Clifton ‘A’ have taken the ladies one title after home and away wins over University Students in the York Badminton League.

This tremendous effort from the Clifton team saw them wrest a York badminton division one title from Railway Institute for the first time in over 20 years.

Karen Broster and Lucy Smith took maximums in both campus matches for a six-rubber total of 252-140.

St John hit top form in ladies one for a 6-3 win at RI Monday/Wednesday ‘B’.

Nikki and Emma Hainsworth starred for the campus ranks, pulling out all the stops to score three straight wins for 126-60.

University Students travelled to Clifton ‘B’ in men’s one and won 8-1 after several close games.

James Hor and Baillie Watterson were best for the Heslington team and easily scored the best series return of 142-91.

Erik Wagenaars and George Noble again led the way for Clifton ‘A’ as their team scored an 8-1 away win over University Students ‘B’.

Selby Jubilee ‘A’ and St John fought out a close struggle in men’s two with Jubilee just winning 5-4.

James Dawson and James Barrett effectively took the match when they beat the top student pair of Adam Harvey and Simon Templeman 21-19, 22-24, 21-19.

RI Monday/Wednesday ‘B’ proved too strong for RI Tuesday/Thursday ‘C’ in men’s two and easily cruised to a 9-0 success.

Loz Smith and Dave Preece were untroubled in taking their allocation in straight games to 126-86.

RI Tuesday/Thursday ‘C’ suffered a further reverse when they entertained Selby Jubilee and lost out 7-2.

Ian Sinker and Brian Morley took both Institute wins in a good display but had to give way to James Barrett and Dave Tranter, who won 19-21, 21-18, 21-19, which contributed to a return of 145-124 from three wins.

Knavesmire had varying fortunes in men’s three. After beating Fulfordgate 5-4 at home, they lost 6-3 at York RI Monday/Wednesday ‘C’.

Steve Walker and Mat Hobman took three Fulfordgate wins for a total of 142-112, but Brian Bell and Mike Lewis swung the match with a last-rubber 21-18, 16-21, 21-13 over Garry Hall and Alan Roberts.

Men’s three leaders University Students ‘C’ eased to a fine 8-1 win at Terrys.

John Sinclair and Jinglun Tang were the top campus pair and returned 144-123 from three wins, while Ed Hadcock and Domonic Ip spared the home whitewash with a 25-23, 16-21, 21-16 triumph over Ian White and Stephen Hallett. RI Monday/Wednesday ‘A’ had to work hard to overcome a lively Clifton ‘B’ team 5-4 at St Peter’s School in mixed one.

Nicky Coggins and Nick Brodie swung the match for Institute with three wins for 145-109, which included a 21-18, 23-21 success over Richard McIntosh and Lucy Smith, who took two Clifton wins.