U13 Orkney V Shetland Junior Badminton Inter County

U13 Orkney V Shetland Junior Badminton Inter County

U13 Orkney v ShetlandJuniorBadmintonInterCounty

The U13 junior inter county badminton match took place on Saturday 17 March in the Pickaquoy Centre. The Shetland U13 squad and coaches travelled down on the ferry on Friday evening and were accommodated by their Orkney host families.

On Saturday morning the players gathered at the Pickaquoy Arena for the AnnualInterCounty badminton match between the islands. After welcoming the Shetland players & coaches, players were given instructions as to the format of the competition. The format of play consisted of two games of singles, one level doubles & one mixed doubles for each player which totalled a staggering 36 games in all to fulfil. The Orkney U13 squad had their team photos taken, in their red t shirts, which were kindly sponsored by KT Sports, Intersport. The players were then allocated on to their courts ready to compete for the coveted Joan Williamson Memorial Shield.

1st round boys singles –

6th - Sam Hunter(O) bt Luca Russell 21-13, 23-21. 5th - Craig Clouston(O) lost Aiden Grogan(S) 21-19, 15-21, 18-21. 4th - Willis Deans(O) lost Angus Cree-Hay(S) 17-21, 15-21. 3rd - Tom Scott(O) lost Stuart Smith(S) 21-10, 21-7. 2nd - Kristopher Leask(O) bt Haldane Bray(S) 21-10, 22-20. 1st - Archie MacPhail bt Scott Smith(S) 21-5, 21-6.

1st round girls Singles – 6th – Leah Garriock(O) lost Jane Kiddie(S) 9-21, 19-21. 5th – Megan MacLeod(O) lost Sophie Morris(S) 21-15, 21-10, 4th – Amy Johnston(O) lost Nicole Hughson(S) 16-21, 13-21. 3rd – Elise Doull(C)(O) lost Chloe Irvine(S) 13-21, 22-20, 15-21. 2nd – Claire Rendall(O) bt Ashleigh Nisbet(S) 20-22, 21-14, 21-8. 1st – Alice Scott(O) lost Amy Sineath(S) 13-21, 18-21. Orkney 4 – Shetland 8

2nd round boys singles –

6th Sam Hunter(O) lost 5th Aiden Grogan(S) 21-23, 19-21. 5th – Craig Closton(O) bt 6th - Luca Russell(S) 21-16, 21-15. 4th – Willis Deans(O) lost 3rd - Stuart Smith(S) 12-21, 21-14. 3rd – Tom Scott(O) lost 4th -Angus Cree-Hay(S) 11-21, 11-21. 2nd – Kristopher Leask(O) lost 1st -Scott Smith(S) 16-21, 15-21. 1st – Archie MacPhail(O) bt 2nd - Haldane Bray(S) 21-9, 21-5.

2nd round girls singles –

6th – Leah Garriock(O) lost 5th - Sophie Morris(S) 23-21, 21-8, 21-18. 5th – Megan MacLeod bt 6th – Jane Keddie(S) 21-17, 21-17. 4th – Amy Johnston lost 3rd Chloe Irvine 14-21, 15-21. 3rd – Elise Doull(O) lost 4th Nicole Hughson(S) 13-21, 18-21.

2nd – Claire Rendall(O) lost 1st Amy Sineath(S) 10-21, 10-21. 1st – Alice Scott(O) bt 2nd Ashleigh Nisbet(S) 21-11, 21-19. Orkney 4 – Shetland 8

There were many hard fought matches throughout the two rounds of singles and Orkney were unlucky to loss out by only a couple of points in a few of the matches. In the boys section there were great performances by new cap Craig Clouston, Sam Hunter, Kristopher Leask & Captain Archie MacPhail. For the girls, new cap Megan MacLeod, Claire Rendall & Alice Scott produced fine performances on the day.

Boys Doubles

3rd – Sam Hunter & Craig Clouston(O) combined well to bt Aiden Grogan & Luca Russell(S) 21-17, 21-19. 2nd – Kristopher Leask & Willois Deans(O) bt Haldane Bray & Angus Cree-Hay(S) 21-19, 22-20 in a fiercely contested match. 1st – Archie MacPhail(C) & Tom Scott(O) had a close first set but good attacking play by Archie saw them bt Scott Smith & Stuart Smith(S) 23-21, 21-10.

Girls doubles – 3rd – Megan MacLeod & Amy Johnston(O) were pipped to make it a three set match and went down 13-21, 18-21 to Sophie Morris & Jane Keddie(S).

2nd – Elise Doull(C) & Leah Garriock(O) had a very close match with setting in the second set and narrowly losing out 18-21, 21-23 to take it to a three setter. 1st – Alice Scott & Claire Rendall(O) were very unlucky to win their three set match. Unforced errors cost them valuable points towards the end of the match, resulting in a 17-21, 21-12,18-21 win to the 1st girls Shetland pairing. Orkney 3 – Shetland 3

Mixed Doubles –

6th – Leah Garriock & Craig Clouston(O) bt Sophie Morris & Aiden Grogan(S) 22-20, 21-16. 5th – Megan MacLeod & Sam Hunter(O) lost Jane Keddie & Luca Russell(S) 10-21, 17-21. 4th – Amy Johnston & Willis Deans (O) lost out in a very close match which could have gone either way 21-19, 20-22, 17-21. 3rd – Elise Doull(C) & Tom Scott bt Chloe Irvine & Haldane Bray(S) in a very exciting match after finding their true form in the third set 20-22, 21-18, 21-14. 2nd – Claire Rendall & Kristopher Leask(O) produced good attacking play to beat Ashleigh Nisbet & Stuart Smith(S) in a well contested match 21-16, 21-17. 1st – Alice Scott & Archie(C)(O) worked well together out manouvering their opponents to win over the experienced players Amy Sineath & Scott Smith(S) 21-10, 21-18. Orkney 4 – Shetland 2

The final score saw Shetland retain the Joan Memorial Shield in a much closer match than last year’s encounter - Orkney 15 Shetland 21. The young players can work on the discipline they need to brush up on. However, it was good to see Orkney excelling at their doubles & mixed doubles. Overall, the Orkney U13 players gave a good performance on the day and will now look forward until their next encounter to overcome their Shetland opponents.

The Orkney Badminton Association thanked Katie Foulis, representing KT Sports, who kindly donated the Orkney U13 squad red t-shirts. Thereafter, Katie presented the coveted Joan Williamson Memorial Shield to the Shetland winning captain Amy Sineath. Sheila Reid and Kitty Work are thanked for organising the score table during play. Many thanks were made to the U15/U18 squad players and A/B county players who umpired matches on the day. Finally, a big thank you was made to all the parents who hosted U13 Shetland players/coaches and who provided the excellent catering on the day.

U18 Junior Inter CountyBadminton

On Sunday 18 March at 12 noon the Annual U18 Junior Inter County badminton match took place in the Pickaquoy Arena. The U18 junior players were competing for the coveted Peterson Shield which was donated by Shetland’s Jim Peterson. The inter county has always been an important fixture and over the years the matches have invariably been competitive but friendly.

The players and coaches gathered around and were warmly welcomed and given information on the format of the day’s play. Photographs followed, and the U18 team were looking very smart in their new red Orkney team tops which were kindly sponsored by Morrison Construction. Gordon Williamson, Site manager was present to hand over the new strip to the delighted Orkney team.Finally, the games were put on to courts for the inter county clash to commence.

Girls Singles

6th Joannne Pirie(O) played well, placing excellent shots to overcome Naomi Keith(S) 21-19,21-16. 5th Claire Johnston(O) lost out to the substitute player Amy Sineath(S),who stepped in for the injured and unable to travel, Claire Johnstone, losingin a very tight three sets 21-12, 16-21,17-21. 4th Ami Garriock(O) lost out to a very tactically aware Jenna McDonnell 16-21,13-21. 3rd Emma Work(O) never found her true form and lost to Lorrie Robertson(S) 16-21,12-21 At 2nd Rhian MacKay(C)(O) played a very competitive match. There was strong hitting from both girls as they tried to out manoeuvre eachother around the court but in the final set she just lost out to Karrie Fraser(S) 21-18, 17-21, 16-21. 1st Victoria Linklater(O) Orkney U18 winner dominated her match, overcoming Jennifer Sim(S) in a convincing two sets 21-12, 21-15.

Boys singles

6th Thorfinn Miller(O) lost out to Rory Irvine(S) 21-23, 14-21. However, 5th Andrew Reid(O) played a stormer in a very tight gruelling match which saw both competitors playing long rallies, tight net play and driving clears and smashes. Andrew held his composure to defeat opponent Ryan Wood(S) 21-17, 14-21, 21-19. Also, 4th Liam Delday(O) showed that size does not matter as he out manoeuvred Lewis Fraser(S) about the court. Again, there were long rallies, powerful smashing from the Shetland player but Liam was never phased and secured his win convincingly in the third set, winning overall 21-19, 17-21, 21-4. 3rd Jason Cook(O) fought hard against tough opposition losing out to Liam Flaws(S) 14-21, 12-21. 2nd Owen Reid(O) battled hard but lost his match to a very strong player,Finn Watt(S) 13-21, 9-21. 1stboy for Orkney Matthew Reid(C)(O), U18 champion, had a hard match against the experienced Roy Wood(S). Matthew produced fine shots but lost the first set 11-21. He settled into the match and was on the edge to take the match to a third set.However, Roy Wood’s (S) determination and good play saw him secure the second set 21-18 to win the match. Overall, the boy’s singles matches were of a very high standard with Orkney showing how much they had improved in their technique/tactics and in their movement around the court.

Girls Doubles

3rd C. Johnston & J. Pirie(O) lost out to the attacking pair of L. Robertson & N. Keith 15-21, 17-21. The seasoned partnership of 2nd R. MacKay & A. Garriock(O) worked out their opponents weaknesses and bt C. Johnston & J. McDonnell(S) in a credible 21-10, 21-13 win. 1st V. Linklater & E. Work(O) did not hit true form on the day and lost out to strong attacking play from J. Sim & K. Fraser(S) 13-21, 13-21.

Boys Doubles

3rd L. Delday & A. Reid(O) their match against R. Irvine & L. Flaws(S) 7-21,14-21. 2nd J. Cook & T. Miller(O) lost a very tight competitive match playing L. Fraser & R. Wood(S). The Orkney pair were very determined but eagerness to win the point too early allowed the Shetland pairing to capitalise winning 21-19, 14-21, 11-21. Orkneys U18 doubles winners 1st M Reid(C) & O. Reid(O) had a difficult task against the powerful paring of R. Wood & F. Watt(S). There were excellent shots played during the rallies. However, the Orkney pairing was unable to sustain their attacking control and went down 16-21, 9-21.

Mixed Doubles

6th J. Pirie & J. Cook(O) lost N. Keith & R. Irvine(S) 10-21, 12-21. 5th C. Johnston & A. Reid(O) played an outstanding match to bt C. Johnston & R. Wood(S) 14-21, 21-15, 21-19. In a nail biting third set they attacked well in the last few points to secure a win. 4th E. Work & L. Delday(O) played well to take the first set to setting but could not retain form and lost out to the strong pairing of J. McDonnell & L. Flaws(S) 23-25, 12-21. 3rd V. Linklater & T. Miller(O) bt L. Robertson & L. Fraser(S) 21-8, 18-21, 21-14. 2nd A. Garriock & O. Reid(O) lost out to the strong attacking pairing of K. Fraser & F. Watt(S) 18-21, 8-21. 1st R. MacKay & M. Reid(O) began to find their form as this match progressed, executing some fine tactical play to try and keep up sides with their Shetland opponents. However, the Orkney pairing was so close to bringing it to a three set match, only just losing out to J. Sim & R. Wood(S)16-21, 19-21.

The final result saw a win for Shetland 17- Orkney 7. The Orkney team put in a good performance on the day. The score did not reflect the quality of some of the matches that Orkney lost out in against older experienced players. The younger Orkney team will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the future having gained experience from this encounter. It was a great competition with no easy wins for either of the teams.However, with seven of the Shetland junior inter county team bowing out there just might just be a glimpse of an Orkney victory on the horizon.

Gordon Williamson, representing Morrison Construction presented the Peterson Shield to the winning Shetland Captain Roy Wood. Once again on behalf of the Orkney Badminton Association many thanks to Morrison Construction for providing the U18 team tops. Thanks went also to all the parents for accommodating the visiting team & coaches and for providing catering on the day. Finally, thanks, to the A & B county players who came along to umpire the matches on the day and Jimmy Reid for running the scores table.

Fixtures:

Sat 31st March: Senior A & B Orkney v CaithnessInter-County

Wed 4th Senior East v West