DENBIGHSHIRE bragging rights belong to the team from the Vale of Clwyd.

In Division One of the North East Wales Badminton League, Llangollen hosted Denbigh A and they found their guests too hot to handle, going down 7-1.

Denbigh’s Helen Evans celebrated her return from injury by remaining undefeated in both her matches.

Steve Aylott was named as their player for the match for his performance at first mixed with Beverly Dolman, when they outlasted Nik Evans and Jane Jones, winning by 17-21, 21-14, 21-14.

Mold A continued their good form with a resounding 8-0 win at Flint Phoenix B.

Flint came closest to winning a match when Zoe Moorcroft and Nicola White took Jo Thomas and Jane Peace all the way at first ladies.

In a thrilling three-game battle, the Mold pairing clinched the deciding game to win 15-21, 21-16, 23-21.

Eros consolidated their position as runaway leaders in Division Two by whitewashing home team Rossett B 8-0.

At first men’s, the silky skills of Eros player Stuart Mears was backed up by the raw power of James Hulley and they had little trouble in overcoming Pete Watkins and Neil Pritchard by 21-14, 21-9.

Prestatyn A continue to dominate Division Three and they defeated hosts Flint Phoenix C 7-1 in their latest contest.

Flint’s only winning combination was at second mixed, when young Alfie Moorcroft and the experienced Ro Spencer claimed a 17-21, 21-13, 21-14 win over Terry Wynne and Caitlin Dolan.

Prestatyn B had similar success when they routed a depleted Holywell B.

A lady and a man short, Holywell were always going to be up against it and despite a determined effort in all matches, they suffered a 7-1 defeat.

At first mixed, George Hood and Linda Roberts spared Holywell’s blushes, when, with greater tactical awareness and speed about the court, they outclassed Simon Brennan and Ruth Salisbury to win 21-17, 21-8.

A week earlier and Mold A returned from their Division One trip to Denbigh A with a close 5-3 win.

The star of the evening was Welsh international Dan Font and it was he and his partner Pete Walker who secured the team win.

At first men’s, they proved too strong for Denbigh’s Iain Lovatt and Steve Aylott, winning 21-19, 21-15.

Llangollen did their chances of avoiding relegation the world of good when they visited Flint Phoenix B.

In a friendly, but competitive match, it was the visitors who won 5-3, with just three points separating the teams in Llangollen’s favour.

Undefeated Phil Roberts was player of the match for Phoenix and in his partnership at first mixed with the talented Zoe Moorcroft, they dug in to outlast Nik Evans and Jane Jones 17-21, 21-13, 21-17 in a thrilling three-game match.

Prestatyn A’s undefeated run of matches in Division Three came to a juddering halt when visitors Denbigh B produced a disciplined and dogged performance to be rewarded with a 5-3 win.

The match of the evening came at fourth mixed, with Prestatyn’s Paul Armstrong and Claire Atmore up against Denbigh’s Sam Pender and Jane Thomas.

Pender and Thomas won the first game 21-14, but Armstrong and Atmore then dug in and with a switch of tactics - to include flick serves and tight net play - they took the second game 21-14.

The deciding game was a real thriller, which was enjoyed by the spectators, with the lead changing hands several times.

However with the score at 24-23 in favour of Pender and Thomas, they held their nerve and after a long rally between the two pairs, a powerful Pender smash secured the winning point for the Denbigh duo.