Mark Middleton, a mixed doubles semi-finalist at the Bank of Scotland International in Glasgow last weekend, went one better in Cardiff today when he and Ben Stawski finished runners-up at the Yonex Welsh International.

The England prospects were only denied top spot on the podium by German pair Peter Kasbauer and Josche Zurwonne, who won 21-19 21-12 after overturning a 15-12 deficit in the first game.

Unseeded Middleton and Stawski beat Paul Van Rietvelde and Gary Fox 21-9 21-12 in the first round, toppled fourth seeds Chris Coles and Matthew Nottingham 21-14 21-12 in the second round then proved too strong for Swiss pair Thomas Heiniger and Florian Schmid 21-17 21-18 in the quarter-finals.

But their best win came in the semi-finals when they came from a game down to beat Scottish second seeds Angus Gilmour and Martin Campbell 19-21 21-17 21-13. to reach the last four.

For the second week running Middleton had to settle for a semi-final spot in the mixed doubles. He and Alyssa Lim, the fourth seeds, beat team-mates James Lauder and Hayley Rodgers 21-11 21-15 in the quarter-finals.

But the England pair then lost to Zurwonne and Carle Nelte 11-21 22-20 21-12 after holding match point at 20-19 in the second game. Last week they also had match point in their Scottish semi-final before missing out.

Matthew Nottingham and Helena Lewczynska also reached the last four in Cardiff with a 21-16 21-15 win over Nigeria's Olaoluwa Fagbemi and Susan Ideh before going down to top seeds and eventual winners Kasbauer and Johanna Goliszewski 21-12 21-18

The pick of England's performances in the singles came from Leeds teenager Sarah Milne, who reached the quarter-finals by knocking out fifth seed Barbara Matias of France 21-19 21-11 in the first round then beating Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt 21-19 21-18 in the second round.

In the quarter-finals she was edged out by in-form Scotland player Linda Sloan 21-18 21-16.