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Coles sees Surrey smashing as turning point for Team Derby
GB Badmintondoubles specialist Chris Coles insists being on the receiving end of the firstever 5-0 NBL whitewash at the hands of Surrey Smashers has been the making ofthe Team Derby squad as they look to be crowned champions.
With threewins from five match-nights, Team Derby head into the end of season showdown atK2 Crawley on 7 June as serious title contenders having finished the regularseason in second place.
However,a chance to play for badminton's newest piece of silverware seemed a distanthope in January when Surrey Smashers inflicted a 5-0 loss – only one of twowhitewashes to take place in the regular season.
Coles, anever present for Team Derby, thinks that heavy defeat, albeit painful andembarrassing at the time, has put his side in a much stronger shape going intoFinals Day.
The 22-year-oldfrom Bath said: "We have ended quite highly in second position but we'vehad our ups and downs along the way.
"Ithink the 5-0 loss to Surrey Smashers really hit us hard and I think that was aturning point in our season.
“We thenhad two matches following that game and we dominated in those. It's been up anddown but because we've ended strongly we can go into [Finals Day] with a lot ofconfidence”.
Thatconfidence was evident as Team Derby recorded their own 5-0 drubbing of MKBadminton in February and followed it up with a crucial 4-1 over University ofNottingham Badminton.
TeamDerby face University of Nottingham Badminton again in a Finals Day Play-Offfor a place in the Championship Final where they could meet Surrey Smashersagain, this time for the NBL trophy.
HoweverColes is not looking past the Play-Off against their fierce sporting rivals,adding: “If we can get that win in the play-off that's all that matters really.It doesn't matter how we've played."
The UK's first ever National Badminton League (NBL)season comes to a thrilling finale on Sunday, 7 June, at K2 Crawley.
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