Walsin Ulster Senior Team

The Walsin Ulster Senior Team played their final game's of the season in the English Inter County League in yet another closely fought weekend of badminton in Lancashire on 23-24th March.

Their first match of the weekend was up against Staffordshire. All 3 Men's Singles matches were extremely close all, with Conor Hickland winning MS2 26-24 in the 3rd set. Unfortunately in MS1 & MS3, Ryan Stewart & tony Murphy Lost out both in 3 set matches. After the ladies singles in which, Ulster won WS2 but lost out in WS 1, the match was poised at 3-2 in Staffordshire's favour going into the Doubles & Mixed Doubles matches.

Ulster got off to a great start in the MD1 with Tony Murphy & Conor Hickland winning in 3 sets 22-20, 14-21, 21-19. Another 3-setter followed in MD 2 with the father and son partnership of Ryan & Ian MacBeth. Unfortunately the Donegal pair just lost out 21-19 in the 3rd giving Staffordshire a 4-3 lead going into the Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles. There were a number of games in the remaining 4 matches but it was staff's who took the close sets and went on to take the remaining matches winning 8-3.

The second match of the day was against Yorkshire 3 and Ulster cam out strong in the singles matches taking a 3-2 lead, wining the 2 women's singles and 3rd Men's Singles. Yorkshire 3's managed to change the momentum of the tie in the Doubles matches winning both the Men's Doubles and Women's doubles matches, but all matches were extremely close highlighted in the Women's Doubles 1 with the Woods sisters losing out 23-21 in the 3rd set. Yorkshire went on to take the 2 mixed games and win the tie 8-3, however as per many of the Senior teams matches this season could have been a very different outcome if a few of the close sets went their way.

Sunday seen the Walsin Senior Team play the Yorkshire 2nd Team and unfortunately was a very similar story as the Saturday matches with strong opening matches in the singles events but losing out in the Doubles events with Yorkshire 2 taking the tie 8-3.

The weekend seen the end of the league matches this season. A story of what could haven been for the team with a few narrow loses 6-5 and a number of close games which unfortunately didn't go their way across the season. A lot of positives to take from the season notably the strong performances from the Younger players making their debut this season and the first ever Father/Son Team selection!

Travelling Team

Ian MacBeth

Ryan MacBeth

Tony Murphy

Conor Hickland

Ryan Stewart

Rebecca Woods

Keady Smith

Clare Henderson

Rachael Woods

Up next for the Senior Team is the Interprovincial's on 7th April.

A big thank you to the Team Sponsors Walsin LTD for their continued support.