Alpha players compete at 2013 School Games
Norman Lau and and Rebecca Getty gave the Ulster side a great start to their contest with Wales defeating Tsung Fong Mo 21-15 21-19 and Gean Sou Mo 21-9 21-11 and they nearly went three up when the Lightbody brothers Matthew and Ross fought back from dropping the opening set of the doubles to level taking the second set 21-12. The final set could have gone either way but the Welsh pairing of Mo and Pritchard won 21-19.
The Mixed Doubles saw Ryan Getty and Rachael Darragh (Raphoe) through 21-16 21-13.
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Hide AdWith Scotland beating both England and Wales 5-0, the host nation were anxious to get on the scoresheet but Norman Lau (Alpha and Royal School Dungannon) who lost the first set to England’s David Jones 21-14 came back to give the eventual beaten finalist in the singles a few problems by taking the second 21-17. And although Lau lost in the decider 21-12 he was later to take a set off the Scot Jack Stevenson in what was another encouraging performance for the youngster.
Ulster found themselves two-nil down when Rachael Darragh lost 28-26 21-17 and Matthew and Ross Lightbody lost 21-13 21-19. After Rebecca Getty and Kerri Scott had lost their doubles 21-13 21-15 it was left to the mixed doubles pairing of Ryan Getty and Rachael Darragh to win 21-16 22-20 and prevent a whitewash.
Although Scotland were to beat Ulster 4-1 there were two very good performances from Norman Lau and Rachael Darragh who took a set off the opponents Jack Stevenson and Julie Macpherson.
In the individual events Rachael Darragh came within half-a-dozen points of knocking out the eventual winner, Scotland’s Julie Macpherson who went on to take the gold. Rachael had earlier beaten England’s Kirby Ngan 21-13 21-15.
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Hide AdRebecca Getty had given a good performance against Holly Newall losing 21-11 21-12 and beaten Sophie Morris (Scotland) 21-18 21-18 and Eve Burbridge (England) 21-14 21-16.
Kerri Scott came up against Holly Newall losing 21-13 21-3, Ross Lightbody and Caitlin Steele went down 21-18 21-16 to while Matthew Lightbody had a fine 18-21 21-11 21-19 victory over England’s Alex Mitchell.
Elsewhere, Ross Lightbody defeated Welsh plater Rory Xiou 21-18 24-22.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Steele can argue she was beaten by the eventual winner Scotland’s Julie Macpherson.