Uphill stretch their unbeaten record

UPHILL Badminton Club had a busy week with four league teams in action.

The A team, playing its second league match of the season, won 9-0 at home against local rivals Wyvern A.

The team of Becky Matthews, Paul Edwards, Nicky Mills (capt), Mark Edwards, Christy Langford and Matt Cole all played well. Despite three of the rubbers going to three games, the whitewash was never in doubt, This victory was the A teams 30th consecutive win in Division 1 stretching back to November 2008.

The B team playing away to Wyvern B won a close match by five rubbers to four. The evening started well with Uphill first pair of Ellie Jewell and Robin Curry winning 21-18, 21-14.

Wyvern then hit back taking the next two mixed rubbers. The ladies then took control of the match for Uphill with the youthful trio of Ellie, Steff Hadley and Kate Robinson proving too strong and winning all three rubbers in straight games.

The men’s was a far closer affair. In the first men’s, Robin and Brian Hadley were unlucky to lose a tight first game 23-21 before losing the second 21-11. The match clinching rubber then came next with Robin and Rob Morray coming out on top 21-17, 21-15. Wyvern took the last men’s to end a close contest 5-4 in Uphill’s favour.

The D team were at home to Pill B. In the absence of regular team captain Emily Look, Felicity Pritchard stood in, and the team were excellently led by Caroline Higgins.

The night began well with Carl Harrison and Ellen Davis edging the first mixed. Pill came back winning the second mixed, before Billy Fear and Caroline Higgins won the third.

The strength of the Pill ladies then turned the match the way of Pill with them taking all three ladies, despite Caroline and Ellen losing in three games.

The men then swung the match Uphill’s ways, with Carl Harrison, Sourish Ganapathi and Billy Fear all combining well to win all three men’s rubbers in straight games. This left Uphill as 5-4 winners and as a result still clear at the top of Division 4.

The men’s team were in action at home to Winscombe. The team began the contest by winning the first two rubbers with Neil Sandifer (on debut) and Fred Brown winning in two games, while Bill Ponting (captain) and Paul Wright won a tight three game rubber, winning the final game coming from 14-19.

Winscombe rallied by winning the next two rubbers making the tie evenly poised at two rubbers apiece. The fifth game went to Winscombe in a close battle.

The final rubber went the way of Uphill with Bill Ponting and Fred Brown triumphant, to end an enthralling match with a draw at three rubbers each.

? NORTH Somerset Mixed Badminton League Division 1: Clevedon Feathers A 9, Clevedon Feathers B 0.

Division 2: Portishead A 5, Uphill B 4; Pill A 7, Nailsea & Yatton A 2.

Division 3: Wyvern C 4, Chew Valley A 5; Uphill C 5, Mendipway 4; Wyvern C 4, Uphill C 5; Clevedon 5, Mendipway 4; Winscombe 4, Wyvern C 5.

Division 4: Nailsea & Yatton B 6, Redwood Lodge 3; Nailsea & Yatton B 2, Uphill D 7; Nailsea & Backwell B 8, Wells City 1; Mark 3, Redwood Lodge 6.

Division 5: Clevedon Feathers D 8, Avon Vale 1; Uphill E 5, Wedmore 4; Portishead B 3, Clevedon Feathers D 6; Clevedon Feathers D 6, Chew Valley B 3.

Men’s League: Uphill 3, Winscombe 3.