REPORT ON THE FLINTSHIRE BADMINTON LEAGUE
Llanferres team:- L to R back - Dave Clough, Peter Robinson, Simon Lovell, Tom Givelin
L to R Front - Jane Clough, Eli Clough, Jane Givelin, Claire Halestrap
Top of the table clash leaves Buckley and Holywell all square. Division 1 leaders, by thirteen points, Deeside struggled to salvage a draw against an improving Denbigh with Paul McCracken and Danny Hughes outlasting Martin Tootill and Gareth Burrows in a tight three setter at first men's doubles. Airbus hammered Mold to a 7 -1 submission with Steve Aylott getting the player of the match award. Bottom of the Division, Ruthin, in a 2-6 loss were no match for a strong Llanferres team which saw the Jane and Eli Clough partnership give a serious drubbing to visitors Gill Tustain and Sheila Palmer with the loss of only two points.
In Division 2 leaders Buckley found it hard going against second placed Holywell and were grateful to get away with sharing the points in a match where Caren Price and Cal Lawrence were outstanding, dropping only four points to Holywell's Anne and Becky Booth. Bottom placed Ruthin performed only slightly better than their A Team with a tightly fought match against a dogged Connah's Quay before going down 5 - 3; only three points separating the teams.Third placed Denbigh rattled up a great 7-1 win at Flint with only Tara Moorcroft and Roe Spencer saving the home team from a whitewash, overcoming Meinir Roberts and Michaela Lloyd-Williams in a thrilling three setter.
As expected, Division 3 leaders, Mold B wrapped up a clear 7 - 1 win over their C Team where youngsters Chris Scutter and Jordan Ellis proved too durable for senior players Joe Pugh and Dave Sumner winning in three. Already handicapped being a lady short, Denbigh were outplayed by Holywell who wrapped up a comfortable 7 - 1 win to move up into fourth place. Match of the evening was a cracker in which Helen Ashworth and George Hood earned a hard fought triumph over Alun Hughes and Caroline Parry in three sets. A 7 - 1 demolition by Llangollen over Denbigh moved them into third place and player of the match Jane Jones teamed up with Rhian Povey to upstage Caroline and Heather Parry with the loss of only two points. Struggling Mold were completely outplayed by Holywell in another 7 -1 rout with only the win by the young pairing of Chris Owen and Deiniol Hughes saved Mold's blushes.
Close win for Connah's Quay in Challenge Cup Plate Competition Connah's Quay A (-161H) just got the better of Mold A (-41H) in a 9 - 7 win, with the visitors' young guns Jon Savory and Dan Font thrashing Luke Tanner and Dave Markey 15/-2 and 15/-5. Mold C (Scr) went the way of their A Team, outplayed by a strong Denbigh C (+6) who went on to win 14 - 2. A battling display by home team White Horse (+2) could not prevent a rampant Llanferres A (-10) running away with a 14 - 2 win; Clare Halestrap and Sue Clarke in outstanding form in their two games win over Danielle Coxey and Alison Williams.
All England Badminton Championship, NIA, Birmingham A must for every badminton enthusiast - these "unofficial world championships" are not to be missed. Play takes place from Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 March 2010 and pay at the door.