U 15 Team Challenge Finals 28 Feb 09

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U 15 Team Challenge Finals

28 Feb 09

Hatfield

Team

Boys

Dennis Perry, Henley Ngan, Kieran Gibbons, Brendan Foreman

Girls

Bex Cox, Anna Manley, Olivia Smith, Ana Riesco

The U 15's headed off to Hatfield for the Team Challenge finals knowing that it was going to be a tough day's badminton, and so it proved to be. The
first round had Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Ulster, Surrey and Herts in our group, which looked intimidating on paper. However, all the players showed that they were determined to do their best, and to enjoy the day as fully as they could.

Warwickshire were determined to prove how good they are, having lost to the U 15 team in the Shires League last October. None of the games went close, and only two matches went to double figures, Kieran and Olivia managed 10 - 21 in their mixed and Olivia and Bex lost 11 - 21 in the girls doubles. A difficult match but all the players showed their resilience in not letting it get to them. A loss 0 -7.

Surrey were also very strong, however, Dennis and Henley did well to win their doubles, 21 - 20, and Brendan and Olivia came very close in their mixed only narrowly loosing 18 - 21. A loss 1 - 6.

Hertfordshire were also demanding as opponents, only Henley won his singles, 21 - 10, although Anna and Olivia came very close loosing 19 - 21, and Kieran and Olivia lost 18 - 21, and Brendan and Ana lost 17 - 21. Some good games and the team spirit was still positive. A loss 1 - 6.

Yorkshire are usually the strongest county squad, but even though this U 15 team were not the all conquering side, it was still too much for us. However, Kieran and Ana won their mixed doubles, 21 - 18, and Dennis and
Henley won their level doubles 21 - 11. Kieran also went close in his singles, loosing 19 - 21, in part due to an asthma attack which hit him badly during the match. Henley and Anna came close loosing 20 - 21, and Bex and Anna lost 17 - 21. A loss 2 - 5.

Ulster were an unknown quantity in that we didn't know any of their players, but their reputation is of being a good strong team, and so they were. With only one win, Dennis winning his singles 21 - 16, it was a final tough match in what was a very tough group. A loss 1 - 6.

So, it was onto the second round, and a box with Dorset, Sussex, Yorkshire and ourselves. The result from round one was carried over for the Yorkshire
match, and we first had to play Dorset, old foes. Wins to Anna and Olivia, 21 - 17, and Bex and Dennis who beat Ollie Baczala and Heidi Brown, 21 - 17.

There were close games in other matches, Dennis in his singles against Ollie Baczala, loosing 18 - 21, Brendan and Olivia lost their mixed 20 - 21, and Kieran and Brendan lost their doubles 18 - 21. A loss 2 - 5.

The final match was against Sussex. A play off for 11th and 12th places overall, and this was a different game altogether as we stood a chance of winning it. The mixed started well with wins for Dennis and Bex, 21 - 17, and Kieran and Ana, 21 - 19. Then Dennis took his singles, 21 - 14, Henley and Kieran their doubles, 21 - 19, and Anna and Bex their doubles, 21 - 18.
A win for Avon, 5 - 2, and 11th place overall.

On days like these you play for the fun of it, you play for the experience, and the chance to face some excellent players, but also you still play to win when you can, and in that final match when all the players were very tired, it would have been easy to give up. However, they didn't, they fought and battled and eventually won.

Well done to all.

Links to results sheets: