YORK University Student Ladies handed out a lesson to the University Staff with an 8-1 win in ladies division one of the York Badminton League.

Nicky Roe and Alex Darlington took the honours degree with three straight wins for 90-12. Sally Locker and Lynn Terry took the staff consolation win.

The men's division one title chase gained momentum after York RI beat league leaders Students 'A' 7-2 at their Queen Street gym.

Jon Main and Richard Pauw top-scored for the Institute with three wins for 99-67, including an 11 and 6 over James Croll and Russell Binns who took both Student points.

Shepherds 'B' entertained York University Staff Club in men's division three and scored a narrow 5-4 win. Paul Forth and James White did the damage for the home side with three wins for 90-31 including the match-winning ninth where they beat Keith Locker and Garry Turner 7 and 2.

York RI 'B' hit good home form to register an 8-1 win over Students 'B' in mixed division one. Tim Jarvis and Dawn Chambers put in the best home display to register 90-28, while Alex Darlington and Chris Woodruffe took the consolation with a 10-15 15-12 15-8 win over Nick Brodie and Karen Wedgwood.

University Students 'A' team fared better with an 8-1 home win over Drax 'A'. Russell Binns and Nicky Roe were in great form for the campus-based team registering three wins for 90-26.

Huntington hit good home form in mixed division two registering wins over Rowntree 'B' (7-2) and Pocklington 'A' (5-4). Paul Moisley and Angela Hobman were the pick of the home pairs in both matches. They scored maximums in both matches for a six-rubber total of 180-74.

Drax 'B' proved too strong for Rowntree 'B' and won 9-0 away at the Haxby Road gym. Dave Hearn and Alison Dinsdale were the pick of the visiting pairs with straight wins for 93-58.

However, Rowntree 'A' travelled to Knavesmire 'A' and were pushed hard before winning 6-3. With five rubbers going to a deciding end the result was in the balance until the seventh rubber where Brenda Drummond and Jeff Whittaker beat Andy Limbert and Heather Richardson 6-15, 15-4, 15-7 to seal the win bonus points.

St John's suffered two defeats recently, losing 3-6 away to RI Tuesday/Thursday 'A' and then 2-7 away to Drax 'C'.

The RI match saw Sue Maddison and Chris Hunt top-score for the Institute with three wins for 101-55.

In the Drax match Rex Pocklington and Janet Conyers took the Drax honours with all three for a return of 90-37.

Shepherds visited Selby Jubilee 'A' in mixed division three and won 6-3.

However, the best performance came from Jubilee's Neil Richardson and Lynne Redman who took all three Jubilee wins in straight sets for a total of 90-45.

Tadcaster 86 entertained Fulfordgate 'A' in mixed division four and edged home 5-4 in a close match. Best performance came from Fulfordgate's Maureen Medlar and Matt Hobman who took all three rubbers for an aces total of 102-68.

M Gilbert and C Topping took two Tadcaster wins, but lost 11 and 12 to Medlar and Hobman.

Drax 'E' used home advantage to score a 6-3 win over Pocklington 'B' in mixed four.

Sue Hardy and Adam Prescott were the pick of the Drax pairs with three straight wins for 92-28.

Univ Students 'C' confirmed their top spot in mixed division five with a 6-3 home win over second placed Selby Jubilee 'B'.

Pete Robinson and Kate Haydock put in another good Student display to score three wins for 92-33.

Updated: 11:25 Friday, March 28, 2003