Fencibles has become the most successful club in the history of the Green Final team handicap badminton

trophy competition.

On Monday evening, a youthful side, with an average age of 21.6, made light work of the much-delayed 2020 final against a weaker-than-normal Vikings B.

Some would understandably suggest that the handicap was very lenient for Fencibles at -1, up against a second-string Vikings outfit starting off +3.

Indeed, one glance at the final scorecard substantiates that with a clear 100 points’ difference. Seven of the eight members of the side are island squad members.

All seven sets were won in two straight games by the youngsters, who had an even younger mascot in the NSC sports hall - team captain Juan Corrin’s four-week-old daughter Beatrix.

Benjy Li and Joe Burrows got off to a strong start at second men’s with a 21/16 21/14 success over Matthew Garrett and Mark Falconer.

Sam Spellman and Melissa McKnight put up a strong fight in the first game of the second women’s contest, pushing Alex Bell and Jodie Green all the way before going down 19/21. They lost the second 15/21.

Leah Brennan and Kitty Thomas, both aged 17 (the latter only one week after her birthday), overpowered Hayley Brophy and Laura Parkinson of Vikings at first women’s 21/5 21/10.

The final was effectively decided inside the first hour when Juan Corrin/Tobey Cheng defeated Alex Townell and seasoned campaigner Steve Allen 21/16 21/16.

The latter went straight back on court to again face Cheng at first mixed, partnered by Parkinson and Thomas respectively.

This ended comfortably in the Fencibles’ pair’s favour 21/14 21/12.

All three mixed games finished within seconds of one another, with Corrin/Bell defeating Garrett/McKnight 21/16 21/13 and Li/Brennan completing the rout 21/18 21/10 at third.

Vikings were without three first-choice men - two having gone to university and one in isolation after delivering one of his offspring to uni, while Deirdre Hughes was restricted to spectator status only because of an elbow injury.

Take nothing away from Fencibles though, it would have required a lot more than a slight adjustment to the starting handicaps to deny them. They were strong, stylish and very polished, a credit to the club.

Benjy Li received the John Hemensley player of the match trophy.

Fencibles first won the prestigious Green Final trophy in 1966, two years after it was first presented, and this was the club’s ninth success.

It puts them one ahead of Vikings, with St Ninian’s on seven and Marown six.