CHRIS RABEY and Adam Jouhning did not drop a game all day as Guernsey under-15s thrashed Jersey 32-4 in the Leadbeater Shield. The two Sarnians were named as joint players of the match at the new Gilson Hall in Jersey as the visitors, captained by Nick Abbott, enjoyed a comprehensive win.
The shield is usually contested at both under-15 and under-12 age groups, but Jersey were unable to field a team for the younger one, having no suitable players from which to select.
That was a great disappointment to the GBA as it means that many players have missed out on the opportunity to represent their island.
Thanks to a positive plan to encourage junior badminton over many years and the enthusiasm of development officer Paul Le Tocq, Guernsey could easily field a full team at any age group. Jersey were able to field only eight under-15 boys and four girls.
That led to an amendment in the standard format of the match.
Each person played five matches - the boys playing two singles, two doubles and one mixed and the girls one singles and two each of both doubles and mixed.
Guernsey dominated the boys’ singles, winning 15 of the 16 rubbers contested.
Top player Matt Ceresa did extremely well to beat his opposite number, Harry Watson, in three games, having lost the first 22-20.
Abbott lost the only boys singles rubber to Watson, but should not be too disappointed as it was a close encounter with the score of 17-21, 19-21.
The rest of the Guernsey boys’ team showed strength in depth, winning all their rubbers in two games except Glenn Le Tissier who did well to beat a much improved Matthew Bignall 21-17, 18-21, 21-11. Le Tissier’s superior fitness clearly showed in the third.
James Spittal inflicted the heaviest defeat of the day, beating Brett Goodfellow of Jersey 21-2, 21-7.
The girls’ singles section ended two rubbers all. As for the Sarnians, Hannah Greenfield and Hannah Spittal, ranked third and fourth, both did well to win in two games.
Guernsey dominated in the girls’ doubles, winning three out of four rubbers. Top pairing of Harriet Thoumine and Greenfield beat both Jersey pairs. Greenfield in particular impressed as she lifted her game and showed what she is capable of achieving.
The boys’ doubles was a clean sweep for Guernsey.
Regular pairing of Ceresa and Abbott had a relatively easy time.
The other pair in the A group were Harry Southwell and James Spittal, a combination that worked well. They fought hard and kept their concentration in a 2-1 win against the top Jersey duo of Watson and Piers Le Moignan.
The mixed doubles were another clean sweep, with Guernsey winning all eight rubbers. The Sarnian selectors were delighted with the result.
‘All the hard work put in by GBA coaches and helpers is paying off,’ said Jane Langlois, the junior co-ordinator.
‘Many of the team also showed the benefit they are getting from playing in senior clubs as they showed a far greater maturity in their doubles games than the Jersey players.’
Article posted on 19th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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