Holmfirth captain, Zainal Muhammad, led by example winning all three of his rubbers in his sides 4-2 victory over Kirkburton in the Mens Division One of the Huddersfield Badminton League.

It was Muhammad and Kyle Smith who got Holmfirth off to a flying start, winning the first rubber in straight sets, before teammates Simon Booth and Alex Chu won a tight second rubber in three sets against Kirkburton’s Tony Ruttle and Mark Earnshaw.

With the home side already 2-0 ahead the third game looked liked a match decider and so it proved when Muhammad and Chu teamed up to beat Andrew Denbeigh-White and Earnshaw in straight sets.

However, a late fightback looked a possibility when Kirkburton won the next two rubbers to make the score 3-2 but, Muhammad and Booth sealed the win in an exciting final game that went the distance against Denbeigh-White and Ruttle to clinch the points for Holmfirth and consolidate second spot in Division One.

Results: (Home side first) - Muhammad and Smith beat Denbeigh-White and John Mellor 21-18 21-17, Booth and Chu beat Ruttle and Earnshaw 16-21 21-17 21-13, Muhammad and Chu beat Denbeigh-White and Earnshaw 21-11 21-14, Booth and Smith lost to Ruttle and Mellor 21-13 14-21 15-21, Chu and Smith lost to Earnshaw and Mellor 26-24 16-21 17-21, Muhammad and Booth beat Denbeigh-White and Ruttle 24-22 15-21 21-18.