BATS A team cooked up the recipe for success when they played Salisbury/Armada in division 3 of the Plymouth and District Badminton League.

With just three matches left every point was important to maintain their pressure on South Hams who currently top the division.

In the men?s doubles rubbers David Harrington and Alan Berry had to work hard in the first to take it 15-12, 13-15, 17-15.

The second men?s doubles saw David Harrington and Paul Bitton lose the first game 11-15 but come back in the second to win 15-12 and take the rubber into a third game. It was again long but in the end it was the Salisbury/Armada pair who won out by taking the game and rubber 15-12. The third men?s doubles rubber saw Alan Berry and Paul Bitton play well but lose out 9-15, 5-15.

The first ladies? doubles rubber saw Susie Povey and Frances Ward win the long early exchanges. They took the rubber 15-7, 15-10. The second ladies? doubles saw Susie Povey and Lizzie Rae produce a winning concoction of long rally play 15-4, 15-12.

The third rubber saw Frances Ward and Lizzie Rae dominate play but with long and drawn out rallies. In the end they took the rubber comfortably 15-10, 15-9.

With just the mixed doubles to go the BATS team were confident of winning but wanted to take as many points as possible.

The first mixed doubles rubber saw David Harrington and Susie Povey play long and drawn out rallies in trying to wear down the opposition and take the points. In the end they took the rubber 15-7, 15-10.

The second rubber saw Alan Berry and Frances Ward take time to settle but once they had they took both games comfortably 15-7, 15-10.

The final rubber saw Paul Bitton and Lzzie Rae start well together and take the first game 15-11 but lose the second game when the Salisbury/Armada pair changed their tactics 7-15. The third and final game started close but again the Salisbury/Armada took the initiative and take it and the rubber 5-15.

At the end of the evening it was the BATS A team who came away with a good victory 6-3 against Salisbury/Armada to maintain their second place in division 3.

BATS B team played University B team in division 4 of the league. With the University team currently bottom of the division it was important for BATS team to do well.

The first of the men?s doubles rubbers was close with Ewen Rae and Mike Ward having to work hard. The first game saw University come through easily 6-15, but the second game came right down to the wire with the BATS men winning 17-16. In the third University men back strongly to take the game and the rubber 15-3.

In the second rubber Ewen Rae and Jonathon Freeman fought hard in the first game but the University men won, then repeated their success in the second game to take the rubber.

In the third rubber Mike Ward and Jonathon Freeman fought back hard after losing the first game 8-15 to win the second 15-12 and mirror this in the third game to take the rubber 15-12.

The first ladies? doubles rubber saw the University ladies fight well but the pairing of Tamsin Woodruff and Kate Povey proved too strong as they lost 0-15, 0-15.

In the second rubber Tamsin Woodruff and Glynis Hingston also proved too strong for the University pair. Tamsin and Glynis won 15-3, 15-7.

In the third ladies? doubles rubber the BATS pair wanted to make it a clean sweep and got straight down to the task, allowing the University pair little time to settle. In the end Kate and Glynis took the rubber 15-2, 15-5.

In the first of the mixed doubles rubbers Mike Ward and Kate Povey won convincingly, allowing Kate to retire undefeated to begin her new life in Blackburn - BATS wish her all the best.

In the second rubber Ewen Rae and Tamsin Woodruff took the first game 15-7. The University pair came back strongly in the second game but Ewen and Tamsin narrowly won it to take the rubber 15-13. In the third mixed doubles Jonathon Freeman and Glynis Hingston played well to take the rubber 15-4, 15-9.

Despite their best efforts University lost 7-2 but it was a great match with a good atmosphere.