Westholme A v St Phillips – Where have the years gone?

I decided to cover my own team again this week, largely because I wasn’t playing and it would give me something to do, but also to make sure Chairman Andy Howard and his well- established team, St Phillips,  got their annual write up – this time with a picture too boot!

In the doubles, Lynn Hosegood and Jenny Brookfield for the home team, faced Elaine Norris and Laura Cannan. The first game was particularly close but Westholme’s retrieval skills, particularly from young Jenny, eventually proved too much for the gallant opposition. On the adjacent court, Westholme men, Mohammed Suleman and the powerful left hander, Sam Ames, met that young whippersnapper, Mick Ormerod, and his partner, Pete Wright. Despite waiting for an operation on his achilles at the start of next month, Pete’s movement round the court was a fluid as ever, giving the home pairing a good game of badminton. The long awaited return of Maxine Watson for Westholme, again partnering Jenny, then faced Elaine and Julie Butterworth. Another close battle ensued, with some excellent attacking cross court shots from both St Phillips’ ladies. In the final doubles match, Sam partnered the website man himself, Alex Pimperton, as he bravely stepped up  to the dizzy heights of the A team to face the Burnley supporter, Mick, and our Chairman, Andy. An enthusiastic performance from Alex along with exhaustive court coverage by both St Phillips’ gents, drew another very close match. Unfortunately for the away team, Sam’s strong smash saw the match go Westholme’s way.

As the mixed couples knocked up and the home team realised who was playing with who, the whisper of ‘It’s an honour to get Maxine’ went round the benches. First up, however, the competitive couple, Sully and Lynn, faced Laura and Pete. Tight net play by the Westholme lady and accurate smashing from Sully forced the away pairing to their limit. Next on court, Alex, chomping at the bit for the honour of playing with Maxine, faced the experienced pairing of Chairman Andy and Julie. Another close game followed, with many excellent long rallies and some delicate net play from Julie. As the number 3 pairs of Jenny and Sam for Westholme and Elaine and Mick for St Phillips went on court, the away team were yet to win a game. Undeterred, they battled to the end, with the second game in particular going right down to the wire. Practising for their next tournament together, the number 1 pairing for Westholme, Sully and Lynn, faced Julie and Andy, in another well played battle. In the final match of the night, Pete and Laura for St Phillips, took a game off Alex and Maxine, despite some excellent defensive play by both Westholme players.

And as Pete and Andy reminisced about their Under18 victory against Lee Hargreaves and Guy Wignall at Shadsworth all those many moons ago, and posed for this photo, Chairman Andy wondered about bringing in a rule about extra points and games for the years of experience in a team. Perhaps we will see it on our AGM at the end of the season?

All the best for a speedy recovery, Pete, on your achilles.