Brighouse C beat Shepley 5-4 in a top of the table Huddersfield and District Badminton League Division IV clash.
A close match was expected with both sides battling it out for top spot, and Shepley went into the game having lost their previous meeting with Fartown.
Shepley’s men started well with James Austerberry, Paul Hutchinson and debutant Ian Carpenter winning their three doubles matches against James Firth, Jon Clerehugh and Oliver Firth.
The ladies, playing without Haley Smith put up a brave fight, but couldn’t stop Brighouse fighting back strongly. Kim Summers who was back from injury, and mother and daughter Bev and Elaine Cashin lost all three matches against Sarah Booth, Kate Simmons and Maria Humpherson, with two of them going to three legs.
With the match tied at 3 - 3 all was riding on the mixed doubles. Brighouse’s Sarah Booth and Jon Clerehugh won 21-14 21-19 over James Austerberry and Elaine Cashin, before
Maria Humpherson and James First beat Paul Hutchinson and Bev Cashin 21-16 21-13 to give Brighouse a 5-3 lead overall.
Shepley hit back with Ian Carpenter and Kim Summers beating Kate Simmons and Oliver Firth 21- 15 21- 19 in the final game, but Brighouse left on the night with a well deserved 5-4 victory to move top of the league.
Shepley 5 Brighouse 4
Mens – (home names first): James Austerberry & Paul Hutchinson beat James Firth & Jon Clerehugh 21-19 21-14, James Austerberry & Ian Carpenter beat James Firth & Oliver Firth 21-19 18-21 21-19, Paul Hutchinson & Ian Carpenter beat Jon Clerehugh & Oliver Firth 19-21 21-8 21-8.
Ladies – Kim Summers & Bev Cashin lost to Sarah Booth & Maria Humpherson 19-21 14-21, Kim Summers & Elaine Cashin lost to Sarah Booth & Kate Simmons 16-21 21-15 18-21, Bev Cashin & Elaine Cashin lost to Maria Humpherson & Kate Simmons 21-10 17-21 16-21.
Mixed – James Austerberry & Elaine Cashin lost to Sarah Booth & Jon Clerehugh 14-21 19-21, Paul Hutchinson & Bev Cashin lost to Maria Humpherson & James Firth 16-21 13-21, Ian Carpenter & Kim Summers beat Kate Simmons & Oliver Firth 21-15 21-19.
