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NBL Finals: Loughborough Sport set up Team Derby showdown
The inaugural National Badminton League will come down to acrunch local rivalry between Loughborough Sport and Team Derby after bothMidlands' sides advanced to this afternoon's Championship Final in contrasting fashion.
Loughborough Sport upset the odds as Andy Wood's rejuvenatedsquad – they were without a win since Match - secured their place in the 3pmfinal with a superb 5-0 whitewash against Surrey Smashers, who had finished topof the league.
In a far tighter contest, and with Loughborough enjoying extrarecuperation time, Team Derby and University of Nottingham's semi-final went tothe wire before Gail Emms and Martin Campbell came through 3-1 in a nervyencounter to the delight of their vociferous Orange Army support.
In the regular season, Team Derby beat Loughborough Sport3-2 on the road.
ChampionshipPlay-Offs, semi-finals
Surrey Smashers 0-5 LoughboroughSport
Peter Briggs and Greg Mairs gave Loughborough the perfectstart in a fiery and entertaining encounter over Chris Langridge and Tom Wolfenden. It proved a crucial win as Bulgarian Linda Zetchiri then ran out aneasy winner over debutant Caitlin Pringle to put Loughborough within one eventof a Championship Final place. And Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith, who bothtravelled back from the Indonesian Open in time for the Finals, secured theall-important victory. “We probably didn't think we could make the Finals atthis stage,” said Ellis. “But everyone has played superbly.” Henri Hurskainenwarmed up for the final with his fifth successive win of the NBL season, whileChloe Birch and Jenny Wallwork completed only the third 5-0 fixture win of theseason in fine style.
MD Chris Langridge & Tom Wolfenden 1-3 Peter Briggs &Greg Mairs
WS Caitlin Pringle 0-3 Linda Zetchiri
XD Matt Nottingham & Emily Westwood 0-3 Marcus Ellis & Lauren Smith
MS Carl Baxter 0-3 Henri Hurskainen
WD Eefje Muskens & Soraya De Visch Eijbergen 0-3 Chloe Birch & JennyWallwork (c)
Team Derby 3-2University of Nottingham Badminton
Rajiv Ouseph, the Team Derby captain, came from a game downto beat Scot Kieran Merrilees before the tie was levelled as EllenMahenthiralingam and Carissa Turner came from behind to win a thriller andtheir first of the season. Chris Coles and Andy Ellis restored parity for TeamDerby with a 3-1 win in the men's doubles. But Nottingham rallied once again asOlga Konon, of Belarus, kept her side in the semi-final with a gutsy display overfellow top European Karin Schnaase 3-2. It set up a tense decider as Team Derby'sGail Emms rolled back the years with partner Martin Campbell to see off in-formAdam Hall and Chloe Magee.
"After we lost the women's singles I thought we would lose to be honest, but this is an all-round great performance," said a delighted Ellis. "It's about team spirit just by being together and we're ready for the final now."
MS Rajiv Ouseph 3-1 Kieran Merrilees
WD Lydia Powell & Tiara Samuel 2-3 & Ellen Mahenthiralingam & Carissa Turner
MD Chris Coles & Andy Ellis 3-1 Robert Blair & Kristian Roebuck
WS Karin Schnaase 2-3 Olga Konon
XD Martin Campbell & Gail Emms 3-1 Adam Hall & Chloe Magee
Watch the final LIVE on Sky Sports 1 from 2.30pm.
