HomePress Release 16th January 2003
BAT’s Men's team started off 2003 in the best possible way in the Plymouth and District Badminton Men’s Division B with a crushing 12–0 defeat of YMCA Kitto.
Having had to put together a team at the last minute due to illness and then a heavy fall of snow just before setting out to the match meant that the team arrived a little unprepared for the match. However things were soon put right when the first pairs went onto court to play.
In the first set of two rubbers David Harrington and Alan Berry put all thoughts of being generous with the Christmas spirit behind them when they totally dominated the rubber and taking the two match points available 15–3 15–4. Ewen Rae and Jonathon Freeman also started off in the best possible way when they took the first game 15–7 but then relaxed a bit too much and found themselves 2–11 down. They then came back to take the game and the second match point, 15–12.
In the second set of two rubbers David and Ewen took both games and the two match points easily 15–8 15–8. Alan and Jonathon then continued the good run of results with a 15–3 15–4 win. With eight of the twelve games now played the BAT’s team had yet to drop a match point.
The pressure was now on both teams: BAT’s to complete the win without dropping a game and YMCA Kitto to spoil it by taking a match point. The third set of two rubbers saw David and Jonathon start off in the best possible way when they took the two games 15–8 15–7 without too much difficulty. The pressure was now on Alan and Ewen to wrap up the evening. Both their games started off scrappy with both pairs matching each other point for point to begin with. In both games the experience of Alan and Ewen showed through in the end with them closing out both games 15–7 15–10.
At the end of the evening BAT’s Men had started off 2003 in the best possible way.
Alan Berry
Published in the Tavistock Times Gazette on Thursday 16th January 2003