FORREST E produced a strong performance in the second half of their C Section match to beat Markland Hill E 11-7.

The match proved there is youth coming through in the Bolton Badminton League with Markland Hill fielding three juniors and Forrest two.

Third-placed Forrest drew first blood when their first couple, Louise Quayle and James Wallen, won their opening games 21-19, 21-16 against Markland Hill’s second pairing Sylvia Gill and Chris Ball.

Markland Hill levelled the score when their first couple, Lucy Ault and Stefan Halsall, hit back with comfortable 21-14, 21-14 victories in their games against Catherine Jameson and Jack Hamer.

Eighth-placed Markland Hill then edged in front when their youngsters Shreya Kamath and Karthik Ajith won both games 21-10, 21-13 against Lindsey Tait and David Travis in the clash of the third couples.

When the first couples met, their games were shared, Forrest’s Quayle and Wallen winning a nailbiting first 22-20 and Ault and Halsall claiming the second 21-18.

Forrest claimed both games 21-19, 21-14 when their youngsters, Jameson and Hamer, beat Markland Hill’s Gill and Ball, in the meeting of the second couples.

It was 5-5 going into the level doubles when Markland Hill’s junior ladies, Kamath and Ault, put their team ahead by winning both games in the first pair of ladies’ games, 21-11, 21-18, against Tait and Quayle.

The match swung Forrest's way from that point as they won all the remaining games.

Forrest’s Travis and Wallen brought the match level by winning the first pair of men’s games, 21-10, 21-16, against Ajith and Halsall.

Tait and Jameson then won the second pair of ladies' games, 21-11, 21-14, against Kamath and Gill to ensure at least a draw.

It was down to the last men’s games to decide the result and Forrest’s Travis and Hamer were too strong, claiming both games 21-15, 21-6 against Ajith and Ball.