The final game of the season at SportsDock provided a convincing result for UEL as they overcame a Queen Mary side yet again.
In four meetings with QM teams this season, UEL have now won three of them, and in a row.
This 6-2 result means UEL are ending the season looking up the table. Having climbed up one place, UEL could finish as high as second if results go their way in their final game against Kent.
Both teams came into the game with five players each and only one singles player. This meant both teams had one player down so without a shuttle being hit, points were awarded automatically. So, with the singles match points being split evenly, the action started with the score at 2-2.
Line-up Change
BUCS Badminton rules mean no player can play in both singles and doubles matches. UEL’s best player, Sean Wilson, was set to play two singles games. But with those ties being reduced, and Wilson only therefore able to potentially play for a solitary singles’ point, the decision was made to partner him instead Wilson with Joshua Teoh in the doubles.
It was decided that George Geaves would instead play singles for the second week in a row so that UEL could play to their full strengths.
Marco Eng and Ali Chin partnered for the very last time in a home game as both players would be graduating this year.
Team Performance
Geaves kicked things off in singles action but couldn’t emulate his performance from the week before. Geaves was outclassed by his opponent as he lost convincingly 21-10, 21-10.
Wilson and Teoh’s new partnership looked to be working like a treat as the Queen Mary team couldn’t deal with the Jamaican’s quality. The result ended up in favour of UEL, the duo winning 21-15 in both sets as they sealed their first win together.
Eng and Chin continued their terrific form with ease cruising past their demoralised opponents 21-9, 21-9. The pair played so aggressively that Queen Mary couldn’t handle their play.
Final Home Games
Teoh and Wilson appeared to be struggling in their next match as the scores were very close, ending 21-19 and 21-14 to the UEL pair. But appearances can be deceptive: Wilson later claimed that ‘he was taking it a bit easy’ as he felt sorry for his opponent.
Eng and Chin’s 21-9, 21-8 win in their final match together at SportsDock proved how far the pair have come this season as they have trained hard to become dominant this year. They have won 10 out of their last 12 games proving an almost guaranteed two points for UEL in any contest.
One More Game
UEL will be back in action against Kent in two weeks’ time, in their final game of the season and final game for Chin, Eng and Teoh.
UEL could finish as high as second with a win which would be a great achievement for a newly promoted side.
