Romance obviously isn’t dead – with a game against TP Riley-Norton set for Valentine’s night, unfortunately our Ladies team were unable to get a team together. With League rules preventing it from being re-arranged, sadly there was little choice but to concede the game.
Last night the Mens 2 took on close rivals Cannock 2. At first it didn’t look promising, with some tight games but only one of the first four going our way. However the tide slowly began to turn as they gradually clawed their way back.
In the end their perseverance paid off, winning the last rubber to seal the comeback win with a 5-4 result.
The Mens 2 match against TP Riley-Norton due for 7 February has been re-arranged for Tuesday 10 April.
Tuesday evening saw the Mixed team travel to local rivals Tiki. Sadly although the clubs are so close geographically, on the night there was rather more distance between the teams. Up against a very strong team we struggled to compete, with only one rubber needing a decider.
On a better night we might have nicked two or three games, but there wasn’t much going our way tonight, resulting in our first 9-0 loss of the season.
The Mens 1 team were away at Hamstead Manor on Friday and looking to extend their unbeaten run. A tight match came down to the last rubber, but unfortunately on this occasion it wasn’t quite enough, going to three but losing the decider. So the 4-5 result was the first loss of the season, but hopefully it won’t affect our push for promotion to Division 1.
January came to a close with three more matches in quick succession. Friday saw the Ladies playing Hamstead Manor over at Tipton. Unfortunately despite the usual effort and endeavour, it ended with a familiar result – a 6-0 loss.
Never ones to be down-hearted, the Ladies tried again at home on Monday night. This time the opponents were Cannock. Once again some close games followed with several games going to a third rubber. But sadly we were unable to pick up one of those deciders. So again we were left with a 6-0 score that didn’t truly reflect the night.
Following hot on the heels of these matches, on Tuesday the Mixed team took on Reedswood 2. Having picked up games in both losses to their first team, the hope was we’d be able to improve on those scores and perhaps push for a positive result. With four or five of the nine games going to a decider, it was a tough night – but one which finally ended with a 6-3 victory!
The Mixed team travelled to Chasetown to face TP Riley-Norton last night with a couple of changes to the usual side due to the early start and illness. Many thanks to Evelyn and Simran for playing.
Against strong opponents it was always going to be a hard night to get a result. Some tight games followed but sadly we were unable to pick up enough to give us a closer result, ending up with a 7-2 loss. But with the home tie to come in a month’s time, who knows, perhaps we might be able to turn some of the close games our way.
After the Mens 1 played last week, this week was the chance for two more teams to play their first match of the New Year.
First up at home on Monday night was the Ladies team, who were up against an experienced Three Spires side. Sadly their best efforts went unrewarded as the strength of the opposition proved too much, and so it ended as a 6-0 loss.
The following night saw the Mens 2 travelling to play away at Cannock, but unfortunately for the first time this season we weren’t able to get a full side out. So with three games conceded before we even began, it was always going to be a difficult night. So although our two pairs managed to share the six games played, the end result was 6-3 to Cannock.
That leaves the Mixed team as the only ones yet to play in 2012, but an away trip to TP Riley-Norton beckons this Tuesday (24th).
Tonight was the first match of the New Year for our Mens 1 team, away at local rivals Tiki 2. Not only was a little rustiness on show, but injury had also struck resulting in the first substitution of the season. Many thanks to Paul for stepping in for the injured Marcus and rolling back the years!
Sadly that was not the only injury to affect the match – one of the Tiki players was unable to complete the match, the after effects of a recent infection taking their toll. Clearly his health is more important, so the decision to stop was very sensible and we hope he fully recovers soon.
The match ended up as a 6-3 win, Tiki’s first pair having held out to beat each of our pairs, but this perhaps doesn’t reflect how close some of the other games were to making it a rather closer result.
After the victory against Tiki 2, we welcomed Reedswood 2 on Monday. In the end it was another convincing win, but one aspect still lingered – no sooner had Jay and Matt lost their first game against Tiki, than another one slipped by in this 8-1 result!
So that makes it six matches played and six matches won. Now to keep it going for the second half of the season…
Novus Badminton Club 