HomePress Release 2nd November 2007
The Plymouth Badminton League opened it’s season with a Men’s Match in Division B.
B.A.T.S. entered a team for the first time in the Men’s Division and for their first match entertained the experienced Victoria B. Both sides introduced youth into their sides. David Wright for the Home side and Mike Haley for the Visitors, and both players had wins to their credit. The match finished with a 6-6 draw with the Home side scoring 229 aces and their visitors 222.
In the Men’s Division C, Mayflower Wednesday played hosts to Y.M.C.A. Kitto B but found the Visitors in fine form, losing 11-1. For the home side Phil Lyndon and Mark Hawker found the only success taking an end off Ben Bryan and Dave Child.
In the same Division Y.M.C.A. Kitto C took on the C Team from University. The first game of the evening saw the Visitor’s Pete May and Ryan Kwan beat Dave Child and Ananth Varatharajan 27-25. Playing the new Rally Point Scoring system a game will finish at 21 points but at 20-20 it’s the first to two clear points or the first to score 30. This match then edged in favour of the Home side who ran out 8-4 winners.
It’s always good to welcome a new Team into the League and when it is a Ladies side, all the much better. Torpoint Ladies have entered this season and their first match was away to Y.M.C.A. Kitto, who are in their third season…. And the difference showed as the Home side ran out 12-0 winners.
Last Season’s Ladies Champions Devonshire, with a few different faces, went down 11-1 at home to Greenbank. Wan Lynn Chong and Yetty Smith saved the Home side’s blushes taking an end off Lynne Hunt and Dylys Bradshaw.
In the Men’s Division A, last season’s Champions University entertained Greenbank at Plymouth College. Luke Green who last season played for University has now changed his colours and is playing at Greenbank. Both teams are aware of their opponent’s standard and hence both of the first two events were shared. Greenbank took the initiative in two events and eventually ran out 7-5 winners.
In the Medley League Division Two, Derriford played hosts to Mayflower Wednesday and took full advantage of their home courts to run out 8-1 winners. Sue Gale and Jane Bryan saved the whitewash in the first Ladies Event beating Di Soper and Gill Jones 17-21 21-17 21-11.
In the same Division a humdinger of a match took place at Tavistock where Y.M.C.A. Kitto were the Visitors. Five matches went to a third end and Tavistock won 5-4, scoring 416 aces to their opponents 437.
A close encounter at Callington in Division Three where Builders were the Visitors. The Home side’s men took all three of their events only to be levelled by the visiting Ladies. The Mixed Events went 2-1 to Callington to secure a 5-4 win.
Further information about the Plymouth and District Badminton League can be found on their website at www.plymouthbadminton.co.uk
Gordon Hunt
Submitted to and published by the Evening Herald and Sunday Independent