07 April, 2019 Daniel Clark
Queens look set to retain their Division 1 Mixed title after winning their top of the table clash with Ringswell A.
Both sides were unbeaten before they clashed for the first time on Monday night, but Queens came away with a convincing 8-1 win. Jim Teale/Hannah Preece and Lloyd Skinner/Mandy Bishop were unbeaten for the Crediton side, with Ian Walsh/Jess Hill scoring the consolation point.
The result leaves Queens 20 points clear of Ringswell A, although the chasers do have a game in hand. But it means that anything less than an 8-1 win for Ringswell in Thursday’s reverse fixture means that Queens have retained their title.
St Leonards A look set to finish third after they edged out Exeter A 5-4. Sam Lees/Julia Melling and Steven Ford/Stacey Horne picked up two wins for Exeter, but Zac Phillips/Sue Banks were unbeaten for St Leonards. The score was 4-4, but Exeter had to concede the ninth rubber as they ran out of time to play it.
Exeter A did beat Ringswell B 5-4 though in a result that condemns them to eight defeats from eight and a bottom place finish and likely relegation. Lees/Melling were unbeaten for Exeter.
Sidmouth A have long since wrapped up the Division 2A title and completed the season with an 8-1 win away to Chulmleigh, in a match that saw John Carter/Grace Williams and Paul Owens/Rachel Irish go unbeaten.
Chulmleigh though bounced back, despite them fielding an ineligible player, and pulled themselves off the bottom of the table with a 5-4 win over St Leonards B. Fortunately though, the ineligible player lost all three matches, as Ben Hamill/Michelle Wylde went unbeaten while Adrian Bourner/Karen Parish picked up two wins a piece to give Chulmleigh the win.
Otter Vale A are favourites to finish second in the league after a 7-2 win over a two pair St Leonards B side. Nic Williamson/Teresa Simic and Brian Deem/Heather Rake both won two matches each for Otter Vale, as four of the six matches went the distance, including an epic 25-27, 28-26, 21-17 win for Sam Maltby/Rachel Dare over Daniel Clark/Helen Cavilla.
Ringswell C have won Division 2B with a game to spare after wins over Honiton and Otter Vale C. They comfortably dispatched Honiton 9-0 with all nine rubbers being won in straight sets, and despite being only able to field two pairs against Otter Vale, secured the win they needed to mathematically sew up the title, as Richard Burn/Sylvia Child went unbeaten.
2018/19 Exeter and District Handicap Tournament
A reminder that entries are still open for the 2018/19 Exeter and District Badminton League Handicap Tournament.
Entries will be accepted up to the 15th April.
All events to be played in the evening at The Maynard School.