West London Varsity: St Mary’s earn dominant win over Brunel in badminton
St. Mary’s University kicked off the 2025 West London Varsity in style with an 8-4 victory over Brunel University in the badminton event.
In the first listed event of the day, St Mary’s capitalised on home advantage, winning 3-1 in women’s singles, 1-0 in women’s doubles, 2-0 in mixed doubles, drawing 2-2 in men’s singles, and losing 1-0 in men’s doubles.
A delayed start did little to disrupt the intensity, with both teams evenly matched early on. However, St Mary’s women’s players proved decisive in pulling their team ahead.
The victory was a testament to months of preparation. The St Mary’s players had been practicing together since September, competing in various events to sharpen their skills. In the past month, they intensified their training, working multiple times a week under coach David Kane to fine-tune their game ahead of the Varsity.
Women’s captain Lily Baxter led by example, delivering a dominant performance and winning both her singles matches in straight games.
“The girls did so well – I’m super proud of all of them,” said Baxter. “It was tight at times, but we stayed consistent and came out on top. So happy with everyone’s performance.”
In men’s singles, Harry was St Mary’s standout, securing two commanding straight-games wins. A former England Under-19 squad member, his sharp movement and deft touches at the net set him apart.
Men’s captain Bryn Lucas hailed his teammate’s impact: “Harry is my secret weapon – he never disappoints. His talent and consistency keep everyone calm on the bench.”
Lucas also praised the home crowd: “It was amazing playing at home with such great support from our friends. Away matches can be intimidating, so we were determined to make the most of it.”
St Mary’s squad featured Baxter, Lucas, Jess Nuttall, Charlotte Oakley, Priyansh Thakkar, Amy Scott, and Harriet Thompson.
With no official umpires, players handled scoring themselves – an added responsibility that, apart from minor disagreements, was managed smoothly.
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