BADMINTON: Oxon pipped at death (From Oxford Mail)

BADMINTON: Oxon pipped at death

10:30am Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport

OXFORDSHIRE 2nd were edged out 8-7 by Worcestershire 2nd in Division 4 Central of the County Championships at Redditch.

The match went down to the third mixed doubles clash where Oxfordshire’s Paul Casey and Rachel Kenny lost out 9-21, 21-17, 21-17.

Oxon had beaten the same opposition 9-6 at home and the return fixture was nip and tuck all the way.

Emma Cramond and Kathryn Schutterlin triumphed in their ladies’ singles matches, but two defeats for the men made it 2-2.

Second pair Simon Gaines and Paul Casey won both their men’s doubles for the visitors.

In the ladies’ doubles, Clare Hamilton and Emma Cramond and Kathryn Schutterlin and Rachel Kenny both beat the home first pair to level the match at 6-6.

Crucially, Hamilton and Cramond were beaten 21-18 in the final end of their clash with the home second pair.

Gaines and Hamilton put Oxon 7-6 ahead by cruising to victory in their mixed doubles.

But James Barclay and Cramond could not match them and Worcestershire pipped Casey and Kenny at the death.