Good win bolsters Yell league title ambitions
Yell A stayed in contention for the first division badminton title after a hard-fought win over Westside Bulls while in division two leaders Aith B and St Clement’s were both victorious. In the second division knockout compeititon St Clement’s defeated Gulberwick.
John Leask & Son Division One
Yell A 5, Westside Bulls 4
In the mixed doubles Audrey Leask and Graham Keith won 21-18, 21-17 against Anne Wood and David Thomson and Annette Gear and Jason Jamieson won 21-9, 21-12 against Sheena Pearson and Roy Wood. Suzanne Inkster and Erik Henry pulled one back for the Bulls by beating Carly Gray and Ross Keith 21-11, 27-25.
The Bulls won all the women’s doubles and Yell won all the men’s. The best match of the day was at first women’s where Anne and Sheena beat Audrey and Annette 21-14, 19-21, 21-11 Roy Wood showed he can compete with the seniors comfortably.
Division Two
Aith B 6, Yell C 3
This was always going to be a close match and the final score did not really convey how nip and tuck it was.
Two of the three mixed matches went Aith’s way with Stanley Nisbet and Carly Gray narrowly losing out to Alan Johnson and Amanda Slater 21-18 and 21-19 and Aith’s Louise Morrison and Colin Kirkness beating Duncan Thomson and Louise Robertson 21-17, 21-17. Stephen Clark and Jennifer Nisbet struggled with Ian Anderson and Aimee Keith eventually emerging victorious in the third mixed 16-21, 21-15, 21-17.
It was all to play for in the women’s doubles and this could not have been closer. Carly and Jennifer had a mammoth struggle against Aimee and Amanda, the Aith lasses eventually winning 21-8, 19-21, 23-21. Jennifer and Louise also fought a brave three-setter against Aimee and Louise but again victory went to Aith 21-14, 14-21, 21-14. Louise and Carly lost to Amanda and in straight sets.
In the men’s doubles Stanley and Stephen beat Ian and Alan 21-15, 21-19 while Stephen and Duncan were also victorious for the home team against Ian and Colin 21-18, 21-13. It was not enough to do it for Yell though as Stanley and Duncan lost to Colin and Alan in straight sets, ensuring the overall result went Aith’s way.
Players of the match were Stephen Clark for Yell and all the Aith lasses. This was a really enjoyable match played in good spirits with old-fashioned good sportsmanship and time to socialise over soup and sandwiches afterwards.
St Clement’s 9, Yell C 0
Yell C were unable to field a team and St Clement’s received the points.
Second Division Knockout
St Clement’s 7, Gulberwick 2
Roy Wood and Jennifer Sim played Brian Hill and Jane Hume at first mixed. Brian and Jane took the first game 21-18 but Roy and Jennifer stepped up a gear and took the second set 21-10. The third game was tight with Roy and Jennifer eventually winning 21-19 Lorri Robertson and Sarah Leask faced Gail Bray and Mairi Thomson and both sets were very close with some good attacks from both teams. In the end Lorri and Sarah won 21-19, 21-18.
Robert Smith and Ryan Wood faced the Gulberwick pair of Andrew Anderson and Jim Wood. Andrew and Jim won the first set 20-16 but the young guns fought back winning 20-20, 22-20.
Robert and Lorri played at second mixed and faced Jim and Gail. This was old style touch play from the Gulberwick pair against the faster, more power-orientated modern game. In this instance it was the youngsters who came out comfortably on top 21-15, 21-14.
Jennifer and Sarah had a very hard match against Jane and Mairi. The St Clement’s pair took the first game 21-18 but Gulberwick came back strongly in the second to win 21-10. The final set was very tight with the Gulberwick pair eventually winning 21-18.
Roy and Ryan faced Brian and Andrew. The young pair were fancied to win this game but were beaten in two straight sets by a determined Gulberwick who defended well and when required to attack did so with accuracy. Some rather casual defending by Roy and Ryan cost them valuable points and they lost in two straight sets 22-20, 22-20.
Ryan and Sarah played at mixed against Andrew and Mairi and this was a good performance by Ryan and Sarah, winning in two straight sets 21-15, 21-17.
Roy and Robert faced Jim and Brian in the final doubles game. The young boys’ speed and attacking badminton was too much for the Gulberwick pair and the St Clement’s pair took the match 21-10, 21-11.
In the final game Jennifer and Lorrie were just too strong for Jane and Gail who fought hard for every point but were convincingly beaten 21-13, 21-13.
