Westholme A v Independents   October 15th, 2019

If I could serve, I’d be dangerous!

Finally, the Westholme Captain breathed a sigh of relief as she welcomed the whole of her team: European Champion, Graham Robinson, leading the way at number 3, with Cumbrian singles champion, Mohammed Suleman, chomping at the bit (after his stretches!) and the legend himself, Andrew Finch; Jenny Brookfield, fresh from her Aintree horse show silver, played at number 3 for the home side, with Maxine Watson and yours truly trying hard to let her do everything in the ladies’ doubles. Nigel Shuker, Captain for Independents, played at number 3, with Phil Livesey (that’s Live Sex with a ‘y’ not an ‘x’…I’m not going to forget that surname in a hurry!) and the housewife’s favourite, Stuart Davey; Karen Lamb faced Jenny in the ladies’ battles, with Gill Fourie and the long awaited return of Janice Schofield completing the away team.

After a few posing shots for the roving reporter, we got the match underway. Graham and Nigel made sure the men’s doubles were both long and entertaining matches. Phil and Nigel smashed their way through the points, with the Legend and the European champ having to battle hard, particularly in the second game when they came from behind to win. Nigel’s focus was on a knife edge as he faced Sully and Graham; both games were fairly split and played in a competitive fashion. In the ladies’ doubles, Jenny ran round the court with her usual energy, allowing her partner, Claire,  the odd shot or two. Gently easing her way back in to first division badminton, Janice showed much of her old self, particularly her tricky cross court drops at the net. In the second ladies’, Gill excelled herself in her retrieval shots and Karen continued to battle hard against Maxine and Jenny. Having won the top ladies’ games, Westholme dropped a game in the second pairing and the match went in to the mixed doubles with a 6, 2 lead for the home side.

At top mixed, despite a request to play with one of the opposition ladies, the Legend that is Finch was stuck as usual with yours truly. The headband came out for Phil partnering Janice who continued to practise her effective cross court drops. Despite Claire’s serving, the Westholme pairing won both the games. On the adjacent court, Sully and Maxine faced the housewife’s favourite, Stuart, and Gill, in what was to be a great tussle, resulting in one game apiece. Nigel and Karen then went up against Graham and Jenny at number 3, with Nigel again being extremely focussed. The away pair smashed with determination, which proved too much for the home side, resulting in both games going to Independents. As the Legend that is Finch strode purposefully on the court, hoping against hope that his partner would serve better this time, Independents knew they would need the remaining games to draw level. Both games were extremely close and well fought, with Dive of the Night going to Stuart, the housewife’s favourite. As Claire tried desperately to keep out of Andrew’s way (or risk being pushed!) the Westholme veterans eventually won both games. In the final match of the evening, Sully and Maxine were watched by all as they faced Phil, that’s Live Sex with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘x’, Livesey. Sully’s singles’ fitness kicked in and the rallies produced were exhausting to watch. Maxine’s long reach was used to good effect, and the games were fairly split between the two teams.

Next week is half term week so there are no matches. The Westholme teams are having a practice, however, on Monday 22nd from 7:30 – 9pm. We have lots of courts and plenty of knock up shuttles, so please feel free to come down to practise with us if you are missing your badminton (or just want your photo taken by the roving reporter!)