LATEST NEWS

Suffolk Saxon shook up the AJ Bell NBL's established orderfor the second time in less than four weeks tonight as the league's newest sideproduced a stunning 3-2 'smash and grab' win away at Loughborough Lightning .

There was jubilation too for Surrey Smashers  and Team Derby who each tasted victory with 3-2 scorelines on a match-night packed with tie-break drama, intriguing sub plots and even a substitution thrown in for good measure. 

For Surrey Smashers, their 3-2 win over  Universityof Nottingham Badminton  at SurreySports Park marked a first ever AJ Bell NBL victory over their rivals and the bragging rights in the 'Adcock versus Adcock' undercard went the way of Gabby despite a mixed doubles loss against husband Chris in the evening's fial event.

The home win - which included a first event win in a Smashers shirt for Sam Parsons - saw a return to winning ways after a slow start to the season for Smashers but leaves Nottingham still looking for their first fixture win of the season after being on the wrong end of two 3-2 scorelines.

Birmingham Lions, victors in Nottingham on match-night 2, saw their unbeaten start to the season ended at Team Derby who overcame the early loss of Dutch star Jacco Arends through injury to edge a fixture clinching women's doubles event on a nervy tie-break.  Like Surrey Smashers, the Team Derby win was their first over their opponents in three seasons of the AJ Bell NBL.

But the big story was in Loughborough. The Suffolk Saxons, who beat Surrey Smashers 4-1 at the start ofNovember, showed a never say die resilience reminiscent of their head coach Anthony Clarkin winning three sudden death tie-breaks in Women's Singles, Women's Double andin the Mixed Doubles final event to close out the evening.

And the result could not have come in a more dramaticfashion. Loughborough Lightning seemed in total control at 2-0 up in the mixeddoubles but England rising stars Sean Vendy and Fee Teng Liew, making herSuffolk debut, produced a stunning comeback to send the travelling Saxons fanshome happy.

Captain Andy Ellis said: “That result is huge for us. It proves it wasn't a fluke against Surreyand I can't speak highly enough of what the young players have done here. They have that never say die attitude we wantthem to have and they never know they are beaten.

"People see Loughborough's home record and the quality theyhave and we have come and done this. Wego into every game looking to win it and we get rewarded with results likethis.”

For full results from all three fixtures,  CLICK HERE

Watch extended highlights from Suffolk's dramatic win on BT Sport 1 this Thursday at 8pm.