GMT B conceded only one point during the whole of last season as E Section winners -- and they look on course for a clean score sheet this season.

They have four wins from four games in their D Section foray. And in their last match they saw off one of the leaders to assert their current surpremacy.

Westhoughton C had also had an unbeaten run until then, and a tough fixture was on the cards.

With the opening set shared, it was up to Westhoughton's top pair of Val Marsden and Elwyn Holt to give the visitors the edge. Rita McCartney and Bill Ryan, however, quickly levelled the scores once more for GMT, and the games see-sawed to make the teams level after the mixed games.

Top ladies didn't damage the equal scoring, but then GMT's Paul Hawker and Bill Ryan took control to take top men's 15-12, 15-14 in a cliffhanger with Elwyn Holt and Frank Stec.

Then, Val Marsden and Sue Holmes put the points beyond doubt with both second ladies in a decisive 15-6, 15-2 scoreline.

The final men's set of the night reflected the closeness of the fixture when they were split 14-15, 15-13. But the points belonged to GMT -- keen to avoid conceding points this season, and a good tip for promotion.

This is a tight Section, however, as the recent fixtures from another team "bubbling under" the top spots -- Smithills B -- demonstrates.

Against the recent leaders Farnworth C (themselves 2-16 victims to Hawkshaw D last week) they stayed neck and neck until the final games of the night to lose 8-10.

And against hopefuls Sharples D, and fielding a reduced strength side, they overpowered the opposition in the mixed to take the match 14-4. This, in spite of a spirited fightback by Sharples in the level doubles.

Their fixture against Forrest D again showed the closeness of standard between the teams here. By the end of the mixed, Smithills had picked up a 7-3 lead but Forrest fought back in the men's and ladies' doubles to be 7-9 behind going into the last twomen's games.

A first game victory 15-12 secured the points for Smithills, but Forrest came back for a 10-8 scoreline and a win against a plucky team.

Playing for Smithills were Linda Singh, Kath Ball, Lesley Heyes, Malcolm Rolfe, David Whittle and Len Ball, and for Forrest: Gerry Carter, Sue Mellor, Julie Martindale, Matthew Green, Geoff Pendlebury and Matthew Walsh. The new David Lloyd Leisure Centre team are making an impression on E Section this season. They've dropped only one point so far, and had a decisive win in one of their most recent matches against visitors Markland Hill D.

Lorna McIvor and David Whitehouse kicked off the scoring for the home team with both their top mixed 15-7, 15-7.

The next set was shared before Christine Smith and Graham Keeler for Markland Hill levelled the scores with both their third mixed.

Although the next set was also split, Rachel Price and Alan Mok put Davie Lloyd ahead 6-4 at the halfway stage with both their final mixed.

Lorna McIvor and Kulbinder Alhuwalia pushed the home team ahead with both top ladies and David Whitehouse and Paul Ridings clinched the matter for David Lloyd with both top men's.

Christine Smith and Pam Yates fought back to tidy up the scoreline with both second ladies for Markland Hill, but they couldn't prevent the home team finishing 13-5 winners.

If there are any good-standard lady players looking for B Section badminton, Bolton Sports Centre team would like to hear from them.

They need extra ladies to play for the Pendlebury Recreation Centre-based team. Match mnight is Fridays, and if you're interested contact Pratibha Patel on 0976-290973. Match reports can be sent to the BEN for publication that week by Thursday mornings. E e-mail akelly@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk RESULTS A SECTION: Chowbent B 7, Forrest A 11; Christ Church 16, Chowbent A 2; Markland Hill A 17, Racquets 1.

B SECTION: Springfields A 8, Markland Hill B 10; Park A 2, BIT 16; Metro A 9, Sharples A 9; Forrest B 8, BSC 10.

C SECTION: Westhoughton A 18, Chowbent D 0; Park B 3, Westhoughton B 15; Sharples B 2, Westhoughton A 16; Markland Hill C 3, Springfields B 15.

D SECTION: Farnworth B 5, Metro C 13; Smithills A 14, Farnworth B 4; GMT B 11, Westhoughton C 7; Springfields C 15, Springfields D 3; Park C 0, Deane A 18.

E SECTION: David Lloyd LC 13, Markland Hill C 5; Farnworth C 2, Hawkshaw D 16; Sharples D 4, Smithills B 14; Forrest E 12, Metro D 6.

F SECTION: Metro E 0, Forrest E 18; Forrest F 0, Smithills D 18; Westhoughton D 18, Farnworth D 0; Springfields E 3, BASS C 15.