Scotch College

Scotch shuttlers make it five in a row

Like the first VIII, the Scotch 1st Badminton team has now had five successes in a row.

Words: PETER RILEY AND DANNY TAN

‘The road to success is always under construction.’ This adage rings true in the APS Badminton Championship.

By once again remaining undefeated throughout the season, the Scotch College 1st Badminton team has earned the unique privilege of being the only team in the history of the APS Badminton Championship to successfully defend its premiership title for five consecutive seasons.

In the process, the team has also managed to extend its record winning streak to 43 wins in succession since 14 February 2004 – and the team is determined to lengthen this record further! The previous record was held by Geelong Grammar School, with 28 wins in succession from 14 March 1999 to 24 November 2001.

Heading into the season, all opponents relished the opportunity to topple the four-time defending premiers, with uncertainty over the team’s ability to set a new record, given the continually changing playing list as students completed their schooling.

In recent years, the level of competitiveness of the APS Badminton Championship has exploded, with other schools attracting elite student athletes to join their ranks.

However, this is a point of distinction between the team and its competitors. Since the inception of the APS Badminton Championships, the team has never fielded one of these ‘star players’. Instead of being driven by star power, the team has consistently fielded a dedicated, disciplined, and determined side.

Scotch Badminton is a sport of quiet achievers. Former Principal Dr Gordon Donaldson, AM, once remarked that the boys train hard each week and compete each weekend and with little fanfare, yet come home victors. We reflect that over this lonely road the team has successfully achieved some remarkable victories.

Quietly, without the grandeur and publicity enjoyed by others, the team has continued to live its burning passion and conducted itself with the utmost professionalism. It pursues victory along a long, hard road of training and dedication. Immense efforts and strategic planning have proven to be an integral part of the team’s winning formula. The team relies not just on one performance, but on the performance of every player. All this has come to be a source of pride for the team – and so, too, it should be for Scotch.

The season was testament to the increasing competitiveness of the championship. The emergence of Caulfield Grammar School, Wesley College and St Kevin’s College as worthy premiership contenders, and the continuing danger of Haileybury College (last season’s runners-up), meant that Scotch’s title defence was going to require keen planning, with a focus on training and strategy.

The season reached its climax in the last two rounds with Scotch facing the then third-placed St Kevin’s, followed the next week by eventual runners-up, Haileybury.

Following early unexpected losses in the singles of the encounter against St Kevin’s, the team found itself pushed to the brink of defeat. After the eight singles had been played, scores were level at four sets a piece. The team required at least three doubles to claim victory outright. St Kevin’s continued its spirited, unrelenting assault, claiming two doubles to lead six sets to four sets. It was the first time in many seasons that the team faced imminent defeat, going into the remaining two doubles matches. With nerves of steel, the team prevailed in these matches to draw even at six sets a piece. The final victory clinched by the team was by a slender margin of just nine points.

Despite such a closely contested match, the team showed its resilience – its ability, with its back to the wall and facing imminent defeat, to step up and rally at the call. The boys were stirred, never shaken.

The last round of the season provided the tantalising finale – the two remaining undefeated sides of Scotch and Haileybury were catapulted into a duel for the championship. After innumerable hours of training and planning, finally our paths crossed on the first day of March. The team, poised for the battle, once again rallied at the call.

Excellent singles performances ensured that the team was five sets to three sets up after the singles, setting up the target of two doubles to claim outright victory. While convinced that this target was achievable, the team was horrified by an unanticipated loss in one of the doubles. At this stage, the team was up by the barest of margins – six sets to five sets.

This time, the match came down to the final doubles pairing. The pair fought for every point, and their confidence, buoyed by an early lead, proved decisive in the end. The team performed strongly and met this target, defeating Haileybury seven sets to five sets, sealing the premiership for the fifth season in succession. Playing with conviction and exhibiting the renowned Scotch spirit, the old adage held true: a champion team will always beat a team of champions.

The team is coached by Mr Danny Tan (’04) and managed by Mr Peter Riley (Teacher-in-Charge, Badminton). Co-Captains Azrul Mohd Azri and Euikuk Park served with distinction and led the team by example. The players – Jonathan Chen, Joshua Ch’ng, Michael Jones, Sean Lim, Shaun Lim, Mark Lym, Kevin Shi, Phillip Tan, Ronald Teo, Christopher Tham, and Michael Yang – are the first and foremost reason for the victory. It was a wonderful team effort.

The introduction of the Badminton development squad and 1st Badminton team off-season training since 2005 have been important factors in identifying potential 1st team candidates as well as further developing the skills and tactical knowledge of all badminton players. It is hoped that these measures will support the continued competitiveness of Scotch College in APS Badminton at all levels.

Preparation for the APS Badminton Championship 2008–09 campaign is well underway. It is hoped that the team will ‘rally to the call’ and be competitive once again. GS