BOLTON Badminton League champions Markland Hill A have found some unexpectedly tough competition this season - from the club's own B team.

The second team is just two points away from the A Section leaders and have a match in hand, with a clutch of following clubs yet to look a serious threat.

Park are unbeaten in their B Section fixtures, disposing of the initial danger from Markland Hill D with a 10-8 win, and have edged ahead of likely contenders Forrest B thanks to one extra match.

Markland Hill F came down from C Section this season and hope for a swift return. They're currently in third spot in D Section but Moorside A was in no mood to respect ambitions when they visited the Heaton club.

Sylvia Gill and Jonny Shacklady for the home side were on winning form, taking all their mixed, and three more from Pam Yates and Geoff Taylor put them in a useful 7-3 lead after the mixed.

But Moorside showed their strength by taking both top ladies', narrowly followed by both top men's - and cleaning up the rest of the games with sterling work from third pair Jo Taylor and Rob Halliwell to finish 11-7 winners.

Equally fluid is the situation in E Section where D L Farnworth C has claimed the top spot by a single point, closely pursued by Moorside C and D teams.

When Farnworth entertained Moorside C they must have had a confidence boost when Irene Crompton and Adam Rowan took both opening games. Moorside, however, came straight back with two games won in the setting by their top couple Amanda Bracegirdle and Steve Gittins.

Two more from Irene and Adam, plus two more from Kulimber Wisher and Jamie Allen put Farnworth at a 7-3 advantage after the mixed games.

However, Amanda and Hazel Penington immediately took both top ladies' to 17 and 9. Farnworth fought back to take the opening top men's, only for Moorside to put on the pressure winning the second game.

When Mo Kirwin with Hazel Pennington took both second ladies' games for the visitors, the score was levelled at 8-8 with the final men's left to decide the points. Here, Jamie Allen and Ajith Babu proved marginally stronger when they snatched the first to 18, and then put the matter beyond any doubt with the final game of the night to 14 for a 10-8 win and two points.

Section A: Hawkshaw B 3 15 Bury A 15; Bury A 8 10 Markland Hill C 10; Markland Hill B 12 6 Hawkshaw A 6; ABC 12 6 Forrest A 6; Bury A 6 12 Markland Hill A 12.

Section B: Markland Hill D 8 10 Park 10; Hawkshaw C 10 8 Markland Hill D 8; Forrest B 8 10 Hawkshaw C 10; Sharples B 10 8 Westhoughton B 8; Westhoughton A 8 10 Markland Hill E 10.

Section C: D L Farnworth A 14 4 Forrest C 4; Forrest C 17 1 Hawkshaw D 1; Forrest D 6 12 Deane B 12; Deane C 14 4 Forrest E 4; Westhoughton C 7 11 D L Farnworth B 11; Hawkshaw D 12 6 Metros B 6.

Section D: Markland Hill F 7 11 Moorside A 11; Forrest F 4 14 Oakgate 14; Section E: D L Farnworth C 10 8 Moorside C 8; Sharples D 15 3 Forrest G 3; Lads & Girls 10 8 D L Farnworth D 8.