Badminton

On Saturday 10 March the Annual U18 Junior Inter County Badminton match was held between Orkney & Shetland. The players flew by plane to Sumburgh and were transported by bus down to the SandwickSecondary School for games to commence at 3pm.

After recent discussions between both counties it was decided that the format of the inter county would change to include 6 boys & 6 girls in a team - previously it had been 4 girls & 4 boys. Each player would play one game of singles, doubles & mixed thus making 24 games to be played on the day for the coveted Peterson Shield. With Orkneys previous good form in Caithness at the Highland Restricted Tournament many good games were anticipated.

On arrival the team had a short break for lunch and after team photos the event began with girls/boys singles.

6th Girls Singles - This was a close & competitive match. The first two sets were quite even with both players putting their clears and smashes to good effect. Orkneys U15 Singles winner, Rebecca Reid, dug deep producing excellent play to clinch the last two clear points of the final set and win over Mairi Coutts(S) in three sets 19-21, 21-23 & 22-20.

6th Boys Singles –Again spectators saw an exciting three setter match as both players rallied for control. However, unforced errors in the latter stages of the third set saw David just losing out to Allan Johnston 16-21, 21-13 & 16-21.

5th Girls – Sarah Work(O) had tough opposition as she lost out 21-6, 21-10 to the more powerful Lauren Hogg(S).

5th Boys Singles –Ewan Gray(O) never found true form against Roy Wood who is ranked 6th in the Scotland U13 squad and lost out 21-15, 21-18.

4th Girls Singles – Joanne Pottinger(O) played some determined badminton to win over Stephanie Keith(S) in two sets 21-12, 21-16.

4th Boys Singles – William Thomson(O) had a close encounter with opponent Robert Smith(S). Both sets resulted in a nail biting affair with William just losing out in the final stages of both sets 24-22, 21-18.

3rd Girls Singles – This match was evenly contested but strong play by Jane Hill(O) in the third set produced an excellent win over Laura Guthrie(S) 21-15, 19-21 & 21-16.

3rd Boys Singles – Robert Miller(Joint Capt)(O) lost out to the more powerful Stuart Sineath(S) 21-10, 21-11.

2nd Girls Singles – Ruth Flett(O) had a close first set which she was unlucky to loose 21-18. Shetlands Lisa Haining never let up and stormed away with the second set 21-4.

2nd Boys Singles – The experienced Gary Nicolson(O) moved his opponent well around court and attacked the shuttle at every opportunity. Never letting up, he secured both sets over Ramsay Hogg(Capt)(S) winning 21-15, 21-11.

1st Girls Singles – Isla Slater(Joint Capt)(O) lost out to the experienced Shetland U18 Singles winner Kylie Wood 21-9, 21-4.

1st Boys Singles – Both Orkney & Shetlands U18 Boys Singles winners were due for a showdown but on this occasion the more powerful Shane Jamieson overcame Orkneys Ethan Bews 21-11, 21-10.

With the singles games completed the scores resulted in Orkney 4 Shetland 8.

Boys/Girls Doubles

There were some fantastic matches in the level doubles with four of the six matches going to three sets.

3rd Girls Doubles – The Shetland pairing of Mairi Coutts & Lauren Hogg(S) overcame the new partnership of Sarah Work & Rebecca Reid(O) 21-13, 21-16.

3rd Boys Doubles – David Delday & Robert Miller(Capt)(O) played an excellent tactical game against the pairing of Alan Johnston & Robert Smith(S).

A combination of steady play by David and Roberts experience ensured they secured both sets comfortably 21-13, 21-14.

2nd Girls Doubles – Jane Hill & Joanne Pottinger(O) had a tough three sets against Laura Guthrie & Stephanie Keith(S). Orkney lost the first set in a nail biting 23-21 and fought back to clinch the second set 21-15. In the closing stages of the third set Shetland clawed several points ahead to secure the match 21-16.

2nd Boys Doubles – Ewan Gray & William Thomson(O) were up against Shetlands U18 Doubles Champions Roy Wood & Stuart Sineath(S) and clinched the first set 21-19. The determined Shetland pairing fought back to win the next set 21-12 ensuring a third set. Ewan and William set to task, produced some excellent badminton to claim the third set 21-16.

1st Girls Doubles – Orkney`s U18 top pairing Isla Slater ( C) & Ruth Flett (O) gave Shetlands top couple Kylie Wood & Lisa Haining(S) a run for their money as they won the first set 21-16 and only just lost out 21-19 in the second set. Unfortunately, the third set saw Shetland pull away to win 21-10 and secure the match.

1st Boys Doubles – The strong partnership of Gary Nicolson & Ethan Bews(O) were most unlucky to clinch their match against Shane Jamieson & Ramsay Hogg(S). Orkney lost the first set 21-10 but managed to reclaim their good form to win the second set 21-18. As the match hotted up, both pairings displayed excellent shots. In the closing stages of the third set there was no margin for error. At 20-20, two clear points had to be achieved which ended in a nail biting finish with Orkney just losing out 22-20.

The score now stood 12-6 in Shetlands favour with the mixed doubles to play.

Mixed Doubles

6th Mixed – Rebecca Reid & David Delday(O) were unlucky to loose out in three sets to Shetland opponents Stephanie Keith & Allan Johnston(S) 15-21, 21-14 & 16-21.

5th Mixed – The experienced partnership of Sarah Work & William Thomson(O) came through to win in three sets 16-21, 21-7 & 21-16 over Lauren Hogg & Roy Wood(S)

4th Mixed – Jane Hill & Ewan Gray(O) had a convincing win over Mairi Coutts & Robert Smith(S) winning 21-12, 21-11.

3rd Mixed – Joanne Pottinger & Ethan Bews(O) were unlucky to take their match to three sets and lost out to the strong pairing of Stuart Sineath & Laura Guthrie(S) 21-15, 21-18.

2nd Mixed – The experienced pairing of Isla Slater(C) & Robert Miller( C) took to the court for their last junior inter county match. They took a moment settling into their first set losing out 21-14 against Lisa Haining & Shane Jamieson(S). However, they produced better play in the second set and made their Shetland opponents work hard for their points. Unlucky to take it to a third, they lost out marginally in the second set 21-19.

1st Mixed – The last match of the night proved to be an exciting one as Orkneys U18 Champs Ruth Flett & Gary Nicolson (O) took on Kylie Wood & Ramsay Hogg(S). Orkney secured the first set 21-17 but Shetland replied by winning the second 21-12. The third set resulted in another nail biting finish as the experienced Gary, & partner Ruth rallied well to secure the third set & match 21-18.

The final result was Shetland 15- Orkney 9. The Peterson Shield was presented to Shetland Captain Ramsay Hogg by ex-senior county player Ruby Smith. The Orkney team had put in a tremendous performance and were unlucky to loose some of the close matches – there were 10 three setters. On this years performance the gap has closed considerably and next year Orkney will be looking to claim victory on home turf.

Shetland coach Maurice Haining thought it was one of the most exciting matches that he had been involved in, a great competition with no easy wins for either teams. He praised a much improved Orkney team.

Well, done to the junior inter county badminton players who are to be congratulated on the overall high standard of play and who did Orkney proud.

Many thanks to Norman & Wilma Sineath, Maurice Haining & Anne Wood in organising the event. Thanks to Graeme Keith who gave up his time to drive the teams around in Shetland. And finally, the OBA would like to thank Gornsport for their kind sponsorship of the team tops.

EG