Badminton: Scots shake off auld enemy

19/12/2007

SQUADS from Sweden, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland joined England to contest the Under-19 International Team Tournament organised by the Northumberland Badminton Association.

The event, at the Parks Leisure Centre in North Shields, was supported by Northumbria Water and ITT Flygt.

Playing initially in two groups of three, teams battled for the best places in the play-off round.

In Group A, the young Welsh team made a great start with a 3-2 win over Northern Ireland but then succumbed 4-1 to the top Scots team.

Scotland then eased past the Irish to win the group, with Wales in second place.

Group B featured England, Sweden and Scotland’s second string.

The Swedes shot off with a 5-0 win over the young Scots, but then lost 4-1 to England in what was effectively the group decider.

England then scored a convincing 5-0 win over the Scots.

This gave them the right to challenge the top Scotland team from Group A for the trophy, which the Scots had won the previous year.

The play-offs were all close matches, each finishing 3-2.

Scotland’s seconds just beat Northern Ireland in the wooden spoon match.

Wales performed markedly more strongly than in recent years and, very much against expectations, came away with third place after a very good 3-2 success over the Swedes which was decided only in the third set of the final match, the mixed doubles.

Scotland defended their trophy in a very competitive match with England.

Going from 2-2, their strong mixed doubles pairing took them to victory after a tight three-ender.

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