WITH four teams vying for second place in A Section of the Bolton Badminton League, Forrest A came close to earning a draw in their match with league leaders Markland A in the Bolton Badminton League.

Forrest gave Markland Hill, who have not dropped a match this season, a run for their money as the third-placed team kept their hopes alive for a draw right up to the closing games of the match.

First off for Forrest, Christine Seddon and Chris Mealor, shared the first pair of games, winning the first 21-17 before Markland Hill’s second couple Tracy Walker and Paul Hope took the second 21-18.

Playing first for Markland Hill, Wendy Higgins and Roger Taylor, won both their games 21-19, 21-12 against Paula Wright and Ron Welsh.

When the teams’ third couples met, two closely-fought games were shared, Forrest’s Carolyn Wood and Will Wiseman taking the first 23-21 and Ruth Flatman and Albert Mahoney the second 22-20.

When the first couples’ played, Forrest’s Seddon and Mealor won their games comfortably 21-10, 21-15 against Higgins and Taylor.

The second couples then shared their games, Wright and Welsh taking another nail-biting first game 22-20 and Walker and Hope the second 21-15.

At 5-5 going into the level doubles Markland Hill's Flatman and Higgins put their team ahead when they won the first pair of ladies’ games 21-12, 21-10 against Wood and Seddon.

The first pair of men’s games were shared with Wiseman and Mealor winning the first 21-17, and Mahoney and Taylor the second 21-15.

With four games left to play, Forrest’s Wood and Wright shared the next pair of ladies' games, winning the first 21-17, before Flatman and Walker reciprocated by taking the second 21-17.

The determined Mahoney and Hope pairing then won both the final games of the match 21-12, 21-12 against Wiseman and Welsh, to complete an 11-7 win for their team.