Author Archives: cwalsh

First Mixed v Bingham 4 – 10th October 2014: 5-4 Carlton Win!

Mixed 1 got their season under way with a home game against Bingham 4. With Adam unavailable Glenn got the call up to play with Jess M. Glenn who last season played 3rd mixed managed to settle the nerves against the Bingham’s first pair coming from behind in both games to win in 2 (21-13, 21-19). Their next game was against Bingham’s 3rd pair, with the new partnership having found their feet, Jess and Glenn managed to carry on their good run of form and win in 2 once again (21-13, 21-16). Finally they had to play Bingham’s 2nd pair, with the match tied at 3-3, knowing that Carlton needed 2 out of the remaining 3 rubbers they stepped up. With the confidence really flowing for Jess and Glenn they had the chance to seal the match, and yet again they won convincingly in 2 (21-8, 21-10) to win the all important 5th rubber. Overall a great night for this newly established partnership, not dropping a game and seeming to gel very well.
Our second pair was Jess C and John. Having played last season together in 2nd Mixed and playing well in that team, they both got given the call up to 1st Mixed, could they continue their form? Their first game was against Bingham’s 2nd pair, they started off well taking the first game 21-11. Then after the change of ends Bingham came out fighting, just edging Jess and John out to 17. With the rubbers tied at 1 – 1 it went to the decider. At the half way point Bingham were just in the lead (11-9). Unfortunately for Jess and John they couldn’t catch Bingham, who managed to extend their lead and win 21-15 and take the rubber 2-1. Next up was Bingham’s 1st pair, with the frustrations from the previous game still visible Jess and John couldn’t find their winning form from earlier and lost in 2, although they came very close in the 2nd but to no avail (12-21, 19-21). After a long sit off and knowing Carlton had won the match could this help Jess and John? They went close in the first but just lost out and then could not find the spark to their game and lost again in 2 (18-21, 13-21). So a frustrating night for Jess and John but they will be looking to bounce back in the next match.

Our 3rd pair was Hollie and David. This was a new pairing, with Hollie having played 1st mixed last season while David played 2nd mixed last year with an odd run out in 1st mixed. They started off against Bingham’s 3rd pair, knowing that the match was tight (1-1) they knew they that need to get off to a good start. It was a close encounter with Hollie and David just edging the first 21-19, they went back on with confidence and managed to keep their momentum going and took the second 21-11. Next was Bingham’s 2nd pair, with the confidence from winning their first game they hoped to keep their form going but didn’t quite manage to get going and lost the first 11-21. After the turnaround they fought back in the second to take it 21-15. So it was down to the 3rd game, the decider. At the half way point there was nothing in it with Bingham slightly ahead (11-10). Unfortunately Hollie and David couldn’t quite get the better of their opponents and lost 21-18. Next was Bingham’s 1st pair with the match tied at 3-3, knowing that Carlton needed 2 out of the remaining 3 rubbers, Hollie and David managed to find their form from their 1st game and won in 2 (21-15, 21-16). So a good nights work for Hollie and David, with a little set back in the middle they remained strong and positive to overcome their disappointment to take 2 out of 3, a good start to the new partnership.

Overall a hard fought 5-4 win to get the season under way for Mixed 1, next up Mapperley Park 2.

Second Mens v Phoenixwood 2nd – 14th March 2014: 8-1 Carlton Win!

After two consecutive defeats in Division 3b, Carlton’s Second Men were hoping for a quick return to winning ways in their final game of the season. Though promotion was no longer possible, there was always pride to play for!

The start of the match was delayed by some forty minutes thanks to a power-cut in Carlton. Thankfully, both teams managed to hide in reception at Carlton Forum long enough to see power restored and the match get the go ahead.

Starting slowly, Chris & Phan dropped their first game against Phoenixwood’s first pair in three rubbers. It took John and the returning Martin to power through their first game to even the score up at 1-1, and from that point Carlton never looked back.

Glenn & Aidan took their first game in 2 to push Carlton into the lead, and we then saw Martin & John defeat Phoenixwood’s first pairing – taking the first rubber to just 11 – to see the match 3-1 in Carlton’s favour. It was particularly good to see Martin back on court and in the thick of the action after being away from competitive badminton for a few weeks – his return also seeing a return to winning ways for Carlton.

Another impressive win for Glenn & Aidan in two straight rubbers saw Chris & Phan set up to potentially take the match with the score poised at 4-1. However, with things never quite turning out the way expected, they contrived to lose the first rubber 19-21 to Phoenixwood’s third pairing. Finally stung into some form of action (if for nothing other than the fact that Chris was older than the Phoenixwood pairing combined) they took the next two 21-16 to see the win out.

Even with the match over, Carlton didn’t let up with Phoenixwood – Glenn & Aidan with a fine win against Phoenixwood’s first in 3 – the second rubber only going against the Carlton pair at 22-24, and Martin & John pushing through to take all their games in two.

Ending the season on a positive win bodes well for the future of Carlton’s Second Men. With young players – like the ever impressive Aidan, Matt & Phan – and the more experienced, the future looks bright for the second team.

Mixed Third v. Byron 4 – 3rd February 2014: 2-7 Carlton Loss

In review, It would be fair to say that the 2-7 scoreline flattered Byron somewhat – it would also be fair to say that a scratch team from Carlton (with three new partnerships and only two of the regular lineup available) gave a strong performance that on another day perhaps could have been more fairly reflected in the score.

However, take nothing away from Byron – they did exactly what was needed and ran out deserved victors. In truth, the closest Carlton came was early in the match with the scores tied at 1-1.

Aidan & Jay – playing for the first time together no less – may have taken the first game to settle, but they came back to push Byron’s first pair all the way in the second, losing to 18. Their second rubber saw them lose 21-23 & 14-21 to a strong Byron second pair, but it was the final rubber when they really started to play well together. They lost the first to 15, but fought back for a splendid 21-13 win in the second. In the deciding game they pushed Byron all the way – falling only at the last to a heartbreaking 22-24 score.

Another new pairing – Matt & Claire – saw them push their opponents all the way in each game. They lost the first game of each rubber played to a very creditable 18 – especially considering their lack of experience playing together, and this being Matt’s mixed debut. They may not have managed to win a game, but there is little doubt that they caused each of their opponents all sorts of problems which, on another day, would result in them picking up points.

Chris & Becky started well, taking the first rubber against the Byron second pair with little issue – winning the games to 12 & 13. Unexpectedly perhaps, they struggled with the third pair and couldn’t quite get their game together well enough – losing in two straight games 14 & 15. They saved the best to last, however, against Byron’s first pair. They initially seemed to suffer a little from the previous rubber, losing the first game to 13. This did seem to force a reaction, however, and they took the second 24-22 to setup the decider. The match may have been over by this point, but their was pride to play for. 6-11 down at the turnover and at one point 16-19 down with Chris having sprained his ankle, Becky stepped up and took the game by the scuff of the neck – the Carlton pair edging a close game 21-19.

This is the second defeat for the Mixed Third having conceded the first match of the season to Boots. With Notts Vets and Byron having only lost one each, those two ought be considered favourites for promotion – but having put up such a strong display with so many new players, it’s likely Carlton will be pushing them all the way.

Men’s Second v. Southwell First – 24th Jan 2014 : 4-5 Carlton Loss

Carlton came into the match with high hopes of avenging the previous season’s 4-5 away loss – especially since that match had gone right down to the wire, the teams locked at 4-4 before the final decider saw Southwell edge 1-2 to claim the match – and in the end – the higher league placing. In the end, however, history was to repeat itself in heart-breaking fashion.

With home advantage, Carlton ran into an early 2-0 lead – but even with confidence high, the warning signs were there with both rubbers needing the full three games. Chris & Phan took their first 2-1, the last game to 16. Aidan & Matt lost their first game, but came back once more in magnificent style to take the rubber 2-1 – confirming their excellent form from the week before to be no flash in the pan, and looking like they could take more games from an experienced Southwell side.

Unfortunately this was the high point for the Carlton side. In the next three games, Southwell fought back well to take two from a strong Glenn & John – both rubbers needing the full three games – and then their first pair edging Aidan & Matt’s fearless game to turn the match in their favour.

Chris & Phan took their next rubber to even the overall score, but Southwell managed to edge head again to take the match to 4-3. It needed an excellent performance from Glenn & John to take their final game against Southwell’s first pair – and with Aidan & Matt going down fighting, we were back to 2013 again with the match at 4-4 and Chris in the final game!

Desperate to avoid a repeat of last year’s scoreline, Chris & Phan had to pull back from 0-1 down to take the match to a decider in the final game of the final rubber. At the turnaround Carlton were ahead 11-10, but neither team could quite finish the other off – the game see-sawing between the two with neither pairing pulling ahead by more than two points. At 19-20 down Carlton saved a match point, then gave themselves a chance of the match at 21-20, but Southwell refused to give way evening the scores up to 21-21 before putting the game, the rubber, and the match to bed with a 22-24 score!

Repeating the score of last year was heartbreaking enough for Carlton, but this win also sees Southwell – deservedly – as one of the strongest teams in the promotion mix. Men’s Second now have a couple of weeks away to lick their wounds before their next game against local rivals Mapperley Park.

Mixed Second v. Southwell First – 19th Jan 2014 : 5-4 Carlton Win!

Second Mixed travelled to Southwell Centre looking to bounce back from defeat against University, knowing that they needed a win to keep their hopes of promotion alive.

In a hard fought match they managed to deliver, battling to a 5–4 victory. Second team regular Andy and super sub Jay, pairing up for the first time this season, produced a stunning performance to take all 3 of their rubbers. John & Jess and David & Becky picked up a rubber each to seal the away win.

After a stumbling start Andy and Jay recovered from a game down to take Southwell’s first pair in three, never looking back as they stormed through the next two rubbers without dropping a game. Such an accomplished performance from a pair playing competitively for the first time was a pleasure to see, with both deserving to take the plaudits for an outstanding showing.

John and Jess made a strong start. However, a niggling elbow injury to Jess and an unusually misfiring John led to them dropping their first rubber. Things were looking up as they recovered to take Southwell’s third pair in two. Unfortunately the inconsistencies were to return as they lost their final rubber – the second game being an agonising 26-24 loss.

David and Becky flew out of the blocks, beating Southwell’s third pair to open their account for the evening. They then proceeded to get as close to beating the other pairs as is possible without actually winning! Losing 21-17, 19-21, 21-18 to the first pair and 23-21, 22-20 to the second.

All in all this was a good win against a solid home side, demonstrating the strength in depth at the club. Up next for Second Mixed is East Leake Seconds at home on the 14th of February.

Men’s Second v. Boots First – 17th Jan 2014 : 8-1 Carlton Win!

Second Men’s put on a show tonight beating Boots 8-1! But for severe cramp hitting Chris against the last pair it could easily have been 9 – 0!

Old hands Martin and John took all three of their rubbers without dropping a game, coming from 12-17 down in a game to win 21-17.

Aidan and Matt (making his Men’s Second debut no less) also took their three rubbers, besting Martin & John’s recovery when fighting back from 12-19 down to win 26-24!

Last minute man Phan left us all on tenterhooks as he navigated the city’s bus system. Once safely at Carlton, however, he and Chris decided to best the previous pairings’ recoveries by losing the first game of each rubber. Disaster struck in the last game, however, when Chris went down with severe cramp. Though determined to play on after rigorous stretching and heat the pair were forced to concede.

The Seconds are back in action next week against Southwell Centre at home, Southwell visiting after Second Mixed travel to them on Sunday.

Ladies First v. Byron First – 10th Jan 2014 : 5-4 Carlton Win!

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