York RI look favourites to win men's division one of York Badminton League following recent wins over University Students 'A' (6-3) and Drax 'A' (9-0).

Paul Turner and Mike Jones put in a good display for Institute with six wins from six rubbers for a two-match total of 195-102. James Croll and Russell Binns took two student wins but lost 8-15 17-15 1-15 to Turner and Jones.

Riverside sealed the men's division two title with a 6-3 win at Rowntree, whose Phil Grant was injured in the opening rubber. Ian Turner and Jeff Whittaker won twice for Rowntree but lost out 3 and 8 to Geoff Oxley and Craig Dobson.

RI Tuesday/Thursday 'B' had mixed fortunes, beating University Students 'B' 7-2 at home and then being whitewashed at home by St John's.

Ho Wong and Barry Woodward top-scored against St John's with three wins for 90-49. In the St John's fixture, the student teacher pairing of Dave Dearsley and Liam Whittington hit top form to record three straight wins for 90-31.

Clifton 'B' ran men's division three leaders Tadcaster close before losing 5-4 at St Peter's School. Phil Zeland and Alan Ward swung the match with three wins for 90-37, including a 10 and 7 over Mark Screeton and Stuart Robertson.

Drax 'B' kept up their good form with a 7-2 victory over Pocklington 'A'. Mark Harris and Sharon Ross played well for Drax to record 92-57, while Pam Palmer and Mark Burrows responded well for Pock with scores of 6-15, 15-10, 15-11, against Sue Matchett and Graeme Campbell.

Sheriff Hutton won 5-4 at Easingwold in mixed division two. Linda Fairclough and Chris Schofield were Sheriff's match-winners with three wins for 121-72, including the vital seventh when they beat Linda Dallinson and N Croaker 15-4, 15-17, 15-7.

York University Staff Club 'A' edged home 5-4 against Drax 'D' in mixed division three. Anthony Boyes and Di McKechnie enjoyed three Drax wins for 98-60, while Staff Club's Sally Locker and Simon Fletcher kept their nerve in the deciding ninth to beat Ros Cook and Ken Walker 15-13, 15-1.

Tadcaster 86 kept up their good home form to beat York University Staff Club 'B' 6-3 in mixed division four. M Gilbert and C Topping took the only Tadcaster maximum for a total of 102-88, which included a 15-12 15-11 success Sue Scott and Garry Turner who took two Staff Club wins.

Pocklington 'B' scored a double with a 5-4 win at Fulfordgate 'A'. Garry Hall and Maureen Medlar took two home wins but lost out 8 and 12 to Pocklington's best pairing Catherine Hyde and Matt Burrows.

John Warburton and Sue Smith starred for Market Weighton as their side beat Fulfordgate 'B' 6-3 in mixed division five. Smith and Warburton returned 90-52 in straight sets and included a 9 and 10 over Alan and Ruth Roberts who took two wins for Fulfordgate.

Updated: 11:39 Thursday, April 17, 2003