York’s badminton 3rd team took on Teesside 1sts on Wednesday in what was forecasted to be an extremely difficult match. Teesside currently reside at the top of the Northern 4B league, leaving captain Micky Murtagh with a difficult decision, how to organise the team to best defeat their strong Teesside opponents. With the opposition being famed for their extremely formidable singles players, captain Micky chose to play Ben McGladdery as sacrificial singles. A risky move that paid off at the close!
To start with, McGladdery took as many points as possible off their first singles player but eventually lost; 4-21, 25-23, 9-21. Meanwhile against their second singles player, Jonny Tait secured a victory on the York side, winning 21-11, 16-21, and 21-11.
Continuing the winning trend, Micky Murtagh and Marc Dickinson defeated the Teesside second pair convincingly in two ends, 21-13, and 21-12. Unfortunately, Ian White and Joe Devonport struggled to a loss against the Teesside first pair, losing the first end 12-21, and fighting valiantly to no avail in a close second end, 21-23.
The score at mid-match stood at 2-2. The Teesside second singles player bested McGladdery in two ends, 15-21, and 15-21. However, Ian and Joe redeemed their earlier loss by claiming their seconds’ pair 21-15, 23-21. The score was was levelled at 3-3 overall. York at this point were already doing better than they could have hoped and everyone was hungry for the win.
Jonny Tait won his second and final game in spectacular fashion. A closely fought and exciting match of three ends, with both players showing their frustration and exertion until Jonny took the match, 21-19, 20-22, 21-6.
York were now 4-3 up. The win was in sight. Excitement bubbling, York pair Micky and Marc took to centre court to fight for a relegation saving victory. However, the first pair from Teesside proved too strong for them, as they went on to lose 15-21, 19-21.
Whilst York were craved the win, a draw was to be proud of. It’s the first time dominant Teesside have not won all season.