This weekend Mid Glam badminton team travelled to both Guernsey and Jersey to play their division 2 matches in as many days, knowing that if they could secure a win against Guernsey on the Saturday, they would clinch the title. They did just that with a very entertaining 11-4 victory, securing a bonus point and thus securing the championship. RVBA players have formed the core of the team this season and this weekend was no different...
Well what a weekend for the Mid Glamorgan badminton faithful. There were tears of happiness and laughter (thankyou Sue), high team spirit (thankyou Sim), moments where people got lost in translation (Andy), and most of all, victory for the team! Mid Glam badminton team travelled to both Guernsey and Jersey to play their division 2 matches in as many days, knowing that if they could secure a win against Guernsey on the Saturday, they would clinch the title. They did just that with a very entertaining 11-4 victory, securing a bonus point and thus securing the championship.
On Saturday 26th March, Mid Glamorgan took on Guernsey and it was a much improved Guernsey team that turned up for this one. With the return of Paul Le Tocq (Former Welsh National Champion), it added more spice to the encounter. He took on Martyn Lewis in the Mens singles as they both wowed the crowd with their skill and effort. Martyn ended up coming out on top 21-17, 21-17. Gareth Day played the other match against Danny Penney, in a gruelling encounter winning 21-11, 18-21, 21-16. The ladies singles didn’t offer any less entertainment as Vikki Jones showed off her talent, with a convincing win over Gayle Lloyd, 21- 6, 21-12. She really pulled herself and the badminton out of the bag!! Rachel Thomas deserved the biggest praise of the day as she stepped up to the plate to play the second singles, and after overcoming early nerves, she held hers with a superb comeback, winning, 18-21, 21-14, 21-12.
Taking a 4-0 lead into the doubles filled the team with confidence! The brothers grim in the form of Martyn and Michael Lewis proved too fast and too powerful for the Guernsey pairings. They won both their matches, 21-18, 21-9 and 21-11, 21-17, showing that siblings can actually get on!! Liam Ingram and Gareth Day won their first match, whipping their opponents, 21-9, 21-10, but it was their second match that got everyone on tenterhooks, as it proved to be a 3 set thriller!! It went right down to the wire too, involving some incredible rallies and stone wall defences, but they lost out in the end 21-17, 17-21, 21-18.
The ladies doubles proved to be Guernsey’s forte, as they took 3 out of the 4 matches. Vikki Jones and Nicole Walkley paired up, as did Michelle Smith and Lauren Lewis. Mid Glam’s first pairing won the first match 21-17, 18-21, 22-20 to secure the victory, but couldn’t recapture their form losing the second, in a 3 set spell bounder, 19-21, 22-20, 21-16. Lauren and Michelle were less fortunate as they couldn’t get themselves going, losing both their matches.
The mixed proved to be the real ‘crème fresh’, as Guernsey were literally fighting for their Division 2 status, so all was to play for. Michael and Rachel had too much intensity for a very pleasant Andy Orme and incredibly athletic Bridget Podger, winning 22-20, 21-10. Liam and Nicole had a tougher time, but they eventually won, 21-9, 19-21, 21-15 and Martyn and Lauren kept their 100% success finishing off the rout, keeping their cool as they survived 2 match points, winning 12-21, 21-17, 23-21. The mixed clinched the bonus point and the league title for Mid Glamorgan badminton team who thoroughly deserve their success!!