York RI ‘A’ ladies won the battle of the top clubs in ladies division one with a 7-2 home win over Clifton ‘A’ in York Badminton League.

Nicky Milstead and Heather Hawkins put in a staunch home display with a season’s best return of 126-97 from three straight wins.

York RI men’s ‘A’ team also entertained their oldest rivals in Clifton ‘A’ and had to work very hard for a 5-4 win in men’s division one, where Chris Hunt and Mark Harris set up the Institute win with three wins for 162-123, after going to a deciding end twice.

York RI ‘A’ also prised out a 6-3 win over visiting University Students ‘A’.

Ollie Cohen and Harris took the honours with all three rubbers for a return of 161-127, while Paddy Clarke and Thanut Tritasavit took two student wins.

The students’ ‘A’ ranks had earlier triumphed 8-1 at Selby/Drax ‘A’.

Tom Gatenby and Ricky Kanabar set the University standard with three straight wins for 126-66 and were well supported by James Hor and Thanut Tritasavit, who returned 126-75 also from straight wins.

In men’s two, University Students ‘B’ posted a 6-3 win at RI Tues/Thurs ‘B’ and a 9-0 home win over Clifton ‘C’.

Chris Ashley and Baillie Watterson took the campus honours at the Institute with three hard-fought wins for 155-126, which included the match-clinching 21-12, 19-21, 21-17.

Against Clifton, Dave Hope and Baillie Watterson linked up well to claim the top campus score in 130-85 with fine attacking play.

Knavesmire had a narrow men’s three 5-4 home triumph over University Students ‘C’.

Ollie Metcalf and R Mews took three student wins for a total of 126-60, but the home team rallied to claim the final rubber when Mike Lewis and Brian Bell beat J Phillip and T Pie 17 and 18.

Shepherds opened their mixed division one season with a 7-2 home win over newly-promoted Selby/Drax ‘A’. James Pearson and Lisa McClaren claimed three hard-fought wins for a return of 155-140.

Clifton ‘A’ went top after a 9-0 demolition of their ‘C’ team against whom George Noble and Karen Anderson were the pick after scoring a season’s-best 126-66 from three straight wins.