Bolton Badminton League

Deane B, who gained promotion to B section last season, picked up their first point of the season with a 9-9 draw at seventh-placed Sharples A.

The home team’s top mixed pairing of Anne Marie Saiudes and Rob Brocklehurst claimed the opening game 21-11, before a strong performance from Anna Anderson and Roger Southern saw Deane battle back to take the second game 21-19.

The second games were just as close with Deane’s Janice Jackson and Brian Strickland taking their first game 21-17 and narrowly losing the second 22-20.

Following the mixed, Sharples were leading 6-4.

At top ladies, Jackson and Teresa Gough were successful in both games, winning 21-15, 21-12. Going into the final men’s, the match was tied at 8-8 and Rob Brocklehurst and Sam Artingstall took the first to 15, before a fired up Southern and Nilesh Bhudia won the final game 21-19 to clinch that elusive first point of the season.

Impressive wins for Hawkshaw A and Bury A keep things tight at the top in A section.

Bury A played twice with a 17-1 away win against Hawkshaw C, and a 17-1 home win in a rearranged match against Forrest A.

The visitors struggled on the slippery floor at Bury’s Drill Hall as Forrest’s first couple, Debbie Rigby and Matthew Green, lost the opening games 21-19, 21-14 to Liz Holt and Darren Whitely.

At third mixed, Sue Hurst and John Bowker claimed the first and only game 21-17. However, after changing ends, Sue Dibden and Gordon Mitchell picked up the second game 21-18.

Elsewhere in A section, Hawkshaw A faced basement club Markland Hill C. At top mixed, Liz Holden, partnering Alan Clarkson, took the first games 21-13, 21-10 against Celelia and Andy Rodger.

Markland Hill’s Paula Cranham and Alan Crow split the second mixed with Cai Batchelor and Duncan Evans, 21-19, 16-21. When second played second, Cecelia and her son Andy also split with Hawkshaw’s Batchelor and Evans 21-17, 16-21. Markland Hill picked up another game as Rodgers, partnering Sally Howell, claimed the final ladies doubles 21-18 to leave the final result 15-3 and Hawkshaw second in the league.

RESULTS Section A: Hawkshaw A 15 Markland Hill C 3; Hawkshaw C 1 Bury 17; Raquets 15 Forrest A 3; Hawkshaw B 1 Raquets 17.

Section B: Sharples A 9 Deane B 9; Deane A 3 Markland Hill D 15; Westhoughton A 14 Sharples A 4; Oakgate A 14 D L Farnworth A 4; Deane B 3 Forrest B 15; Markland Hill D 6 Westhoughton A 12.

Section C: Westhoughton B 14 D L Farnworth C 4; D L Farnworth B 14 Forrest E 4.

Section D: Oakgate B 9 Metros B 9; Forrest F 5 Sharples C 13.

Section E: Moorside B 4 Moorside C 14; Moorside D 15 Metros D 3; Lads & Girls A 5 Moorside D 13; D L Farnworth D 10 Forrest G 8;