Wed 8th Feb saw our undefeated RM2 legends take on one of the other big clubs in the Rugby league, in the form of Hunters 4th team. A late change to the squad due to injury saw Chris back in, after some confirmation from the league that he was still eligible to play. Sam and Dave, our two newest, are arguably most energetic, members completed Rob's lineup for the night.
It is fair to say that the match was largely uncontested, and would probably have been a safe 6-0 if it hadn't been for one of Hunter's younger players, Isaac Porter, who appeared to be having an absolute blinder of a night... His technique and placement kept both Sam and Dave having to put in a work rate notably above normal, Chris looked like he almost needed to stretch his already impressive reach, and Rob employed the sound match tactics 'play it to the other guy'.
The first pairs matched up 24-22 & 21-16 to Trinity, but with Rob puffing a little more than usual after just two game, whilst the second pairs had a much quicker run of things at 21-3 , but dropped off a smidge and could only net a 21-10 second game to take us into a safe 2-0 start.
On the swap, Rob and Dave provided a similar scoreline against Hunter's second pair, 21-4 & 21-9, not wanting to concede any more points than Chris and Sam had. Meanwhile Chris and Sam possibly entered their second game a shade more casual than they could have, and soon understood why their teammates had taken so long in the first leg... Whether it was a mountain too high, or the change of ability, Chris and Sam couldn't find a way through the first pair and unfortunately lost to 16 and 18.
3-1 going into the split meant Hunters had everything to play for, whilst Trinity just needed either rubber to seal the win. The track of the night repeated itself, Sam and Dave with gas left in their tank soundly dispatch the non-Isaac Hunter's pair, to 9 & 12, and Rob and Chris were able to bring their experience to bear taking their rubber to 16 and 18.
Much closer to 3-3 than the final scoreline suggests, bu fortunately, one player does not make a winning team, and our lads were able to handily keep the other players in check, and produce some comfortable scorelines. A safe 5-1 victory on the night, but certainly a taste of trouble in the coming years if the youngsters in the RDBA keep to the standards we are seeing now!
Leicester Mixed had their first match of the year, and 3rd of the seaon last night, away to Croakers. Unfrtunately it was a far removed game from the one that captain Ben was hoping for... With Becs and Andrea both unable to play, first reserve, Ruth, also unable to attend, and Croakers having no options to re-arrange, we had one lady and a whole lot of space to fill...
Fortunately, Steve was able to get one of the ladies he knew from Earnsford, Sue, to come and make up a second pair, but despite other offers, we were unable to recruit a third lady, so short by one player, thus one pair, we travelled away starting 0-3 down... A good match to win!
Ben and Tracey started slowly against their first pair, taking the first game all the way to a 20-22 loss. The second game brought in more tactics, both pairs trying to control the front of the court, a after slow start going 1-9 down our pair rallied back to 16-19, and stuck to their strategy in the crucial last point to take it 23-21. The last game was less pressured, as the weakness in the opposing pair became easier and easier to exploit, final result of 21-18, and the first rubber on the scoresheet.
Steve and Sue's first rubber was less about the pairs, and more about Sue gradually losing the stiffness from being knocked off her bike that morning (talk a about dedication...). A 16-21 first end showed the pair were in tough and just needed to find a way through, but Croaker's 2nd pair were able to keep the pressure up in the 2nd game and take the rubber with a 14-21 win. 1-4 down, so all hopes of victory relied on a clean sweep for the rest of the match.
Sue and Steve started their 2nd rubber aginst the 3rd pair (whilst the two 1st pairs were in their 3rd game), Sue was moving again and quite determined not to lose another... 30 points later walked off with a 21-9 win. Movement and motivation are apparently very beneficial! a lapse in intensity for the second game, or maybe just reserving some energy for their final rubber, the pair eased to a 21-16 win and brought the score one closer, 2-4 down overall.
Ben and Tracey's rubber against the Croakers 2nd pair was an altogether different entity to their first one... the pair having a completely different style of play, and our side starting with 6 unforced errors, gave themselves a bit of a mountain to climb. Climb they did, and the score again ran past the 20 point mark, this time to be lost 21-23. The second game was a miscalculation in where to play the shuttle, and losing a few too many points trying to play the lady at the front rather than put more pressure on the man with better positional play, and a 16-21 loss unfortunately sealed the match at 2-5...
With only pride to play for, both pairs took the field for their last rubber. Steve and Sue against the Croakers first pair, Ben and Tracey against the 3rds. Fired up by the loss in the last rubber, Ben and Tracey took a more aggressive plan, and penalised anything that was loose from their oppoenent, quickly taking, and then maintaining a lead. The pair just played better badinton than they had previously, and brought home another rubber possibly more comfortably than the scorelines suggested at, 21-18, 21-16.
Sue and Steve found the 1st pair similarly weak to a tactical game, and in Steve's words "We lifted everything ... I just played singles against him." The rubber did go to 3, so whilst Steve might need to work on his singles game a little more, 21-19, 23-21, and a final 10-21 obviously showed the pair knew what they were doing in the long game.
Overall a 4-5 away loss, but considering the difficulties to get a team together, it was a good performance, and quite possibly could have been a victory if we had played their pairs in a different order. The next fixture is home against Oadby, so a little bit of a grudge match, and hopefully the team can return to winning ways.
Wed 1st Feb saw RM2 start a run of home games over the coming weeks, but with Chris and Phil having been called up to help the struggling RM1, Phil had handed over the captaincy to Rob with instructions 'not to let him down'...
Sam and Zaf both saw their first league outings for the club after joining this season. Sam being new to 'league' badminton and Zaf being an experienced hand added a good balance with Rob and Dave, so the team looked set for main pairs and splits without any issues.
Rugby Youth turned up, lead by John Wardropper, and as before, they paired their 2 youths each with an adult, which appropriately reflected the Trinity pairs; so it was down to Dave and Sam to out run the youths half their age, whilst Rob and Zaf were responsible for out-thinking their wizened kin. After a suitable knock-up, battle commenced...
Whether a it was the brains, the brawn, or a harmonious pairing of the two, both pairs kicked off their games with 2-0 victories. On the swap over, the story remained the same, keeping the eager youths in check, our team showed that age has it's advantages, and sealed a 4-0 lead going into the splits. Rugby youth split to play their two youngsters together, whilst Trinity stuck with their system of Zaf helping a less experienced player, and Rob needing someone who would run around the court for him.
Ex-Captain Phil had turned up to check on his team at this point, and was happy to see a victory on the cards, but as Zaf and Dave came off court from their rubber against the youths with a smile and another 2-0 victory, Rob and Sam seemed to still be playing... They had needed to go to the 3rd game and Rob was flagging somewhat. Fortunately, Sam had plenty left in the tank, and a swift conversation between captain, ex-captain, and pair, soon had everyone appropriately motivated for the last game.
The perfect 6-0 result secured, and the new captain demonstrated that he was a fitting replacement as Phil parts ways with the Legends... Good job team, roll on next week, and another home game!