County Senior Badminton Report

After travelling to Essex 5 weeks ago for their first game of the season and coming away with an 8-7 victory, Norfolk county badminton 1st team were at home for their second match on Sunday. Their opponents were again Essex 2nd team although the side looked a very different one to the team that they faced before with only one Essex player appearing in both matches.

With an almost full strength squad (just one absentee) Norfolk were confident of going for the 10 wins required to get all 3 points from the tie.

The singles started in the best possible way with all 4 Norfolk players (Daryl Jacobs, debutant Rory Kitchen, Devon Minnis and Louise Culyer) winning comfortably in straight sets.

Norfolk 4 – 0 Essex

The ladies doubles pairs were brushed aside by the Norfolk girls with both pairs (Julie Pike & Culyer and Katherine Cooper & Minnis) winning without dropping a set.

Norfolk 8 – 0 Essex

The mens’ doubles was always going to be a closely fought affair. The crossover games happened first with both Norfolk pairs Jacobs & Matt Howes and captain Justin Gerrard and Jono Atmore continuing the theme of the day and winning in straight sets. For the remaining mens’ doubles games the Essex pairs put up a much better fight winning the first set in both games, not wanting to be the first to lose on the day the Norfolk pairs dug deep and both ended up winning in 3 sets.

Norfolk 12 – 0 Essex

With confidence high, 3 points already won and just the mixed doubles to come Norfolk wanted to complete the whitewash. 1st pair Jacobs & Cooper started the ball rolling winning in straight sets. Meanwhile Gerrard & Pike were finding the Essex 2nd pair more of a challenge, thankfully the Norfolk pair held their nerve at the key time winning 22-20, 21-19. Up stepped Atmore & Culyer to play an Essex 3 rd pair determined to avoid Essex going home without winning a game. With the whole hall watching and the game in the 3 rd set the Norfolk pair completed the Whitewash.

Final Score: Norfolk 15 – 0 Essex.

Well done to all who played, this is the first 15-0 win since November 2008 (vs Notts III when Norfolk were in the division below).