Southend and District Badminton Association league – week 4

by Andrew Strutt

Hawkwell began their Masters Premier league campaign with a hard fought 4-2 win over Eastwood. They found themselves 2-0 down after the level doubles as Sean Conlon and Adrian Watling and Lorene Roberts and Laura Whiteman both triumphed. However, the Hawks turned the tide in the mixed doubles as Keith Wood, Jamie Cole, Caroline Trace and Heidi Paine all won two rubbers each. This included a 21-20 third game victory for Keith and Heidi over Lorene and Sean to ensure they started with a victory.

In the division below, Eastwood Seconds started with a 5-1 triumph away at Phoenix Flames Fourths. Martin Rainbow and Dawn Muggleton both picked up three rubbers each with the former not dropping a game. Jo Howard-Simpson and Gary Rose helped the Flames to their point as they have started their season with back-to-back defeats.

Phoenix Flames Seconds tough start to life in the Mixed Premier division continued as they fell to two defeats last week. The first was a 7-2 loss away at B & BP. Manoj Remala and Wendy Hyde secured a hat-trick and were supported by braces from Emma and Daniel Potter and Tamsin Collinge and Adam Cooper. Sara Thompson and Russell Dobson picked up the two rubbers for Phoenix.

The second was a 9-0 loss at home to last season’s league runners-up Fitzwimarc. Natalie Smith and Paul Chaplin, Pam Lee and Phil Tuffee and Marie Baker and Spencer Collins all won three perfect rubbers for Fitz. Sara and Russell again fared best for the Flames.

Finally, in the Combi First division, Fitzwimarc Seconds beat their Thirds 6-0 in their first match in the new league format. Chloe Peacham and Emma Dixon both secured hat-tricks without dropping a game and Gary Curtis and Adam Dixon-Peters also won three rubbers each. Andrew Millham and Johnathon Blake came closest to picking up a point for the Thirds.

Player of the Week – Wendy Hyde

Team of the Week – Hawkwell