Cambs IInd Close Out Tough Leics Trip

Sunday saw apocalyptic weather, as Cambs IInd team fought the elements to travel to Leicestershire IIIrds for their second match of the season.  Once safely in the 'home of Leicestershire badminton' though, the team was still battered by a storm of tricky games.

With four courts in play, all the singles games went on together.  The men (stand-in Sam Scharf, and Paul Heads) secured reasonably comfortable wins, notwithstanding Paul being annoyed at his own performance in the second end having lost a comfortable lead to only win 23-21.  However, the girls faced an uphill task, playing strong Leics ladies.  Katie Morton was battling a hangover, while Jessica Sharman was grappling with singles nerves.  After starting brightly, Katie was edged out of a tight three-ender 21-18, 19-21, 17-21.  Jess was engaged in a singles game with the most astonishing number of serving errors from both players.  It really was down to who could serve the most consistently, and while she started to play well, Jess couldn't quite string enough points together and lost 18-21, 16-21.

The level doubles game followed a similar pattern, albeit with a shock in the mens.  All four ladies games went to Leics, who had quality in depth in their squad.  All of the games were close, with the Cambs ladies getting to mid-high teens in every one.  Club partners Louise Tarbit and debutante Jacquie Dennis played well, but couldn't exert control over the Leics ladies.  Katie and Jess went agonisingly close with another three-ender against the second pair, finishing in setting: 14-21, 21-16, 20-22.

In the mens, Sam and Skipper Daniel Bates were playing like men who had somewhere to be, winning the first end against the Leics first pairing to 7, and then finishing the second to 16.  They also won against the second pair comfortably.  Paul and James Wilson however won their first game easily (21-8, 21-14), but then came up against a wall in the second.  They found the Leics pair's defence just too good, and could not adjust their game plan, leaving them 19-21, 19-21 down.

That meant Cambs were trailing 5-7 going into the mixed, with a victory looking unlikely.  However, the traditional favouring for mixed in the County came again to the fore.  Paul and Katie have rapidly developed an understanding, and for the second match running registered a commanding win 21-13, 21-12.  James and Lou made harder work of their game, losing the first end in sets before building up a real head of steam, and winning 20-22, 21-19, 21-12.  That left Dan and Jess still on court, and the match there for the taking.  After slipping slightly in the middle period, they secured the game and the match by playing solid badminton and running away in the third end, winning 21-18, 17-21, 21-14.

The so the win was secure, although Leics IIIrds left with a well-deserved bonus point.  An exhausted Cambs team fell in to head for home, but the difficult day dragged on a little longer, with navigational crises making it difficult to find a suitable en-route watering hole which wasn't located down a dead-end country lane.  Cambs would also like to register a formal complaint to the Beefeater Observatory in Braunstone: not only does it not feature correctly on TomTom, but it is unacceptable to advertise 'Ultimate Chips', which have not a single quality which could be described as 'Ultimate', nor which are little more than a small cup of french fries...It was certainly sorely lacking for a hungry badminton team.

The IInd team now enjoy a break in matches until mid-January, when the face.... Leics IIIrds...(!)  The team will need to come out fighting to again earn points from the return leg.

The team: Daniel Bates (c), Sam Scharf, Katie Morton: Hurst Badminton Club / Paul Heads, Louise Tarbit, James Wilson, Jacquie Dennis: Ely Victoria Badminton Club / Jessica Sharman: Court Badminton Club

More information about results of the Cambs II 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.

Cambs Ist Team Continue Success

Cambs Ist team faced Nottinghamshire IInds at CRC on Sunday.  The singles started the match off strongly with Mindaugas Dabasinskas, Olga Bryant and Natalie Taylor all winning their games very comfortably in 2 ends. Thomas Li decided to get his money’s worth and gave his opponent a glimmer of hope after losing his 1st end to 12, before showing his true singles abilities by winning to just 9 & 16.

Once again the Notts men were no match for the almighty Min & Simon Woodhouse, who won both their games with relative ease. Neil Place & Thomas had more of a fight on their hands and after losing the first end to 17 they stepped up their game to take the next two ends by 18 & 16. They had another battle against the first pair, and narrowly missed out 21-18 in the third end. Most disappointingly was that the youngest star of the team, Thomas, injured himself during the match which will be a sad loss for the next game!

The first ladies doubles pair, Sara Mason & Nat, also came out strongly with 2 solid wins against the Notts ladies. The first match was against two younger players whose heads went down after they found that they were unable to get the shuttle past the Cambs pair. Though more sad was the lack of sportsmanship at the end when they only just managed to shake hands!

So despite the gauntlet set down in the first match report, Neil decided that he would change tack and remain on his feet! Although the same cannot be said for all the ladies… as Jen Hewitt decided she would battle it out with the boys for the best dive of the match!  Though wonder Jen was seen diving around the court as she fought for every point going. She teamed up once again with the awesome Olga, and battled it out against the second pair. They played well but lost in three ends, however went on to show their determination and fight by beating Notts first pair in 3 sets. A great result against Notts first pair.

And finally in the mixed Min/Olga and Si/Nat took the games that ensured a full three-point victory over Notts, winning in 2 games and Si/Nat winning in 3 ends. The third pair, Neil/Sara, had a less than interesting game with the height of the opposition causing difficulties and lost in 2 ends.

A short and sweet match report, tho not as sweet as the yummy rock cakes baked by Jen! High bars set by Olga’s choc cake in the first match, and Jen’s rock cakes… can the boys perform in the baking dept as well as they do on court?? Time will tell!!

A special mention to Thomas Li, who was voted player of the match for really stepping up his performance this match.

Well done Cambs I - another county match and another win under the belt as they beat Notts 2 by 12-3 to once again take full points.

Match report by Sara Mason.

More information about results of the Cambs I 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.

Cambs I Strike Out on Right Foot

The first match of the season for Cambs 1 started on a high, with an inspiring 14-1 win against Worcs 2.

Min (Mindaugas Dabasinskas) played first singles against a tough opponent, and after losing his first game to 16, demonstrated his strength and stamina by winning the next two ends to 12 and 14.  Thomas Li played his first game as a Cambs 1 player, and came out fighting. He won his first game to 16, lost the second game to 17, and then showed his strength of character by winning the third end to a closely fought 22-20. Nat Taylor and Olga Bryant went on to show their singles abilities by winning comfortable games to 14 & 8, and 17 & 10 respectively. A composed and consistent game by both ladies. To finish the singles 4-0 up was a fantastic result.

Going into the men’s doubles was a nerve racking and fingernail biting experience, with two relatively new pairings put to the test. However they did not disappoint! Min and Simon Woodhouse took the first end to work out their game style wining narrowly by 23-21, and then showed off their skills by winning the 2nd game to 15. They continued their winning streak by beating the second pair to 17 & 19. Neil Place & Thomas Li looked solid in their first game winning to 15 & 16, and despite a fantastic effort they narrowly missed beating Worc first pair to 17 in the third end. Well played to all the men, tho the bets are on for who will get the highest score for floor dives. Place your bets now for Min vs. Neil…

Although the ladies managed to remain in upright positions on the court, their games were no less interesting than the men’s. There were some well fought battles, with 3 of the games going to 3 ends. Once against the ladies showed their strength, and had a momentous victory by winning all four doubles. Nat Taylor and Sara Mason have worked hard on their positioning, and it showed as they glided around each other on the court. And a warm welcome to Jen Hewitt who made her debut for Cambs County. She teamed up with Olga Bryant to make a strong second pair, and despite their relatively new pairing they demonstrated their awesome racket skills and knowledge to win both games.

Going into the mixed Cambs 1 continued their dominance, with Olga and Min winning to 21-12 & 21-13, Nat and Si winning 21-14 & 22-20, and finally Sara and Neil winning to 21-15 & 21-7.

First game for the first team a 14-1 victory.  Bring on Notts next week.

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Cambs Ist Team 2012-13​

Match report by Neil Place/Sara Mason.

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

Cambs U15 Restricted Results

Girls Singles

Eve Lauder beat Chanumi Gamage - 21-7

Girls Doubles

Hannah Duval / Chanumi Gamage beat Eve Lauder / Tiahane World - 21-13 / 21-13

Boys Singles

Jordan Huynh beat Eugene Stokes - 21-12

Boys Doubles

Oliver Stenson  / Eugene Stokes  beat Adam Walker / Nathan May - 24 - 22

Cambs II Kick Off With Staffs Win

​With some new faces added to the ranks, it fell to the Cambs IInd team to kick off the ICC season this year, with a home match against Staffs IIIrds in the newly designated 'Division 5 Central'.  The IInd team are the very grateful recipients of the hard labours of the IIIrds last year, who won promotion through their Division 5 playoffs, with the higher league placing resulting in the IInd team going up.  However, with the vagaries of Badminton England organisation, such promotion has resulted in the team remaining in 'Division 5' because other leagues above have been re-ordered!

​There was much anticipation as the team formed and began to warm up, and everyone knew the day was sure to be a good one when the 1-ton tin of homemade tiffin arrived with Katie.

Staffs looked like a young but decent team, and that proved to be the case in the singles.  Debutante Paul Heads enjoyed some challenging rallies, but always had the class to be in charge of his game, and won in two straight games, as did Katie Morton - looking more the classy singles player every match.  Will Hodkinson and Laurel Bennett both encountered sterner resistance.  Laurel played well, but was eventually outrun by a younger opponent, while Will's match was the spectator selection of the round, with a nailbiting first end going to 21-23.​  Unfortunately, despite giving his all, and winning the middle game, Will was pipped 19-21 in the third.

With the match 2-2 going into the levels then, Cambs II knew that they are going to have to fight for all their points this season.  In the mens doubles, Paul and James Wilson - the established pairing - had a harder game against the first Staffs men, but then settled into their groove and beat the second pairing comfortably.​  Will and Daniel Bates founding the going harder.  Although they powered home to win a third end 21-10 against the second pair, they gave the first pair over-generous leads in both games, and failed to reel them back in, and lost in straight sets.

The ladies doubles also reflected a difference in strength between the two Staffs pairs.  Both Katie and Jessica ​Sharman, and Laurel and Louise Tarbit (also a debutante) won in straight games against the Staffs second pair.  However, in identikit games, they won the first end, and then lost the second two in hard games against their first.

​That left the score 7-5 going into the mixed, and with both victory and the bonus point for Cambs sitting on a knife-edge.  James and Louise put their experience together to good use, winning in two - although they conspired to take the second to an impressive 29-27, after having been a long way behind.  New pairing Paul and Katie seemed to click well, and rampaged to a 21-4 / 21-7 victory, clearly inspired to get back to the tiffin-tin before anyone else was off court.  This left the bonus point down to Daniel and Jess, who despite letting a good lead slip away, were comfortable in winning their game in two ends.

This was a stiff test for a new team, and it's clear that the league will be a challenging one.  It's great to get the season off to such a good start though.​

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Cambs IInd Team 2012-13​

The team: Daniel Bates (c), Katie Morton: Hurst Badminton Club / Paul Heads, Louise Tarbit, James Wilson: Ely Victoria Badminton Club / Jessica Sharman: Court Badminton Club / Will Hodgkinson, Laurel Bennett

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