Win sends Shepley flying up rankings

SHEPLEY have started their climb away from the foot of the Division Two table in the Huddersfield Badminton League.

Having only played one match, as two matches had been re-arranged, Shepley found themselves third from the bottom in second division, so their match against Holmfirth C was an important one to win.

James Austerberry and Ian Carpenter of Shepley struggled against Will Storry and Mick Pearson of Holmfirth C, losing their opening game 21-10.

Storry is over 6’6” and OPearson, having played in the top division over the years, had returned from three years of retirement from badminton.

The Shepley pair recovered in the second game but in the end lost 21-19.

Helen Pearman and Alyson Ronan of Shepley played their rubber against Lucy Martin and Hilary Mosley.

Pearman and Robnan won in straight games 21-10, 21-10 to make the overall match score 1-1.

Austerberry and Issy Caffoor of Shepley then lost to Storry and Chatterton in a hard battle which went to three games 21-19, 22-24, 19-21.

Pearman and Sarah Hewitt of Shepley won their rubber against daughter and mother pairing Lucy and Julie Martin in straight games 21-8, 21-11.

Carpenter and Caffoor then lost to Pearson and Chatterton of Holmfirth C in the first game 12-21.

At 11-19 in the second game, Carpenter and Caffoor won the point, and the pair made a remarkable comeback to 19-19 but then lost the game 20-22.

Ronan and Hewitt of Shepley won their rubber against Mosley and Julie Martin in straight games 21-7, 21-9.

The overall score was 3-3 entering the mixed section of the match.

Austerberry and Ronan of Shepley had a hard battle over three games against Storry and Lucy, Martin eventually winning the rubber 24-26, 21-15, 21-18.

Carpenter and Pearman won their rubber in straight games 21-13, 21-14 against Pearson and Julie Martin.

Caffoor and Hewitt of Shepley won their rubber in three games,21-19, 9-21, 21-17, making the final score 6-3 to Shepley.

This result immediately elevated Shepley to second in the division, behind the current leaders Ossett Sports.

In Division: one it was a family affair as Brighouse A defeated Kirkburton B 6-3.

Kirkburton’s Crowther sisters took on Brighouse mother and daughter team Rowbottom, making her debut for Brighouse, and Hayman with the Brighouse pair winning.

Brighouse father and son pairing Neil and Firth unable to beat Ruttle and Crowther – the first win for the pair together this season.

But the first mixed match proved crucial with Goodwin and Rowbottom winning the decisive set 21-8.