BADMINTON: Reigning Bolton League champions Hawkshaw A have taken a positive step nearer retaining their title.

They demolished the threat from Markland Hill B — currently second-placed in A Section — with an 18-0 scoreline that showed their determination. The two clubs’ other top division sides have also clashed recently Markland Hill A beat Hawkshaw B 15-3, and the Heaton club’s C team lost 7-11 to Hawkshaw C.

In B Section, Oakgate continued their domination by dismissing their closest challengers Sharples A 14-4. The team of Naym Minn, Lyn Seal, Danny Lockie, Nicola McManus, Simon Froud and Michelle Parkinson conceded only two games in the mixed and two in the levels to reinforce their unbeaten position at the top.

An interesting situation developed at Forrest BC when the home B team entertained DL Farnworth A at Bolton Arena. Forrest player Paul Hardman was stuck in traffic and another player also failed to appear.

After 20 minutes, the B team enlisted the help of John Austin who was there to play in a D team match. Watching the evening’s fixtures was Marc Rideout, currently playing for the club’s F team, who offered to go home for his kit and turn out for the D team in Austin’s place.

Austin then joined Claire Nelson at third mixed, which they split, and the team ultimately went on to a 13-5 victory.

Meanwhile, Rideout played at third with Pratibha Patel, joining C team-mates Ian Winrow, Elaine Powers, Dave Travis — also stepping up a level— and Judith Mealor in their C Section match.

Ridout and Patel split third mixed and he then split both men’s games, narrowly losing the first of the final men’s games with Dave Travis. But Rideout and Travis managed to win the last game of the match to earn a draw and share the points. match that had involved real team-work.

Forrest C maintained their unbeaten record in this section, with DL Farnworth B breathing down their necks. And Metro B kept up their clean scoresheet in D Section where Sharples B are pushing them for top honours.

Results A Section: Hawkshaw C 11 Markland Hill C 7; Hawkshaw A 18 Markland Hill B 0; Racketeers 11 Bury 7; Markland Hill A 15 Hawkshaw B 3; Bury 17 Hawkshaw C 1.

B Section: Markland Hill D 6 Deane A 12; Westhoughton A 7 Markland Hill D 11; Oakgate A 14 Sharples A 4; Markland Hill D 16 Deane B 2; Forrest B 13 DL Farnworth A 5.