York RI mark time in pursuit of badminton league crown (From York Press)

York RI mark time in pursuit of badminton league crown

9:11am Friday 27th May 2011 in Badminton By Paul Hobman

York RI Monday/Wednesday ‘A’ kept control of the York Badminton League men’s division one title race with a 7-2 win at Clifton ‘A’.

Mark Harris and Ollie Cohen were taken to a deciding end by Erik Wagenaars and George Noble before winning 21-23 21-16 22-20 in the best rubber of the match.

Clifton ‘A’ bounced back in their final match to rout RI Tues/Thursday ‘A’ 9-0 and consolidate second spot.

Wagenaars and Noble were again Clifton’s best, maintaining their season-long consistency with a return of 126-57.

Riverside, strengthened by the return of Fowler brothers, Alex and Andy, won 6-3 at Clifton ‘B’ in men’s one. The Fowlers were in top form and took their allocation for a total of 126-56 in straight games.

RI Tues/Thursday ‘B’ hit top form to beat a gritty Selby/Drax ‘A 6-3. Adam Taylor and Shafiq Ahmed put in their best display of the season to score three straight Institute wins for a return of 126-95.

Copmanthorpe ended their men’s three season in mid-table after a 7-2 win at a resilient Terry’s side.

Paul Marshall and Xiao Cheng Ge top-scored for the visitors with three wins for 140-108 after a tough three-end rubber against John Richardson and Chris Smethurst, the visitors winning 13-21 21-15 21-15.

Huntington Ladies lost 6-3 at home to a strong Tadcaster team in ladies’ division two. Lesley Bowling and Pat Watson were in great form for the visitors and were untroubled in taking a total of 126-75 in straight sets.

Clifton ‘A’ ended their mixed one season only one point behind old rivals York RI Mon/Wed ‘A’ in the closest finish for many seasons.

Their last match was an easy 9-0 win at Riverside ‘A’ with only one rubber going to a deciding end.

Karen Anderson and George Noble hit top form again for the visitors with a return of 126-79 from straight wins.

Riverside ‘A’ hit back in their final match to win 8-1 at Shepherds. The mother and son pairing of Trisha and Alex Fowler set the standard with three wins for 142-103, supported by Geoff Oxley and Alison Hyde, who chipped in with three for 134-111.

Selby Jubilee ‘A’ ensured mixed two survival with a 6-3 win over Tadcaster ‘A’ .

James and Ning Dawson were Jubilee’s mainstays with three wins for 142-116, which included a 21-19 22-20 victory over the top Tadcaster pair of Pete Smith and Lesley Bowling.

Fulfordgate ‘A’ finally won the mixed three crown after a tense 5-4 win over Huntington ‘A’.

Mat Hobman and Hazel Winfield did the damage with three straight wins for 126-82 to maintain their unbeaten record.

Fulfordgate ‘B’ scored their first win of the season in their penultimate match, 6-3 against Middlethorpe. Hazel Quarrie and Martin Waller took all three Middlethorpe wins for 160-133.