Halesworth Middle School's under 13 boys' badminton team can be very proud of their achievements this season. Competing against pupils a year older than themselves in the Under 14 competitions they had already won the Partnership and the County Finals.

Halesworth Middle School's under 13 boys' badminton team can be very proud of their achievements this season. Competing against pupils a year older than themselves in the Under 14 competitions they had already won the Partnership and the County Finals.

Last Friday they traveled to the Cambridge Regional College to take on Schools in the Centre Parcs National Schools Regional Championships.

The standard was exceptionally high with several England players on show. The boys lost their first match to the Davenant Academy, Essex champions, a very strong all-round team. The next game against Hertfordshire champions, Hitchin Boys, was much closer with the boys taking 17 points in two of the games and 16 in another.

The play off match against Cambridgeshire champions, Thomas Deacon School, was very close. George Caplin lost his singles 21-14. The doubles pairing of Chris Green and Matthew Cooke then registered Halesworth's first win, 21-18.

Oliver Hills then narrowly lost his singles 21-20. Caplin and Green won the next doubles game 21-20 to bring the match level. The deciding doubles also went to the last point, unfortunately Hills and Cooke lost by the narrowest of margins, 21-20.

The boys can be very proud of their attitude and performance against older, more experienced players and they are determined to return next year and challenge for the medals in this Under 14 Tournament.