One line summary
 
Consistency is not always a good thing…

On the night

With the mixed 2 curse still wreaking havoc, Phil had to pull out due to a neck problem and Steve B stepped in to cover. So, in an inspired choice by the captain, Tricia and Steve went on as first pair and won comfortably 15-7, 15-8. Joan and Roy took on the second pair and after much effort were eventually overcome 15-8, 15-9. Louise T and Matt took on the third pair and after two hard fought close games pipped them 15-13, 15-13 to much relief. Two-one up after the first rubbers and it looks promising….

Joan and Roy took on the Central first pair and in a result which didn’t necessarily reflect the game, were defeated 15-4 and 15-11. Louise and Matt took on the second pair and stormed the first 15-5. Then they failed to capitalize on some of their openings and lost the next 15-13. Spurred on by this Louise and Matt then closed out the rubber 15-5. Tricia and Steve took on the third pair and again won convincingly 15-6, 15-5. Four-two up after the second round, could this really be happening….

Tricia and Steve took on the second pair and again showed some good movement around court to win and convincingly 15-7, 15-3 to remain undefeated for the night and to close out the match, hurrah! Joan and Roy took on the third pair and surprisingly lost the first 15-6. This warm-up out of the way they then started to play more their own game and took the next 15-9 and closed out with a win in the last 15-9 again. Louise and Matt took on the first pair and started well, winning the first 15-7, but then managed to throw away the advantage losing the next 15-11. In a frustrating final game they couldn’t put together anything resembling badminton and lost 15-2.

Roundup

A solid team win against a strong side, with every pair contributing to success. Many thanks to Steve B for stepping in. Hopefully Phil recovers in time for the next match. Lets keep this winning streak going ….

On the night

Tricia and Phil took on the first pair and stamped their authority immediately, wining 15-9, then allowed the Monsoon pair a glimmer of hope, losing the next 15-9. They pulled ahead in the next though and finished convincingly 15-5. Joan and Roy went on as second pair and although normally slow starters, won comfortably 15-10, 15-11. Louise and Matt took on the third pair and pulled ahead 12-6, only to be clawed back and overcome 17-16 and fought hard in the next but made too many unforced errors and were again beaten 15-13. Two-one up and the match still looked within our grasp.

Tricia and Phil took on the second pair and dispatched them easily 15-9, 15-6. Joan and Roy struggled in the next and lost 15-5, 15-6. Louise and Matt took on the first pair  and were overcome 15-13 and then 15-10. Three-Three and still we could see a win in sight.

Tricia and Phil knew a win in the last would put us in good shape for the win, so were mightily relieved and ready to celebrate the victory after winning 15-13, 15-7 in their last rubber, leaving them with an unblemished 3 out of 3. Joan and Roy took on the first pair and struggled in the first, losing 15-5. Not disheartened and knowing the win a possibility, they fought hard and won the next 15-3 to force the decider. In the last they played well but were beaten 15-8. With Roy’s encouragement of ‘You’ll beat these easily’ and Louise encouraging Matt with the words ‘you’d better win this one, I can’t not win one on my birthday’ there was no pressure on the last rubber, knowing a win would probably clinch the match. Louise and Matt put up a good fight, but it just wasn’t happening and they lost 15-11, 15-12. A five-four loss, damn!

Roundup

A very disappointing night as Tricia, Phil, Joan and Roy all played really well and put us in a great position to win the match. A shame Louise T and Matt couldn’t win a single game all night, especially as it was Louise’s birthday. Hardly a captains performance, for which I heartily apologize. Sorry if I was a bit grumpy at the end too. This makes the task of not being relegated all the harder now.

On the night

With the Jubilee first pair going to be late, we played slightly out of order….

Joan and Roy went on against the second pair and played well, but were beaten 15-8, 15-7. Battling with man-flu, Louise T went on with Matt and after a cold start losing 15-4, pulled into a 12-2 lead in the next before once again allowing opponents to come back, eventually getting enough points together to win 15-12 to force the decider. Unfortunately they lost the next 15-9. Trish and Phil then went on against the first pair and stormed the first 15-5 before allowing them to come back 15-9 in the next, and despite turning 8-6 down in the third then closed out the final game 15-8. Two-one down after the first round.

Joan and Roy went on against the third pair and put up a great show in the first, being pipped 15-13, but couldn’t replicate this in the next, losing 15-5. Louise and Matt then took on the second pair and despite leading and getting to 14 first with a few game points for good measure, they managed to lose 17-14 and then 15-9. Trish and Phil took on the third pair and struggled against a very mobile man, losing 15-8, 15-5. Five-one down and the match is decided already….

Joan and Roy took on the first pair and put up a good fight, losing 15-11, 15-9. Trish and Phil took on the second pair and showed good quality net play from Trish and solid play from the back from Phil to win in two, 15-12, 15-10. Louise and Matt took on the first pair and played well in fits and starts, but didn’t have the consistency and were defeated 15-10, 15-6. Seven-two……

Roundup

Jubliee 3 are a young team who played better than us on the night. Another night, and maybe our home advantage and we may be able to push the match closer, maybe even win. Well played Trish and Phil again, winning two out of their three.

This is the last match of this year for mixed 2, so I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you all have a well deserved break.

On the night

With Phil tweaking his groin the previous night playing for mixed 3, Harry stepped in as a very last minute replacement, Harry also having played the previous evening. Roy had also played the previous evening and had injured his back, but bravely soldiered on anyway.

Faced with such a situation, the captain decided on a risky strategy and mixed the team up somewhat…. So Trish and Matt went on as first pair and were narrowly beaten 15-11, 15-13. Louise T and Roy took on the second pair and settled in well but were pipped in the first 15-12 but then the opposition took control and won 15-3. Joan and Harry took on the third pair and fought hard but were overcome 15-6, 15-8. Three-nil down, not the start we were looking for.

Against the second pair, Trish and Matt managed to forget how to play in the first, losing 15-3, but put up a better fight in the second, but still a disappointing 15-9. Louise and Roy took on the third pair and played well, but a few too many mistakes led to another loss 15-9, 15-10. Joan and Harry took on the first pair and put up a strong show, being narrowly beaten 15-12, 15-7. Six-nil, and the match is lost….

Against the third pair, Trish and Matt managed to scrape through the first game 15-13, then lost the plot once more, losing the next 15-6 to force the decider. After being behind for most of the game, including at the change of ends, Trish and Matt then put a few good points together while not allowing the opposition to score to pull away to eventually triumph 15-12 to salvage a bit of respectability. Louise and Roy took on the first pair and managed to force the decider after the openers were a very close 17-16, 15-11 (I’m not sure which way round the scores were for this). They couldn’t quite keep their form though and with Roy suffering with his back for any drop shots lost the last 15-8, a real pity. Final score eight-one, sounds familiar.

Roundup

Many thanks to Roy for playing while injured, and Harry for giving up his curry and playing at the last minute. After our victory at home, this was a must win match if we are to avoid relegation this season, now we have a real uphill battle on our hands, onward and upward.

On the night

With Phil recovered from injury he was reunited with Trish and they started badly, losing the first 15-6. They then recovered composure and won the next equally convincingly 15-8 to force a third. They started slowly though and were 14-6 down before mounting a comeback, but it was just to late and they lost 15-11. Meanwhile Louise T was getting used to playing with yet another partner after Matt bowed out with knee trouble (that just leaves Joan as the fittest member of mixed 2 as she hasn’t had injury…). Fortunately Louise and Steve B settled quickly and won in an authoritative 15-7, 15-6. Joan and Roy took on the third pair and after winning a nail biting 15-12 first, lost an equally tight 15-13 to go to three, where they struggled to keep shuttle over and in and lost out 15-6. Two-one down after the first rubbers, hardly a dream start…

Louise and Steve took on the first pair and again dominated with much attacking play to win 15-7, 15-9. Joan and Roy took on the second pair and after losing 15-5 in the first mounted a good charge in the next but were sadly pipped to the post 15-13. Phil and Trish meanwhile decided not to mess about any more and won convincingly 15-2, 15-6. Three-all and all to play for…..

Joan and Roy took on the first pair and played their best badminton all night and pushed them all the way, but were narrowly beaten 15-10, 15-12. Trish and Phil took on the second pair and showed much aggression from Phil and great net play from Trish and were victorious once more 15-6, 15-7. Four-all and the pressure was on Louise and Steve to beat the third pair for the win. Fortunately they were equal to the task and they kept their record of not losing a game all night to win 15-6, 15-7. Hurrah!! And there was much rejoicing….

Roundup

A good win against a side we needed to beat to increase our chance of avoiding relegation. Many thanks to Steve B for stepping in. Maybe the captain should be rested more often!!

On the night

The mixed 2 curse struck once more and Louise had to sit out with tonsillitis. Trish and Phil went on as the usual first pair and put up a good fight, being narrowly beaten 15-7, 15-13. Joan and Roy went on as second pair and started well, wining the first 15-11, to then set in the next, being on the wrong side of a 17-14 score to set up a decider, where again they were so close, losing 15-13. Penny and Matt took on the third pair and managed to lose the first 15-11. This prompted them into action and they took a commanding 14-2 lead in the next, but couldn’t quite seem to kill the game off until they finally clinched it 15-9 to force a third. With much back and forth they finally overcame the Jubilee pair 15-12, phew! Two one down after the first, all is not lost…

Joan and Roy took on the first pair, and after losing the first 15-8, seemed to find their form in the next to take it to 14-14 at which point Roy bravely took the decision to play straight through! It didn’t seem to shake the opposition though and they won 15-14. Penny and Matt took on the second pair and again managed to lose the first 15-12, and in a similar pattern to the first rubber won the next 15-3 to force the decider. A much closer game then ensued and we were narrowly beaten 15-13 to much annoyance. Trish and Phil took on the third pair and once again showed why they’re the number one pair, winning in straight games 15-9, 17-14. Four two down at this point….

Requiring all the last rubbers to go our way, Penny and Matt took on the first pair and fought hard to win the first 17-14, then managed to lose the next quickly 15-3. In their third decider of the night they just couldn’t recreate their best play and were beaten 15-9 despite much effort, and the match was lost. Trish and Phil meanwhile managed another straight games victory 15-9, 15-13, well played! Joan and Roy also managed to summon up the last of their energy and also won in straight games 15-10, 15-4. Five four to Jubilee, oh bugger!

Roundup

Many thanks to Penny for stepping in for Louise. Such a close match, but a good performance from all, shame we just couldn’t manage just one more rubber….on a brighter note, it was not a complete disaster, Phil managed to annoy the lady playing in the Jubilee third pair…. :-o

On the night

A good fight was put up by all, with 4 rubbers going to 3 but sadly we only managed to win one of these meaning the score line doesn’t really match the closeness of the games.

On the night

With Phil unavailable, Adam stepped into the breach to partner Trish, and they played well to get their 2. Joan and Roy put in another good performance to win their 1. Louise and Matt also won 1, but losing against the third pair was their undoing. Our fourth 5-4 defeat of the season.

Roundup

Last match of the season and it would have been nice to go out on a high. I think relegation is now our fate, so lets try and get some silverware next year!!

Many thanks for all those who played, and those who were on standby, throughout the season – and there were lots of you, so many thanks!!