Despite a somewhat dodgy start (the badminton team held up the coach due to forgetting their shirts…) the men’s 1sts sparkled on court.
Captain Baillie Waterson and Dan Hirst produce a dominant and energetic performance, especially considering their incredibly early 6am start. They won their game first game 21-11, but lost their second match 21-18 despite Waterson’s quicksilver reflexes on some very rapid shots. However, they took the last game 21-13.
Over on court 2 Tom Dainty and Andy Henderson disposed of their opponents Alex Butt and Neil Rylander 21-13 and 21-16. Andy Henderson’s smashes could barely be returned with the Lancaster duo struggling to get even a racquet to the shuttlecock, let alone over the net.
Court 3’s due of Taf Evans and Tim Robson were the most eye-catching pair on display in their decidedly not black and gold shorts. Their fluorescent, multi-coloured selves were driven around the court by an array of shorts played by the Lancaster pairing of the aptly named James Lancaster and Star Du. Their matches were closer than the other two matches but still resulted in victory for the white rose. Lancaster took the first game 21- 16 but Taf and Tim dug in and took the next two 21-18.
With three matches out of nine already in the bag York needed to win just two more to take the points. Waterson and Hirst now took on Butt and Rylander, including one drop shot from Hirst that popped over the net at a perfect angle. They took their matches 21-10 and 21-12. Dainty and Henderson killed it again on the middle court 21-13 and 21-9. Lancaster had their moments including one cross court forehand that the York due could only watch. Taf and Tim lost the team’s only match. 21-16, 20-22, 21-19. They were driven around the court by Lancaster’s well placed shots.
As the victory had already been claimed for both teams were playing for pride, not points. Lancaster’s seemed to hang heavy in defeat, with their confidence dropped Hirst and Waterson demolished Lancaster and Du 21-8 and 21-9 whilst Dainty and Henderson continued their fine form to win 21-14 and 21-11. Taf and Tim however, had more of a battle on court 3. They took the first game 21- 14 only for Lancaster to take the second 21- 11. The third match was taken by York 21- 16, exactly the way to end an amazing performance. The final score was 8-1 to York and four well deserved points went to the visitors.