Mens Feathers 2 – 7 University Students

Simon O & Simon T | Calvin B & Aaron G | David W & John W

Today’s excuse: We got so tired trying to battle through the traffic, we’d run out of energy for badminton.

The students had found a fresh batch of talent to replace those that left them last year, and we knew we’d have to be on top form to win today.

Calvin and Aaron ran them very close in the first game: 21-17, 17-21, 19-21, just losing their lead in the last few points. The Walker Duo also started strongly, with a tiring 19-21, 21-19, 17-21. In their second games, both pairs again went extremely close: a 20-22 loss for David and John being bettered by a 24-26 loss for Calvin and Aaron. Some excellent rallies to watch in both games kept the students at full stretch, but they had just enough each time. And that’s where both pairs peaked, with less tight final games meaning no points for either pair despite impressing the club members with their close finishes.

Simon and Simon took a different path. Much like our late arrivals due to the traffic on Darwin Lane, Aerohog was not ready to fly at 1900, and the Simons struggled to make double figures (or even hit the shuttle in the court) while the others were having such competitive games. But after a bit of a rest and some biscuits, they came up with a tactical plan to hit as many lucky frame and net shots as possible, and Aerohog was speeding down the runway. This seemed to make the difference, for they went on to win both their remaining games by narrow margins, 21-18, 19-21, 21-17, and 22-20, 21-14.

Thanks to our regular substitutes Calvin and Aaron for standing in for us again in place of Tipue and Gavin. Our next game is the away fixture against the same team next week, so we have only a short time to practise our lucky frame and net shots in preparation.

Mens Feathers 0 – 9 University Staff

Calvin B & Gavin B | David W & John W | Jack E & Simon T

Today’s excuse: It’s just not right playing on a Sunday afternoon when you’re meant to be sleeping off a roast dinner.

Last year we beat the Uni Staff 9-0 at home, so we turned up confident of a victory. And then we realised that wasn’t going to happen.

Against the Uni Students last year, their first pair Rich and Fred beat us hollow but we knew at least they were going to graduate so we wouldn’t have to face them in the students team this year. Turns out they only graduated as far as the Staff team, and once again beat us hollow, winning their games to a total of 126-74 without really getting past third gear.

The staff’s first pair were not to be outdone, and finished us off equally comfortably with scores of 126-74 overall as well. They previously played in the top plastics division, and moved to the Staff’s feathers team for the first time this year. Calvin and Gavin made the best effort against them, with a 17-21 12-21 loss, as the rest of us had to put in all our effort to scrape a score of 21 in total across both games put together.

Our chance of breaking the whitewash was against their slightly weaker second pair. David and John weren’t quite able to convert their strong start, and lost out 18-21 15-21. Jack and Simon went closest, at 22-24 15-21, but hadn’t got quite enough to get a game.

Thanks to Calvin and Jack, substituting for Tipue MA and Simon O. Jack unfortunately ruined last week’s excuse of us being rusty with feathers, by playing very well despite never having hit a feather shuttle before, and coming out with our best points of the day, 88-126 overall.

Mens Feathers 3 – 5 Abbeydale C

Simon O & Simon T | David W & John W | Tipue M A & Aaron G

Today’s excuse: Most of us haven’t hit a feather shuttle in about six months!

David and John, last year’s super-subs with more wins for the team than any of the normal pairings, now have a fixed place in the team. Sadly they left their winning streak in Mens Plastics 1, and lost their three games, despite two very close (and very long!) three-setters. This is much more in keeping with our normal feathers standards, so we’re sure they’ll fit in well.

Simon and Simon were more successful in their new partnership, with three straight-set wins. If they can keep the same level of play up for the rest of the season, then they can be assured of some more wins, and a team of pigs will do a fly-by to celebrate.

With Gavin ill at home, Aaron kindly stepped in to partner Tipue. They got better as the evening went on, and only narrowly lost their second game in three sets. With time running out after earlier difficulties parking before the match, and then some long matches, they knew that 10pm was approaching fast when they took to the court for their final game… and then proceeded to wait until 26-24 before winning the first set. That left only time for one more set before we got kicked out of the hall, and with Abbeydale taking that one, we had to call it a tie.

Close games throughout, and with some excellent rallies along the way, it was a good first match. With a little more luck in the three-set matches we could perhaps have stolen a victory.