NBF Report 31 May 2010
The stars of the Newmarket Badminton
Federation Leagues this season are undoubtedly Cambridge Crossways.
Runners-up last year, they went
one better in only their second season in the Men’s First Division by taking
the title convincingly, undefeated. St.
Phillips, trying for five titles in a row, were the only side to trouble the
new champions, drawing at home and then going down in a very tight match at
Crossways, but they uncharacteristically stuttered dropping points against Ely
Victoria and Haverhill, so had to settle for second place. Ely, as last year, finished third, but they
have gained some strong players so this division should be very competitive
next season. Linton had a poor season
to finish bottom and, due to league restructuring, Newmarket are also again in
a potential relegation spot, although three teams finished on 9 points, so this
may make it tough to split this group.
Crossways, promoted last
season, convincingly won the Mixed First Division at their first attempt. Again St. Phillips were the only team to
take points off them with a 5-4 win, although they were on the receiving end of
some close 5-4 losses so finished lower than usual, just one above bottom
place. This went to Ely Victoria who’s
previous all conquering league winning side switched to the Cambs league, so
the new team struggled with the pace and are likely to go down. Haverhill again finished runners-up, but
only just above well-placed Newmarket on games difference.
Crossway Ladies were looking
to make it a magnificent league treble and did the hard work by beating
Haverhill 5-1 away, but then dropped points to Linton, St. Phillips and
newcomers Impington, so couldn’t quite bring it home. Better luck then for Haverhill who were pipped on games
difference last season by Ely Victoria who, like their Mixed team, took a slide
down the table. The league interestingly split into three groups – four teams
close at the top, four on 7 points…and Soham, null points (only 2 games won out
of 48).
Con Club were back up to
strength this season, winning all their matches in the Mixed Second Division so
will rightfully return to the First Division next season. There is (some) hope
for Soham yet as, in this division, they finished above Litteport and also
their men finished above Brandon B in Men’s Division Two.
So, in the remaining lower
Men’s Divisions, Littleport cruised to the top of the Second division and new
entrants Brandon A swept all before them, not dropping a single game in the
Third, with newcomers Impington making a decent show in second place. With the league restructuring it is
difficult to say who will actually go up or down in these two divisions for
next season – this will be decided at the Annual General Meeting to be held on
25th August 2010 – details are on the NBF website at www.newmarketbadmintonfederation.org.uk
.
Two new teams contested the
Rushworth Knockout trophy final this year, which was especially poignant this
year because of the sad loss of a Federation founder, Roy Rushworth, earlier in
the season and for St Edmunds who were hoping to take the trophy for team
captain Chris Cory who was also taken from us recently. On the night it was Impington, in their
first season back in the Federation, who were victorious.