ST Cuthbert's B defied the odds to register a 5-4 win against Valley St James B in an enthralling Division Two meeting in the latest round of Huddersfield Badminton League matches.

The reverse fixture back in September ended with St Cuthbert’s suffering an 8-1 defeat, but with John Cockram back in the team after injury, the Saints were in confident mood.

And they had even more reason to be confident when Callum McLoughlin and Cockram won their first rubber in two straight games 22-20 21-16 against Oliver Platt and Graham Jessop.

McLoughlin and Ash Reed then paired up, but lost their rubber in two straight games against Oliver Platt and Steve Bricklebank 11-21 13-21.

Then it was Cockram and Reed’s turn to go on court and they performed well together, comfortably beating Jessop and Bricklebank 21-13 21-19.

However, St Cuthberts Ladies did not fair so well losing two out of three rubbers against Valley St James. Helen Pearman and Alyson Ronan lost out to the mother and daughter pairing of Helen and Rachel Fay 14-21, 14-21.

This was followed by Pearman’s and Bev Wilson’s defeat to Rachel Fay and Bernie Ruttle 11-21 21-16 11-21.

St Cuthberts 'B' Badminton team - Back L to R Helen Peakman, Bev Wilson, Alison Ronan. Front John Cockram, Ash Reed, Callum McLouchlin.

But, Ronan and Wilson did salvage some pride for St Cuthbert’s ladies when they beat Helen Fay and Ruttle 21-12 21-10, to level the match at 3-3.

The home side didn’t get off to the best possible start in the mixed pairings, with McLoughlin and Wilson losing out to Platt and Rachel Fay 22-20 11-21 10-21.

However, Cockram and Pearman won 21-17 21-18 against Jessop and Helen Fay to take the match to the final rubber.

With the match at stake Reed and Ronan forged a brilliant new partnership together to overcome Bricklebank and Ruttle 21-15 19-21 21-9 to seal the win for their side.

Despite the win St Cuthberts remain sixth in division two, but move to with four points of Valley St James in fourth.