The final of the Green Final Handicap Tournament will be between between Nationwide Kirk Michael A and Citywing Vikings A in the back sports hall of the NSC on Monday evening.
The semi-finals took place at the same venue on March 9. The first match involved Sulby Glen Sulby (+5) and Citywing Vikings A (-3).
It started well for Vikings with Sam Mills and Alex Townell beating George Li and Norman Brew at second men’s in two tight matches 21/19 21/19.
Vikings also won second women’s with Charlotte Dougherty and Kristian Buck beating Louise Strickett and Sarah Clarke.
It became 3-0 when Vikings first men, Steve Allen and Steven Quayle, beat Simon Clarke and Andrew Simpson in three games.
Vikings clinched the match when Emma Nicholson and Sam Irvine beat Jenny Mo and Emma Christie 21/19 21/13 at first women’s.
Sulby’s pairing at second mixed, Simpson and Christie, beat Mills and Nicholson but first and third mixed went Vikings make the final score 6-1.
Nationwide Kirk Michael A (+4) were quickest out of the blocks in the second semi-final against Microgaming Marown A (-10).
Ryan Brew and Michael Brew beat Darren Richards and Campbell Guy 21/10 17/21 21/17 at second women’s, while Sarah Gardner and Carolyn Brown beat Kath Kermode and Janet Sayle 21/9 21/19 to make it 2-0.
First men’s was the game of the night (and possibly the longest) with Danny O’Hare and Adam Colley of Marown beating Ben Kneale andDavid Gardner 11/21 21/20 21/20. Kirk Michael’s first women, Vanessa Christian and Leanne Miller then beat Olivia Avery and Angela Waite 21/16 21/3, while Marown’s third mixed, Guy and Kermode, made the score 3-2 by beating Ryan Brew and Sarah Gardner.
With the last two games on court the result was open but Kirk Michael sealed victory when David Gardner and Christian beat Colley and Waite and second mixed, and Kneale/Miller beat O’Hare /Avery at first.
Many thanks to the umpires and the staff at the NSC.
Monday’s final will commence at 7pm. It is hoped that it will be well supported.
l A full report on the Green Final shootout in Thursday’s Manx Independent, along with a preview of the Isle of Man senior badminton team’s last fixture in the Inter-County League.
The team will be looking to finish on a high and wrap up a deserved league victory with their concluding back-to-back fixtures against Shropshire seconds on March 28-29.