Uphill Badminton Club’s A team lost their first match for several seasons against Clevedon Feathers.

UPHILL Badminton Clubs A and E teams played league matches and both teams lost and the club has also held its internal ladies’ doubles tournament.

The A team were away to Clevedon Feathers A and lost 3-6. This was a well-earned win by Clevedon Feathers as Uphill had their normal team of Ellie Jewell, Paul Edwards, Christy Langford, Matt Cole, Becky Halfpenny and captain Mark Edwards. Uphill only won the first mixed, second ladies’ and second men’s rubbers. For Clevedon, the dominant pairing was Nicola Bird and Jason Reading, who both won all their rubbers.

This result brings the teams closer together at the top of the league with Uphill leading having played nine matches, won eight, 70 rubbers for and 10 against and 86 points, while Clevedon Feathers have also won eight from nine and have 64 rubbers for and 37 against and 80 points.

Both teams now have just one match to play, so the final result will be the closest for over 10 seasons.

The junior E team of Lauren Rickwood, Rohan Weeks, Alice Brett, Sam Hedges, Scott Booth and Georgia Wood were away to top of the division and unbeaten, Redwood Lodge and lost 4-5 in a very close match.

The evening started well for Uphill when Rohan and Sam won the first men’s and followed that by Lauren and Alice winning the first ladies’. Redwood Lodge won the third mixed in straight games.

Rohan and Scott won the second men’s rubber and the second mixed between Alice and Sam and Lyn Gibb and Paul Hancock was won by Redwood in three games, the outcome determining the match result.

The last two ladies’ rubbers were both won by Redwood Lodge, as was the last men’s rubber. The only players to win all their rubbers were Sue Stone for Redwood Lodge and Rohan Weeks for Uphill.

Mention must be made of Sam Hedges playing his first senior match at the age of 13, and Alice Brett who is still only 14, as both produced very good performances.

The Uphill Badminton Club ladies internal handicap competition involved six pairs in a one-box round robin followed by a semi-final and final.

Two of the three top handicap pairs reached the final, namely Steph Hancocks and Bethan Dunning off -2 and Teresa Davison and Alice Brett off scratch. After the round robin, the four pairs through to the semi-final were Julie O’Sullivan and Helen Woodfin, with 104 points, Teresa Davison and Alice Brett (10), Steph Hancocks and Bethan Dunning (100) and Becky Halfpenny and Dannie Stone (95).

In the first semi-final, Steph and Bethan beat Julie and Helen 21-19 and in the second, Teresa and Alice beat Becky and Dannie 21-12.

The final between was tense, with Steph and Bethan starting well, but Teresa and Alice came back at them and with the score at 19-17 in Teresa and Alice’s favour, they looked favourites.

Steph and Beth brought the score back to 20-all and won it with a net shot that sat on top of the net before deciding to fall over for them to win.

The members were grateful to Robin Curry and club captain Mark Edwards and the team of helpers for their excellent handicapping and organisation of the event.

This friendly club 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.