Week 8 News

Unbeaten Bury dominate the top division of the Bolton Badminton League with former championship title-holders Hawkshaw A their latest victims.

They certainly didn’t have the match all their own way, however. Hawkshaw pushed Bury all the way and were 6-4 ahead after the mixed doubles. Strong Bury third couple Liz Holt and Scott Webber then ensured that all but one of the men’s and ladies’ games went their way, and Hawkshaw only managed to add one ladies’ game to their final tally for an 11-7 Bury win.

Markland Hill A, currently second-placed in A Section, also kept up their title threat with a 16-2 win over Hawkshaw B and third-placed Forrest A had the same scoreline over their C team.

DL Farnworth A are still just ahead of Deane A at the top of B Section and initially looked shaky in their home match against Sharples A. The teams were level after the mixed but solid play from home third couple J Owen and Tim Barrow ensured a final 12-6 Farnworth win.

At the other end of this section, Westhoughton A had their hopes boosted when visiting team Markland Hill D turned up without a third man, gifting them six games. The visitors, though, dug in to drop only two more games and snatch a 10-8 win from the nail-biting encounter.

DL Farnworth C are currently second in C Section and set off like an express train in their home clash with Sharples C. Farnworth top couple Georgina Ryding and Dave Forester took their opening set to 11 and 12, starting a run of games which left Farnworth 9-1 ahead after the mixed.

Linda Duckworth and Marion Anderson took the first of the top ladies’ games for Sharples, but the visitors were only able to add one more against a consistent side with Farnworth emerging 15-3 victors.

Metro A and Moorside A are both in the top half of this keenly-contested division, and this closeness of standard showed when they met at Moorside’s Smithills sports centre base. Judith Standish and Richard Beamer got the home side off to a good start with both their opening games and Moorside were  in a 6-4 lead after the mixed, but Metro started a run of games taking both top ladies’ – the second 29-27.  When David Smith and Steve Foster took the final two men’s games in a tight set, Metro had clinched the points 10-8.

Westhoughton C – formed from the old Chowbent badminton club – dominate D Section with Bolton Lads and Girls Club A in hot pursuit. Smithills B are among the top four teams pushing for promotion but had a fight on their hands against DL Farnworth D.

Games see-sawed during the mixed, but Smithills managed a 6-4 lead and, in spite of some very close games, kept a clean sheet to emerge 14-4 victors.