Westside Bulls, Whalsay and Aith notch up badminton league wins

The week’s badminton matches saw Aith, Whalsay and Westside Bulls winning in division one.

John Leask and Son
Division One

Aith A 3, Westside Bulls 6

The Aith players were on home ground against the Westside Bulls last Wednesday night. The first three matches were the first mixed, second ladies’ and third men’s.

In the game between Gordon Keith and Morag Fox versus Anne Wood and Erik Henry the first set was very close with the home side just winning 22-20 then taking the second set 21-16.

In the second ladies’ match Aith sisters Julie and Shona Keith were up against Lauren Hogg and Sheena Pearson, a good player who has joined the Bulls. Julie and Shona took the first game 21-15 but Lauren and Sheena took the second 21-18 with Sheena’s strong, accurate play. Shona and Julie rallied in the third, getting the lifts and returning them with good smashes to win 21-17.

The third men’s doubles saw Craig Nicolson and Lewis Fraser against David Thomson and Roy Wood and it was the Bulls who got the lead early on. Consistent, steady returning from Roy against the smashing of Lewis meant the home side couldn’t get the lead, losing 21-15, 21-18.

The third mixed was Lewis and Julie versus Roy and Lauren Hogg. This was a close game and with a little luck could have gone to three sets. The visitors took the first game 21-17 but in the second set Julie and Lewis were getting into a partnership and they held on to the end only to lose 23-21.

In the first ladies’ match Morag and Shona could find no answer to the experience of Anne and Sheena who took the game in straight sets.

The first men’s was a three-setter with Gordon and Craig taking the first set 21-15. The table was turned and David and Erik took the second 21-14, but Craig and Gordon took the lead late in the third end, winning 21-15.

At third ladies Morag and Julie took on Anne and Lauren. The first game was a very close encounter, 23-21 in the Bulls’ favour which seemed to give them a boost and they also took the second set.

Lewis and Gordon had a very close three-setter against Erik and Roy who defended steadily, the shuttle always coming back over the net for another go. The home side took the first game 21-18 but the reach of Eric and the quickness of Roy proved vital and they took the next two sets 21-18, 21-19.

The second mixed was the game of the match, also going to three sets. Shona and Craig took the first set 22-20 but Sheena and David were not going to give up and they took the second 26-24. That seemed to spur them on in the last set and they won 21-16 to give the Bulls an overall 6-3 win.

Whalsay A 7, Unst A 2

Whalsay got off to a good start with John Lowrie Irvine and Louise Hutchison winning 21-16, 21-16 against Andrew Hunter and Kathleen Johnson. David Brown and Cathy Shearer had a close three-setter against Karen Priest and Peter Hunter, the Unst pair winning the third set 21-19, while Richie Hutchison and Vaila Kay won in two sets against Hosea Moar and Linda Thomson.

Whalsay won all the women’s doubles and Andrew and Peter won their men’s doubles match against John Lowrie and David.  Whalsay were pleased to have David Brown back on side.

Players of the match were Ritchie Hutchison for the home side and Peter Hunter for Unst.

Yell B 1, Aith A 8

No report was received.

For second division and league tables, see this week’s Shetland Times.