UPHILL Badminton Club has made a great start to the new season, with the A, C and D teams all playing away and winning their first league fixtures.

The A and D teams whitewashed their opposition, while the C team won a close match by five rubbers to four.

The A team started this season’s campaign away to Nailsea & Yatton A in Division 1 of the North Somerset League and won 9-0. The team of, Paul Edwards, Becky Matthews, Mark Edwards, Nicky Mills (captain), Matt Cole and Christy Langford all played well.

The evening started with Paul and Becky winning the first mixed 21-11, 21-14 for Uphill. This was followed by Mark and Nicky winning 21-17, 21-11 and finally Matt and Christy winning 21-9, 21-3.

The ladies then won all their rubbers in straight games, as did the men. This gives the team a great boost at the start of the season.

The ladies saved the day for the C team when they played away to Mendipway in Division 3 of the North Somerset League and eventually the team won 5-4.

The team of Mathew Valentine, Julie O’Sullivan, Robin Curry, Maureen Matthews, Glyn Davis and captain Fiona Singleton all played well at the old barn.

The evening started badly for Uphill with Mathew and Julie losing the first mixed. Robin and Maureen then gave a spirited performance before going down 26-24, 21-19. The final mixed went to Uphill with Glyn and Fiona winning comfortably.

The Uphill ladies then stepped up the pace and won all three ladies rubbers with ease, bringing the score to 4-2 in Uphill’s favour. Then both the first and second men’s rubbers went to Mendipway.

The first was the only rubber of the evening to go to three games before Mathew and Robin lost to 19-21, 21-19, 21-17. The first game of the second men’s rubber was close before Simon Denton and Adam Feather won 27-25 and then 21-11 in the second game against Mathew and Glyn, bringing the match to four rubbers each.

Robin and Glyn then combined well together to beat Colin Grist and Adam Feather comfortably. The only players to win all their rubbers were Fiona Singleton from Uphill and Simon Denton from Mendipway.

The D team, playing in Division 5 of the North Somerset League, were away to Nailsea & Yatton C team and won 9-0.

This team, captained by Grant Kelly, has three of last year’s junior E team, namely Emily Look, Kate Robinson and Andy Potts, together with Ellen Davis and Peter Rybaruk, two more experienced players.

The team blended together well on this their first outing and showed considerable tenacity in winning what were closely contended rubbers.

The evening started well with Ellen and Peter winning 21-19, 21-16. Emily and Grant followed this up with a 21-13, 21-14 win. The third mixed was a hard fought rubber with Kate and Andy winning 21-14, 21-23, 21-16.

Ellen and Emily won the first ladies comfortably. Ellen and Kate were then stretched before winning in three games. The last ladies rubber also went to three games, with Emily and Kate winning 21-18, 10-21, 21-15. The men’s rubbers were all won in two straight games to complete a good start to the season.

This friendly club always welcomes both junior (five to 18-year-olds) and senior new members and organises a variety of social events throughout the year.

Anyone interested in joining the senior club should visit the website www.uphillbadminton.co.uk or phone Paul Edwards on 07866 946422.

For junior membership, contact Caroline Poole on 01934 418120.