Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Cornwall Badminton 1st team matches

Cornwall’s best badminton players took part in the latest round of Badminton England’s senior county championships in Bristol at the weekend with two very close matches.

First up was a strong Avon team featuring some young, skilful opponents which the top two men, Tyler Sillifant and Milo Semonin found too hot to handle. Honour was restored when experienced James Whetter gradually wore down the opposition and the Avon man eventually retired injured in the final end. 

The Cornish girls’ singles players set out to make the score more respectable, with young Cara Collins having a fine win in two ends, followed by a gutsy performance from Kellen Moore to beat the Avon girl in three gruelling ends and make the match score 3-2 going into the doubles.


Kellen & Amy storming to a win
Cara & Bronwen just lose out

With the match score on 4-5 in Avon’s favour, the mixed games began with a nail-biting top mixed which saw Guy and Bronwen just edge a thrilling, see-saw game in the final end. Another new pairing of Tom and Amy also took an end off the Avon pair but unluckily could not secure the decider, and so the overall match score finished 5-6 to Avon after a long, hard-fought match.

More was to follow in the afternoon as the next opponents were Gloucestershire and the Cornish singles players stormed to a five-nil lead after winning all three men and both women’s singles, four of the games going to three ends showing the great determination and fighting spirit of the Cornwall team.


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Guy takes a power nap

Gloucestershire came back in the men’s doubles with wins in both games as the players tired, but the Kellen and Amy pairing clinched the overall match with a superb win, giving Kellen an impressive 100% winning record for the day. Again, Cara and Bronwen came agonisingly close in their game after taking the second end, but went out undeserved losers in a tight, long third end.

The two mixed games were a step too far for the Cornish pairs, as Gloucestershire won both fairly comfortably to give a final score of 6-5 once again, but this time in Cornwall’s favour.

Cornwall 1st team –

Tyler Sillifant (Launceston), Milo Semonin (St Austell), James Whetter (St Austell), Guy Michell (St Austell), Tom Lyle (Launceston)

Cara Collins (Liskeard), Kellen Moore (Camborne), Amy Polglase (Camborne), Bronwen Wotton (Camborne).