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Photos: Elise Grimm
York’s mixed badminton team thrashed their Lancaster counterparts 8-1 to claim four vital points for the White Rose and send an ominous message ahead of the weekend’s matches.
The result was secured with three games to spare after the home side made a brilliant start, blowing away their opponents with an irresistible feast of attacking play.
Last year, York completed a badminton whitewash and the signs are that the same feat may also be achieved in 2013.
York’s first pairing of Andrew Henderson and Dani Farsiani came through a tight opener against the Lancastrians, Derek Cheng and Yinai Sun, 21-19, 21-14.
Henderson displayed his unstoppable power game, forcing his opponents back while Farsiani’s delicate touch at the net kept the Red Rose off balance throughout.
After the opening set was secured after several tense rallies, Cheng and Sun lost their patience, committing numerous unforced errors which handed York an early 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Tom Dainty and Rachael Farrington enjoyed a slightly easier victory, 21-17, 21-6, over Alex Butt and former York player, Clare Breare.
With previous Roses experience behind them, the York pairing outwitted Lancaster in a close first set before consolidating their advantage in a one-sided second, making the overall score 2-0 to York.
UYBC star player, Baillie Watterson, was surprisingly placed as a third seed with Lucy Travers. Their first opponents were James Dennis and Karman To.
Although appearing a little rusty at first, Watterson’s remarkable athleticism proved to be the difference as York stormed to win the opening set 21-10.
In the second set, Watterson even managed to make the splits and Travers played her part with some deft shots at the net to wrap the game up 21-10, 21-15 and extend York’s lead to 3-0.
Lancaster finally won their first game of the afternoon as Cheng and Sun overcame the challenge of Dainty and Farrington over two very close sets, 22-20 and 21-17.
On the adjacent court, a fascinating battle was playing out between ex-playing partners, Watterson and Breare.
Breare was still getting a lot of support from the York crowd, who remembered her efforts from last year, but Watterson and Travers had too much for her and Butt as the White Rose triumphed 21-11, 21-10.
York were now 4-1 up and just one win away from overall victory. That honour finally came via Henderson and Farsiani, who smashed Dennis and To 21-7, 21-12, a comprehensive result which epitomised the pairing’s superb chemistry.
With the result in the bag, York could enjoy themselves and their free-flowing badminton saw them pick up three wins from the remaining three games.
Watterson and Travers dispatched Cheng and Sun 21-19, 21-17 to complete their unbeaten record while Henderson and Farsiani emulated that feat with a 21-10, 21-15 triumph over Breare and Butt. Dainty and Farrington rounded off the 8-1 result, beating Dennis and To 21-10, 21-17.
Afterwards, York captain Dani Farsiani told Vision: “I think everyone played really well, there were some good matches. We rose to the occasion and it was a good atmosphere to play in.”