THE second local derby took place in Plymouth and District Summer Badminton League with Horrabridge Badminton Club taking on BAT's Badminton Club.

Horrabridge fielded its usual team of mainly junior players and BAT's, keen to do well, brought in league experienced players and Fred Philips out of retirement.

In the first men's doubles rubber Alan Berry partnered Chris Woodruffe for Horrabridge and Pete Barry partnered Ewan Rae for BAT's.

After a tense and closely fought first game where points and the serve were traded equally until Alan and Chris pulled away to win it 15 - 12, the second was more settled. Alan and Chris won it 15 - 10 and took the rubber for Horrabridge.

In the second men's doubles rubber Alan Berry partnered David Harrington for Horrabridge and Pete Barry partnered Fred Philips for BAT's.

With Alan and David steadying their game and playing 'percentage' badminton they gradually moved ahead in both games to take the rubber 15 - 10, 15 - 9.

In the third men's rubber Chris Woodruffe partnered David Harrington for Horrabridge and Ewan Rae partnered Fred Philips for BAT's. With Fred and Ewan in determined mood to show the youngsters that experience could overcome youth it was a hard rubber to call from the start.

Initially, Fred and Ewan had the upper hand and won the first game 15 - 7 but this only shocked the youngsters into action and they started to dictate play. With Fred and Ewan on the defensive Chris and David took the next two games 15 - 10, 15 - 10 to take the rubber.

The ladies' doubles saw three experienced league players for BAT's play up against three Horrabridge juniors; two of whom were playing in only their second league match.

In the first ladies' doubles rubber Susie Povey partnered Zoe Hogg for Horrabridge and Nicky Gabb partnered Kate Wright for BAT's.

Susie and Zoe knew that they were up against it from the start but battled well against the more experienced pair. In the end Nicky and Kate took the rubber 15 - 6, 15 - 8.

In the second ladies' doubles rubber Susie Povey partnered Amanda Clark and Nicky Gabb partnered Di Philips. Nicky and Di got off to a flying start by taking the first game to love, 15 - 0 and then went about trying to make it a perfect score by winning thesecond in the same way. Susie and Amanda had other ideas and were determined to get at least one point.

In the end Susie and Amanda earned a creditable 6 points for their efforts but lost out to Nicky and Di 15 - 6.

In the third ladies' doubles rubber Zoe Hogg partnered Amanda Clark for Horrabridge and Kate Wright partnered Di Philips for BAT's.

With Zoe and Amanda being so new to league badminton they found getting the serve back a struggle but they contested every point against the vastly more experienced BAT's pair. In the end Kate and Di ran out easy winners 15 - 0, 15 - 1.

With Horrabridge having taken all the men's rubbers and BAT's all the ladies' rubbers the score was three all with, yet again, the mixed doubles left to divide the teams.

In the first mixed doubles rubber Alan Berry partnered Susie Povey for Horrabridge and Pete Berry partnered Nicky Gabb for BAT's. In a one-sided first game Pete and Nicky's nerves got to them and Alan and Susie took the game 15 - 2.

The second game was a tense game with both pairings trying to gain the upper hand. Pete and Nicky had now found their play and were putting together good rallies.

Eventually they took the second 15 - 12 to send the game to a deciding third end.

With Alan and Susie falling behind early on in the third game they found Pete and Nicky on top form and in determined mood and in the end Pete and Nicky ran out the winners and took the rubber 15 - 8.

The second mixed doubles rubber saw Chris Woodruffe partner Zoe Hogg for Horrabridge and Ewan Rae Partner Di Philips for BAT's. The rubber had a little bit of extra spice in it as, in the winter league, Chris partners Di — they were now up against each other and both wanted to win.

All three games in the rubber were close but in the end it was the experience of Ewan and Di that took the rubber for BAT's 15 - 13, 12 - 15, 15 - 13.

In the final mixed doubles rubber David Harrington partnered Amanda Clark for Horrabridge and Fred Philips partnered Kate Wright for BAT's.

Having lost both his men's doubles rubbers Fred was determined to show the two Horrabridge junior players he had not lost all his touch.

The rubber was reduced to being a single game to 21 due to the lateness of the game starting and this only spurred Fred on more. As the game went on he became more determined to show David and Amanda who was boss and in the end he and Kate took the rubber 21 - 5.

At the end of the evening BAT's Badminton Club had beaten Horrabridge 6 - 3 with experience, on this occasion, winning out.