselves proud. 

Despite being without their strongest man, Tom Armstrong, Leicester’s men proved too strong and took all 4 games. With a strong ladies side, the pairing of Vicky and Alison also lost both their doubles. It was a good day for the 1st ladies pair as Nat and Sara stepped up their game and looked in control throughout, taking both games in two sets. 

That meant that we were going into the mixed needing two games to get that all important bonus point, and the mixed 1 & 2 pairing didn’t disappoint. The new pairing of Min & Alison, followed by the regular pairing of Si & Nat stormed their games to both win in two sets. Once again demonstrating the strength of Cambs mixed.

So prior to this game Leicestershire’s worse score had been an 11-4 win, therefore a 9-6 score was a good result for Cambs I.

There were several strong performances making selecting a player of the match tough, but it deservingly went to Alison Meijers for her enthusiasm for playing singles, willingness to step into whatever position was needed, and for meeting the challenge set by winning her singles and mixed.
 
Thanks also to Min for baking (another ahem needed), and more importantly for also buying brownies

The team: Mindaugas Dabasinskas, Paul Heads, Simon Woodhouse, Daniel Bates, Natalie Taylor, Vicky Norris, Sara Cunnington (c), Alison Meijers.

Match report by Sara Mason.

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

U11/U13 Fun Tournament Results

There were 35 entries in the U11/U13 Fun Tournament held at the Bushfield Leisure Centre on Saturday 1st March.

Winners

Under 11

Boys Singles

Achira Waduge

Boys Doubles

Achira Waduge & Harikishna Elakoochy

Girls Singles

Anna Saunders

Girls Doubles

Anna Saunders & Robyn Watson

Under 13

Boys Singles

Benjamin Stevens

Boys Doubles

Zak Aldous & Benjamin Stevens

Girls Singles

Imogen Leivers

Girls Doubles

Imogen Leivers & Chloe Smith

Suffolk Trip Keeps Cambs Hopes Alive

Containing many strong teams, the ICC Division 5 East is proving to be an extremely tight competition this year. Every point is going to count at the end of the season.

When Cambridgeshire's senior IInd team arrived at Suffolk, they could see that a stiff test lay ahead.  Although Suffolk had lost their captain to a higher team, they had called upon some strong ladies to bolster their squad.

Going into the singles, Stephen Pickering was seeking to avenge his defeat against this team from earlier in the season.  After a tight 24-22 victory in the first, he won the mental advantage and quickly finished the second 21-11.  Neil Place also threw himself into his singles with gusto - belying his appearance in the Norfolk Silver less than 24 hours earlier - and again won in straight games.

The ladies faced the altered Suffolk lineup, and found the challenge testing.  Kate Marshall fought hard to a 24-22 victory in the first end, but couldn't maintain the advantage and lost in three. Vicky Norris also showed resistance, but was beaten by Kym Gormer in straight games.

In the mens doubles, Neil and captain Daniel Bates maintained their impressive winning streak, finishing both games in two.  With Abu Kaher now sunning himself in Bangladesh, the remaining mens slot fell to Graham Barr who combined with Stephen to great effect, and they also won both games without dropping a rubber.

The ladies faced stiff competition again, but came out with real reward.  Katie Morton and Vicky Norris put up a spirited fight, but were overcome with close scores against both pairs. However, it was Adele Woodhams and Louise Tarbit who chalked up the points, with a convincing straight-sets win against the first pair, and then again also recording a 21-14, 18-21, 21-18 victory against the second.

That had given Cambs the win, and with our traditional strength in mixed, the very slightest fraction of breathing space in our quest to secure all three points and keep the promotion dream alive.  Daniel and Kate teamed up smoothly and rampaged home first with a 21-9, 21-13 win at third slot. Cambs' nerves were then left to be frayed one last time, as Neil and Adele found the first Suffolk opposition too strong, losing 21-15, 21-9.

That left Stephen and Katie on court, with the entire hall watching, and their match having gone to the third end.  All four players strained sinew to fight over the last rubber, which was to decide the bonus point.  After holding their nerve and with some superb defensive work, it was Stephen and Katie who emerged victorious.  Cue much cheering, and curious whooping noises...

With two games left there is still much work to do, but Cambs II continue to seek their promotion.

The team: Stephen Pickering, Neil Place, Daniel Bates (c), Graham Barr, Kate Marshall, Vicky Norris, Katie Morton, Adele Woodhams, Louise Tarbit.

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

Cambs IInds Continue to Grind Out Results

Traditionally, the matches against neighbours Northants has always thrown up tight and hard-fought matches for the Cambs senior IInd team.  This Sunday was certainly no exception.  With the Inter-Counties Championships Division 5 East league finely balanced, both teams could go top of the table with a win.

It was certainly good weather for badminton, with gale-force winds and torrential rain battering the hall and lending an extra sense of foreboding to the events of the day.

The game started well, with both mens singles representatives Stephen Pickering and Neil Place clinching straight-sets wins.  It was harder going for the ladies though, and Adele Woodhams and Kate Marshall found the Northants girls strong and confident, and once the singles were over, the match was level at 2-2.

The men again went into the singles with a ferocity matching the weather, against Northants men who were also very quick and powerful.  After a brief slip in the middle end of their first game, Stephen and Abu Kaher won their games, and Masters partnership Neil and skipper Daniel Bates also secured full points in straight sets.

It was with the ladies again however, where Cambs found the resistance tougher.  Adele and Katie Morton won their first game comfortably, but then despite the closest of scores (23-21, 21-23, 20-22!!) couldn't quite close out the game against the second Northants pair.  Kate and Louise Tarbit struggled to establish a winning run, and lost both games.

So although the team entered the mixed 7-5 leaders, the result of the match, and even the destination of the bonus point, were still very much in the air.

Thankfully, Kate and Abu finished their mixed first, having triumphed in two ends, although Abu couldn't resist plucking taught nerves even further with a 21-19 finish in the second.  With the win secure, Neil and Adele came in next with a convincing win in the third end, notwithstanding a tense 28-26 win in the first, and loss in the second.

That left Stephen and Lou on court to fight for the bonus point to put clear space between Cambs and Northants at the top of the table, with the full vocal support of the team behind them. However, despite fighting to overcome a first game loss, and winning a commanding 21-11 in the second, they could never establish a lead and were taken 21-19 in the last. 

A result of 9-6 was a terrific outcome for the team - many of whom were coming into the match off the back of competing in the Cambs Silver the day before.  It leaves Cambs II in a commanding league position, with their success in their own hands.  Next match is the home return of Northants, so at least the same performance is required!

The team: Stephen Pickering, Neil Place, Abu Kaher, Daniel Bates (c), Katie Morton, Adele Woodhams, Kate Marshall, Louise Tarbit.

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

Silver Festival Provides Multiple Champions

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Harry Wang: Winner, Mens Singles Cambridgeshire Senior Silver

The Cambridgeshire Senior Silver saw a superb standard of badminton competition across Friday evening and Saturday.  Very highly-ranked national standard players descended on Cambridge Regional College (CRC) to compete for the honours in the Badminton England Silver Circuit competition.

Many Cambridgeshire players were involved in the tournament, but only one - Sara Cunnington - emerged with top honours.

Winners

Mens Singles: Harry Wang (Hampshire)

Ladies Singles: Lynnlette Aung (Dorset)

Mixed Doubles: Sara Cunnington (Cambridgeshire) & Chris Tonks (Warwickshire)

Mens Doubles: Eddie Chow (Essex) and Daniel Chipperfield (Essex)

Ladies Doubles: Ella Tripp (Cheshire) & Brodie Miller (Oxfordshire)

A collection of photographs of the winners is available on the Gallery page.

The full results draw are available on the BE Tournament Software site via the link: bit.ly/csilver2014

Cambs IIIrds Register Norfolk Win

Cambs IIIrds started their first home match of the season with a win in both men's singles. James Watkins took a while to get going against Norfolk number one, winning comfortably in the third end 21 -12. Geoff Green at number two, recently welcomed back from a month of Carribean holiday, cruised to a comfortable win in two ends. Ladies singles, and our ladies found it tough against well trained opposition. Both ladies losing in two ends.

2-2, going into the men's doubles, Paul Martell and James Watkins playing at number one, after going awol in the second, won the third easily 21-9. They also went on to defeat the second pairing. New pairing of Damien Dugmore and Geoff Greene comfortably beating the second pair, and just losing out to the first's 21-19, 21-19. The ladies competed in some well-contested games, Laurel Bennett and Liz Salmon, losing to the first pair in two and narrowly losing out to the seconds in three. Sharon Chandler and Klaudia Otoka were unlucky not to take the second pair to three and lost out to the first in two ends.

Going into the mixed 5-7, Cambs had it all to do. News spread quickly that Liz had brought some of legendary chocolate brownies, sugared up, Sharon and Paul at number one had too much quality for their opposition winning in two. With Liz and James replicating the score line, it was 7-7, winner takes all! Laurel and Damien with nerves of steel made it look easy, winning in two ends, to take the tie 8-7.

A great win, showing our strength in mixed game play.

Joint players of the match: Laurel and Damien.

The Team: Damien Dugmore, James Watkins, Geoff Green, Paul Martell (c), Laurel Bennett, Liz Salmon, Sharon Chandler, Klaudia Otoka (j)

Match report by Paul Martell.

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