Youth Games squad edged out

Havering had to settle for silver for the third year running in the London Youth Games badminton competition at Crystal Palace.

They were given a tough draw in a group with Haringey, Merton and Bromley — meaning the top four teams from 2011 were up against each other.

But they beat Haringey 4-1, after winning the girls singles (21-8), boys doubles (21-14), girls doubles (21-5) and mixed doubles (21-7), and edged past Merton, 3-2.

Havering won the boys singles (21-15), girls doubles (21-16) and mixed doubles (21-0) against Merton, then beat Bromley 4-1 in their final match top top the group thanks to wins in the boys singles (21-18), girls singles (21-12), girls doubles (21-12) and mixed doubles (21-8).

After another close game with Croydon ended in a 3-2 win, Havering met a very strong Redbridge team in the final.

Feliix Ngooi put up a brave fight in the boys singles, fighting back from six points down before losing 21-19.

And Coco Zhang was edged out 22-20 in the girls singles to leave Havering up against it.

Adam Tripp and Oli Bowry were always going to struggle against the county’s top boys doubles pairing but battled to the end in a 21-10 defeat.

Havering gained some consolation in the girls doubles as Bethany Law and Abbie Wallis won 21-10, before Katie Nicholls and Sam Hampton took the mixed doubles, 21-12.

Paige Beaumont and Robert Clark completed Havering’s squad and manager Amanda Austin said: “The team did really well and although they were disappointed with losing in the final they should all be really proud of themselves.

“It was a good team performance, everyone played in the various games in the final and all did their part. “Taking the silver medal is a fantastic achievement. The final was really close and to lose the two singles games so closely gave everyone the sniff of victory.

“If one of those games had gone the other way the match score would have been reversed and it would have been Havering’s year.

“But that was not meant to be and a well earned silver medal was Havering’s prize.

“We now lose our older members of Sam Hampton and Robert Clark so this means Havering will regroup and start planning for the 2013 competition and lets hope that maybe it could be fourth time lucky!!”