Telecom A v Westholme A                         27th September 2016

Robinson’s Return

Yes, folks, it’s Week One and your favourite (only!) Roving Reporter is back, determined to cover one game a week in the Blackburn and District Badminton League. Down to two divisions now, surely I can do that? Unfortunately, a very busy week for yours truly means that the first match to be reported on has to be my own.

Westholme were relieved to welcome the long awaited return of Graham Robinson, looking as sprightly as ever after a shoulder injury and subsequent operation which put him out of most of last season’s games. Playing as Westholme’s 3rd man, nobody would ever have guessed this was his first competitive game since the end of January! Partnering the Legend that is Andrew Finch (more of him later), the Westholme pairing faced the indomitable Holts – there were rather a lot of them playing for Telecom! David Holt played first with his middle son, Cameron, and then with his eldest son, Rhys, in some very entertaining level doubles’ games. The shuttles were s-l-o-w and the rallies were l-o-n-g: this, coupled with Andrew’s inability to pay any attention to the lines of the badminton court, meant the men certainly got their money’s worth! Top men’s eventually won, however, which was shortly followed by a second men’s win when Graham played with Mohammed Suleman AKA Sully, at number 2 for Westholme.

On the adjacent court, the newly promoted Jenny Brookfield helped the Westholme ladies, myself at number 1 and the ever popular Lynne Hosegood at number 2, to victory. Despite Judith Hamilton’s excellent positional long serving as she partnered first Kath Spillane (on a fifth match on the trot run! Talk about having an understanding husband!) and then Jane Makey, the Westholme ladies proved too strong for the Telecom side, winning, like their male counterparts, all four matches.

In to the mixed doubles and the Legend that is Finch began in earnest to cover a court and a half and then some. The top mixed pairing, myself and the Legend, faced the young Cameron and the experienced Kath. For once, I served well and stopped firmly at the net, despite protestations afterwards that I had been ‘drifting’. On the adjacent court, the steady pairing of Sully and Lynne had their work cut out against the number 2 couple for Telecom, Rhys and Jane. Not to be outdone by his young sons, David, playing with Judith, at one point dived across the court to retrieve Jenny Brookfield’s wicked cross court drive. After many long, exhausting rallies (I have mentioned how s-l-o-w the shuttles were, haven’t I?) the mixed games fell to the Westholme couples.

Signing a sheet which really did not reflect the competitive spirit on the night, the Westholme Captain gratefully accepted the offer of a magnifying glass to add up the scores. (Am I the only one to find the new score sheet a little small?!) Anyway, watch out Blackburn and District Badminton because I am back and I could be at a court near you (well, your court!) next week. Banfield’s Banter is Back!