TAVISTOCK C team have not been enjoying the best of luck in the Plymouth and District Badminton League and with West Tamar and BAT's A team to play recently they went in expecting two tough matches.

Against West Tamar the Tavistock men's pair of Alan Cooper and

Tony Carver took a valuable rubber win then Alan and Tony along with their lady partners Pauline Hoare and Kate Wright in the mixed doubles managed took two more rubber wins.

The three points won not only took the Tavistock team further away from the relegation worries but helped the BAT's A team as they fight for promotion at the other end of the table.

Having played West Tamar the previous week the Tavistock C team entertained BAT's C team next. Tavistock C had been forced into two changes with two of their men missing for the match.

In the first of the men's doubles rubbers Chris Perin and Brian Cooper took on Alan Berry and Chris Woodroffe. Chris and Brian knew they were in a difficult rubber when Alan and Chris took the rubber for BAT's 4-15.

In the second game Chris and Brian took the early points but Alan and Chris came back to take the game and rubber for BAT's 7-15. The second men's doubles rubber saw Chris Perin and Glyn Issacs against Alan Berry and David Harrington. Chris and Glyn found it difficult to gain the serve. In the end the BAT's pair wrapped things up easily 15-3, 15-1.

The Tavistock pair of Brian Cooper and Glyn Issacs in the third men's doubles rubber were determined to show the BAT's pairing of Chris Woodroffe and David Harrington that they still had something to prove. All three games proved close affairs with Brian and Glyn determined to make the BAT's pair work for every point. Brian and Glyn lost out 12-15, 15-11, 8-15.

In the ladies' doubles rubbers Pauline Hoare and Kate Wright played the first rubber against Heather Cooper and Glynis Hingston. Pauline and Kate were determined to win but the BAT's pair took the first game after a long and hard game 13 - 15. Thereafter the BAT's pair took the initiative and took the second game and the rubber 8-15.

The second ladies' doubles rubber saw Pauline Hoare partner Tina for Tavistock and Heather Cooper partner Diane Philips for BAT's. Again the first game was long and difficult but again it was the BAT's pairing who took the final few points to take the rubber 10-15. Once the first game was over the BAT's pair settled down to take the second game and the rubber 7-15.

In the third ladies' doubles rubber the Tavistock pairing of Kate Wright and Tina determined to take a rubber win against the BAT's pairing of Glynis Hingston and Diane Philips. The first game proved decisive and this time it was the Tavistock pair who won it and settled the first 15-7. The second proved to be more comfortable with Kate and Tina running out winners 15-4.

In the first of the mixed doubles rubbers Chris Perin partnered Pauline Hoare for Tavistock and Chris Woodroffe partnered Diane Philips for BAT's. Though Chris and Pauline did their best the strength of the BAT's pairing soon showed through and Chris and Pauline lost out to Chris and Diane 2-15, 8-15.

The second mixed doubles rubber saw Brian Cooper partner Kate Wright for Tavistock and Alan Berry partner Glynis Hingston for BAT's. Brian and Kate took the first game 15-9. Unfortunately they could not repeat the win in the next two and lost the rubber 6-15, 3-15 to the BAT's pair.

The third mixed doubles rubber saw Glyn Issacs partner Tina for Tavistock and David Harrington partner Heather Cooper for BAT's. From the start things were one sided in favour of BAT's and it was the BAT's pair who took the rubber 2-15, 4-15.

Having expected a difficult match Tavistock were pleased to come away from the match with BAT's with the one point which goes towards the struggle to stay away from the bottom of the league. Tavistock C's next match is against the other team at the bottom of division 4 - a win should keep Tavistock in the league to fight another season.

l BAT's Badminton Club A team played Mayflower Badminton Club recently in the Plymouth and District Badminton League Division 4 knowing they needed to stop the recent poor form.

In the men's doubles rubbers Alan Berry, Chris Woodroffe and David Harrington gave no quarter in the three rubbers. The first rubber saw Alan and Chris in total domination when they won 15-2, 15-1. Alan and David had a few problems to begin with in the second rubber when they quickly found themselves 1-7 down but soon rallied to take the rubber 15-8, 15-2. Chris and David wrapped up the men's doubles with a 15-9, 15-4 win to take all three points for BAT's

In the ladies' doubles rubbers Heather Cooper, Diane Philips and Glynis Hingston were determined to improve on their recent form. Though Mayflower took all three rubbers the BAT's ladies made them work hard for every point and were unlucky in two rubbers when they took the Mayflower ladies to three ends.

In the first ladies' doubles rubber Heather and Diane fought hard but eventually lost out 11-15, 11-15. In the second doubles rubber Heather and Glynis got off to an excellent start by taking the first game 15-6 but eventually lost out 4 - 15, 3 - 15.

The mixed doubles rubbers brought the best out of the BAT's pairings. In the first rubber Chris Woodroffe and Diane Philips took time to settle but after powerful play which saw shuttle after shuttle smashed into the floor by Chris the BAT's pair took the rubber 15-11, 1511.

The second mixed doubles rubber saw Alan Berry and Glynis Hingston get off to a slow start by losing the first game 6-15 but turn things around dramatically to take the next two games 15-4, 15-3.

The third rubber proved to be one of the closest of the evening when David Harrington and Heather Cooper had to fight all the way to the last point for the win.

The first game went the way of the BAT's pair 15-12 but the Mayflower pair rallied to take the second game 10-15 to send the rubber into an tense and agonising third game. David and Heather held their nerve the better and ran out winners 15-9.

With the end of the season in sight the 6-3 win was a welcome improvement for BAT's after their recent run of two defeats. With just Tavistock and West Tamar to play the final league positions now go down to the last match of the season.