U13 match report
Devon v Gloucester U13s
29/11/06
Devon 27 - Gloucester 9
Team:
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Since I have been coaching the Devon U13s, Gloucester has been a bit of a bogey team for us. Last season we were soundly beaten 34-2, and the year before they beat us 31-5.
However the fear of another beating soon disappeared after the first couple of singles matches. Simon Brassington and George Joannou both won their singles, but both were very close and hard fought, Simon beating William Moir 21-19, 23-21, and George beating Harry Russell 21-11, 19-21, 21-12. While those were being played, Laura Anson and Rowan Despard got the girls singles underway. Laura playing Charis Wyatt lost her first rubber 13-21. After that first rubber Laura & I discussed tactics and Laura went back on and executed them perfectly winning the second rubber 21-10 and the third 21-13.
Rowan had an easier time against Nicola Gresty, winning 21-6, 21-9. However, Nicola is only 10 years old and I’m sure she is going to be giving me headaches over the next few seasons.
So within 30 minutes we had double the amount of points that we scored last year. Things were looking quite good.
The second round of singles saw Daniel Chow on his U13 debut beat Cameron Farwell 21-14, 21-14. Ben Shapland unfortunately lost 18-21, 12-21 to William Moss.
Rachel Perkins had to play against her former doubles partner, whom she won a medal with earlier in the year, Faye Brewster. Both girls were so evenly matched it could have gone either way. In the first Rachel won 21-17. Both girls upped their game for the second rubber with Faye beating Rachel 16-21. In the break before the third rubber both team coaches got stuck in giving coaching tips. It wasn’t just the girls competing, us coaches were trying to outdo the other with tactical advise for our girls. In the third rubber both Rachel and Faye played better than ever, Rachel finally came out the winner, winning 21-18.
Fortunately Hannah Preece was much easier on my nerves beating Emily Strants 21-8, 21-5.
The final round of singles saw Luke Rutter, Sam Maltby, Olivia Marshall and Jenny Maddison all win there games without too much trouble. After the singles Devon was 11-1 up.
In the boys Doubles Simon & Sam lost their first match 21-18, 18-21, 14-21. Very close they were unlucky not to win that one. However they won their other two doubles games 21-15, 21-14 and 21-11, 21-15.
George and Dan had some very good and close games in the doubles and these two definitely provided the most entertainment during the day! Never seen so much laughing in a game of badminton before. George and Dan lost their first 20-22, 21-15, 28-26. Won their second 19-21, 21-13, 23-21, and won their third 21-11, 21-11.
Ben and Luke played well but lost their first 16-21, 8-21, and lost their second 14-21, 22-20, 18-21. But won their third 21-10, 21-13.
The girls doubles saw Rachel and Rowan win their matches 21-10, 21-19 and 17-21, 21-12, 21-11 and 21-7, 21-1.
Laura and Hannah won two out of three of their doubles, the scores were, 21-16, 21-16 and 25-27, 21-16, 18-21 and 21-11, 21-9.
Olivia and Jenny’s scores were, 19-21, 17-21 and 18-21, 18-21 and 21-12, 21-8.
So after the doubles the score stood at Devon 22, Gloucester 8.
In the mixed we won five out of the six taking the final score to 27-9 to Devon.
It was a fantastic result considering how we have done against Gloucester the two previous seasons. It feels so good to end the season on a high note.
Player of the match is Laura Anson for the way she responded to the advice she was given during her singles match and executed the tactics perfectly.
The team has performed so well all year. I’m so proud of the boys for keeping their spirits up while playing against stronger opposition during the season and not ever giving up. Their hard work during the season paid off in the last two matches against Cornwall and Gloucester where the boys won 12 to Cornwall’s 3, and 10 to Gloucester’s 5.
Finally, what a season the girls had this year. This year’s U13s girls are probably the strongest the U13s have had for many seasons. The girls came out on top during every match this season. The girls results against the other counties are (not including mixed):
- v Somerset 9-6
- v Avon 14-1
- v Dorset 11-4
- v Cornwall 15-0
- v Gloucester 12-3.
Every team manager this season has commented on how strong our girls are.
I am so proud of every player and I am really going to miss the U13 squad of 2006/07 as most will be moving up an age group next season. They have been a credit to Devon and a pleasure to coach.
Steve Duggan
Devon U13 coach.