THIRD-placed Oakgate BC claimed an 11-7 victory against Park BC in the A Section of the Bolton Badminton League this week.

Oakgate's Catriona McKinnon and Richard Jackman won the opening games 21-11, 21-14 against Chris Salmon and Matt Boyes – one of two talented youngsters in the Park camp.

Park's first couple of Barbara and Tom Gillet hit back with mother and son partnership claiming their games 21-11, 21-10 against Andrea Mason and Simon Froude.

The third couples shared their games when Barbara Nowell and Phil Pilling won the first 22-20 for Park, who are currently working hard to establish themselves in the section, while Anna Wiza and Iqbal Khan took the second 21-8 for Oakgate.

When the first couples met, McKinnon and Jackman came out on top winning both games 21-17, 21-18 against Gillett and Gillett.

When the second couples played Mason and Froude won the first 21-14, and Salmon and Boyes claimed the second 21-8.

Oakgate were 6-4 going into the level doubles and Oakgate’s Wiza and McKinnon put their team further ahead when they won both the first pair of ladies’ games 21-13, 21-10 against Nowell and Gillett.

However, when the first pair of men’s games were played, Park's Pilling and Gillett showed great spirit and determination to keep their team in the running, claiming both games 21-17, 21-19 against Khan and Jackman.

Oakgate’s Wiza and Mason made sure of the win by gaining the second pair of ladies' games comfortably 21-9, 21-15 against Nowell and Salmon.

The final games of the night were shared when Oakgate’s Khan and Froude claimed the first 21-19 to clinch the victory before Park’s Pilling and Boyes won the last men’s game 22-20. A fitting end to a very competitive contest.