HORRABRIDGE Badminton Club completed their summer badminton league fixtures with an away match against Kitto YMCA.
With Horrabridge's policy of giving young and up and coming players the opportunity to experience league badminton two new junior players were given their introduction.
In the first men's doubles rubber Alan Berry partnered Chris Woodruffe. From the start they found the court lighting difficult to come to terms with and struggled to put together points on their serve. They lost 13 - 15, 13 - 15 .
In the second men's doubles rubber Alan Berry partnered David Williams who had been brought into the team at the last minute due to another player not being available. Though David currently represents Devon at County level at under 11 he had never played an adult league match.
With the Kitto YMCA pairing thinking the rubber would be easy with David playing they were soon to find out that he was going to give as good as he got. Though in the end Alan and David lost 10 - 15, 11 - 15 the Kitto YMCA pairing had had to play much harder than they had expected.
The final men's doubles rubber saw Chris Woodruffe partner David Williams. The first game saw the Kitto YMCA pairing put David under pressure and take the game 15 - 9. The second saw Chris and David make some changes to their play and start to gain the upper hand. At 14 all they had to make the decision whether not to set and they decided to go straight through knowing that to lose the point would mean defeat. After a tense couple of serves Chris and David won 15 - 14 to take the rubber into a third game. It was again tight but, with David growing in confidence, Chris and David moved ahead. Though the Kitto YMCA pairing came back it was too late and Horrabridge won 15 - 13. Horrabridge only picked up one men's double rubber point for once.
In the first ladies' doubles Susie Povey partnered Celia Williams. The pair started well together and took the opening game 15 - 8 but then found points hard to come by in the second game, eventually losing it 9 - 15. The third game proved to be scrappy with neither pairing really taking charge until the last couple of points when the Kitto YMCA pairing stole the game and the rubber 15 - 12.
In the second ladies' doubles rubber Susie Povey partnered Anna Maunder. This was the first time Anna had played league badminton and she, and Susie, were pleased and surprised to win the first game 15 - 1.
The second game in the rubber proved to be much more even with the serve and points being shared all the way. In the end the game went to setting with Susie and Anna winning the game and the rubber for Horrabridge 17 - 16.
The third ladies' doubles rubber saw Celia Williams partner Anna Maunder. Both girls tried hard but the experience of the Kitto YMCA ladies won through to take the rubber 15 - 8, 15 - 9.
At the start of the mixed doubles Horrabridge knew that, to win they would have to win all three rubbers. With Kitto YMCA changing their pairings around Horrabridge carried out a similar change.
In the first mixed doubles rubber Chris Woodruffe partnered Susie Povey and played steady badminton to take both games 15 - 11, 15 - 11 and the match point for Horrabridge.
In the second mixed doubles rubber Alan Berry partnered Celia Williams. With Celia being relatively new to mixed doubles play she played well in the first game as they it 17 - 15. Things changed in the second game as Alan and Celia found points hard to come by as the Kitto YMCA pairing came back at them. Alan and Celia lost the game 11 - 15 to send the rubber into a third end. The loss of the second game spurred Alan and Celia into action and they took the Kitto YMCA pairing apart, winning the third end and the rubber point, 15 - 3.
The third mixed doubles rubber was the rubber of the evening with Horrabridge two newcomers, David Williams and Anna Maunder,having to play for the overall match.
The sight of seeing two juniors playing up against the Kitto YMCA players and playing so well together brought many of the other badminton games in the hall to a stop as they enjoyed the rubber. Both David and Anna were determined to give Horrabridge a final win and the Kitto YMCA pairing were surprised time and again when expected winners were returned. In the end, and to well deserved applause, David and Anna took the rubber 15 - 13, 15 - 12.
At the end of the evening a happy Horrabridge team left Plymouth with a win under their belt and showing that there are a number of excellent up and coming junior players starting to find their feet in adult league badminton.