UNIVERSITY Staff Ladies emphasised their leadership of division two with a comprehensive 9-0 home win over Pocklington in the York and District Badminton League.

Sally Locker and Lynne Terry were completely untroubled in taking three straight wins for a total of 90-10.

Geoff Oxley and Craig Dobson starred for Riverside as their side beat Shepherds 5-4. Oxley and Dobson took three wins for 92-49, including a 12 and 0 over Paul Nichol and Roger Martin, who took two Shepherd wins.

University Students 'A' entertained Drax 'A' and won the men's division one fixture 7-2. James Croll and M Hostianien topped the home averages with three straight wins for 90-35.

Drax 'A' bounced back with a 5-4 home win over Clifton 'A'. After Phil Brunyard and Steve Parr led the Drax charge with three wins for 94-49, the match was tied at 4-4 going into the final rubber in which Dave Hearn and Rex Pocklington sealed the Drax win with a 6 and 4 over Tony Tate and Mike Hourston.

Shepherds 'B' sprung a minor surprise in men's three with a 5-4 home win over high-flying Clifton 'B'. Phil Sinton and Colin Ness took three Clifton wins for a return of 90-35, but Paul Elliott and Matt Baker kept their nerve in the final rubber to clinch the match with an 11 and 7 over Rob Shaw and Simon Christian.

Fulfordgate excelled in a 6-3 win at Selby Jubilee 'B'.

Matt Hobman and Gary Hall took three wins for the visitors to return 96-56, but Alan Roberts and Pete Wilkinson sealed the win bonus points with a 15-13 12-15 15-11 over Simon Benson and James Barrett.

University Students 'A' scored a comprehensive 8-1 home win over Drax 'B' in mixed one. Phil Pap and Kate Marchbank topped the student averages with three straight wins for 90-27, while Rex Pocklington and Kate Jackson took the Drax consolation with a 12 and 5 over Sam Gardiner and Sarah Jones.

Drax 'A' entertained University Students 'B' and won 7-2. Scott Anderson and Gayle Bradley scored three Drax wins for a total of 90-35, including an 8 and 11 over Sarah Myers and Manic Chakravati who took two students' wins.

Rowntree 'B' scored a 6-3 home win over Huntington 'B' in mixed three. Phil Pearce and Joyce Palmer were in sparkling form for 'Trees, recording three straight wins for a total of 90-30.

YUSC 'B' were pushed hard by St John's in mixed four before bagging a 5-4 home win. Sue Scott and Garry Turver were the architects of the victory with three wins for 97-77, including a tough 7-15 15-12 15-11 over Lucy Smith and George Noble, the pick of the college pairs.

Updated: 11:02 Thursday, April 22, 2004