Inter-Counties Championship 2009-10

Suffolk First  v.  Hertfordshire Third

 

18th Oct 2090 (away)

The Suffolk Badminton Association’s programme of inter-county matches got underway this weekend with the first match in Badminton England’s regional championships. The Suffolk county badminton team gained promotion last season to Division 2, so much interest is to be had to see how they fare in this higher division.

Suffolk won by the slimmest of margins. The tie commenced with singles encounters. Rising star and county champion James Scott won his number one singles rubber with some very intelligent play whilst at number two place, Daniel Hooper powered his way for a good win.

The ladies of Suffolk singles players shared honours with Alys Thompson losing and Jo Hughes having to fight hard to get a three-game rubber victory.

A men’s doubles win by Daniel Hooper / James Scott and a ladies’ doubles win by Susan Poole / Jo Hughes saw Suffolk race into a 5-1 lead: looking good!

But Hertfordshire staged a come-back, winning the three other men’s doubles, and their ladies won two of the three ladies doubles that remained.

So with the three mixed doubles to be played, honours were very even. Excellent mixed doubles play by the James Scott / Janet Dennis partnership, with Janet’s skillful net placing making many openings for James, saw them win in two games. Jonathan Isaacson / Jo Hughes just failed in the third game 21-18. Whereas Miguel Soler / Susan Poole again proved their super mixed play, completely dominating play, winning in two games and so giving Suffolk a 8-7 victory.

14th Feb 2010 (home)

In a most important match for the county badminton first team, where a win was most important to preserve their second division status, the end result was a 9 rubbers to 6 rubbers win against Hertfordshire Third Team.

In this match, with a home advantage, the ladies of Suffolk certainly produced the winning formula. Both Janet Dennis and Jo Hughes in the ladies’ singles had to go to a third game to get a result. Janet won 25-23 and Jo won 21-19 in their third games.

Fortunately for Suffolk, the ladies continued in their winning ways. Janet Dennis / Alys Thompson comfortably won against the Herfordshire first ladies whereas against the Hertfordshire second ladies it was not until the third game they were able to show their superior badminton. Likewise, Jo Hughes / Susan Poole lost the first game against the Hertfordshire first pair, but settled down and won the second and third game 21-15 and 21-17.

Superior singles by Jonathan  Isaacson took the first singles 21-15 and 21-7: just a two-game win. Excellent play by George Isherwood just failed to get a win but it was a good three-game rubber. Regrettably, the Suffolk men lost all four men’s dobles, only managing just one game in the nine played.

With the tie standing at 7 to Suffolk and 5 to Hertfordshire, Suffolk needed just one mixed doubles for a win. Jonathan Isaacson / Jo Hughes lost number on mixed. Miguel Soler / Susan Poole’s game was a real cliff-hanger but they won in the third game, whilst David Wade / Janet Dennis produced some really good mixed doubles and won the third mixed doubles in two games.

So Suffolk ran out winning the tie by 9 rubbers to 8.

 

Stephen Smith (Match Secretary)