Yell A triumph in local badminton derby

Yell B were no match for the isle’s A team in last week’s badminton matches, losing 9-0 in their division one clash, while in the second division there were wins for St Clements and Aith B over Burra and Whalsay B respectively.

John Leask and Son Division One

Yell A 9, Yell B 0

In the mixed Graham Keith and Audrey Leask won 21-10, 21-16 for the A team against Arnold Brown and Jackie Guthrie, Jason Jamieson and Annette Gear beat Maurice Haining and Ingrid Nicol 21-12, 21-11 and Ross Keith and Diana Jamieson won 21-13, 21-11 against Owen Strachan and Sandra Petrie.

Yell A won all the ladies’ doubles, Audrey and Annette beating Jackie and Ingrid 21-9, 21-9, Audrey and Diana winning against Sandra and Jackie 21-6, 21-17 and Annette and Diana defeating Ingrid and Sandra 21-7, 21-10.

All the men’s doubles also went the A team’s way, Graham and Jason beating Arnold and Maurice 21-14, 21-8 and Graham and Ross taking out Arnold and Owen 21-18, 21-19. Then in the best match of the day Jason and Ross finished off the match victors against Maurice and Owen 21-11, 18-21, 21-16.

Player of the match for Yell B was Owen Strachan while it was a good team effort overall for Yell A. The match was competed in the best of spirits even with the lack of sandwiches.

Division Two

St Clements 5, Burra 4

St Clements fielded a team made up entirely of juniors with only one player over 15. Burra’s team was slightly more mature but with one junior player.

In the first mixed Robert Smith and Jennifer Sim for St Clements faced Craig Smith and Georgia Laurenson. This was very tight match with the young pair just coming out on top 22-20, 21-18 after some good attacking play from both sides.

Next Karri Frazer and Jenni Leask of St Clements played Joyce Adamson and Lorri Robertson. This was another battle with St Clements starting off a bit sleepily in the first set and were well beaten 21-9.

They won the second set 21-19 after some hard fought rallies but Burra took the third set 21-17.

Jamie Duffy and Finn Watt of St Clements played David Henry and Clifford Hutchison and the young guns won the first game 21-15 with some good attacking badminton. The Burra pair pushed them all the way in the second game but Finn and Jamie eventually clinched the game 21-18.

In second mixed Jamie and Karri played against David and Joyce. Jamie and Karrie won 21-15, 21-18 with some good attacking play from Karrie in the front court, battling against Joyce’s tight net play.

Jennifer and Jenni played Georgia and Lorri. The St Clements pair tried hard but the superior power of Georgia and Lorri’s tight net play was causing them problems and they were well beaten in the end 21-14, 21-10.

Next up Robert and Finn played Craig and Clifford, another hard-fought affair which went right to the wire and could have easily gone either way. The young St Clements pair eventually won 21-17, 15-21, 23-21.

The third mixed match was between Finn and Jenni and Lorri and Clifford. This was another three setter with Finn and Jenni winning the first 21-19, but losing to the experience of the old campaigner and partner 9-21, 11-21.

Jennifer and Karri then faced Georgia and Joyce. This again went to three sets with Burra eventually taking it 21-17, 9-21, 15-21.

The final game was between Finn and Robert and Craig and David. The young pair dominated the game, winning comfortably 21-11, 21-12.

Aith B 5, Whalsay B 4

It was close in the mixed matches with Whalsay taking the first with Richie Hutchison and Vaila Kay beating Ian Anderson and Alison Morrison in a close three setter. Kevin Nicolson and Aimee Keith won their mixed in straight sets as did Lewis Fraser and Amanda Slater for Aith.

In a competitive three-setter Cathy Shearer and Abbey Irvine beat Aimee Keith and Amanda Slater. The next two ladies’ matches were won by Whalsay through Vaila and Abbey and also Vaila and Cathy.

Aith B were dominant in all three men’s matches with the closest game Ian and Lewis Fraser against Richie and James John Tulloch.

Players of the match were Amanda Slater and Aimee Keith for Aith and Richie Hutchison and Vaila Kay for Whalsay.