IN the semi-finals of the Bolton League Handicap competition, Sharples A, who are ninth in the B Section, advanced to the final of the Jane Fletcher Cup despite losing 11-7 to Westhoughton C.

Sharples relied upon the points system, which proved vital as the match produced seven games that were won by the minimum of two points, a chain of results which tipped the encounter in their favour.

Sharples started well with first couple Alison Holt and Andy Woods claiming the opening two games against Linda Redford and Anthony Hughes 21-15 and 24-22.

Westhoughton’s second couple, Gaynor Parry and John Cole, shared the spoils in their two games, defeating Linzi Casey and Rob Trethewey 23-21, before the Sharples duo won the second match 21-17.

Westhoughton won the next two games, Abbie Edwards and Adam Carney beating Alison Saunders and Paul Bargh 21-17, 21-15.

In the first couples’ clash the games were shared, Parry and Cole winning the first 21-13 and Holt and Woods taking the second 22-20.

Sharples’ Casey and Trethewey were triumphant when the second couples met, winning 21-10, 21-16 against Redford and Hughes.

All the players were instrumental in claiming points for their teams and Sharples were 196-176 ahead going into the level doubles.

Westhoughton then won seven of the final eight games but Sharples continued to battle on.

Westhoughton’s Edwards and Parry claimed the first pair of ladies’ games 22-20, 21-13 against Saunders and Holt.

The first pair of men’s games were shared, Sharples’ Bargh and Woods winning the first 21-19 and Carney and Cole claiming the second 21-18.

The second pair of ladies’ games resulted in Westhoughton’s best set. Edwards and Redford won 21-7, 21-9 against Saunders and Casey.

Westhoughton’s Carney and Hughes claimed the final pair of men’s games 21-19, 21-19 against Bargh and Trethewey in a set that emphasised the competitive nature of the match.

A handicap of 54 was given in Sharples’ favour, producing a winning score of 376-343.

In the Robert Cup, D Section’s third-placed club Roe Green won 11-7 against Moorside B who are 10th in the section above.

Roe Green’s first couple, Debbie Batchelor and Adrian Beardow, took the first two games, beating Laura Goff and Steve Drinkwater 21-18 and 21-11.

Jacki Chapman and Jack Armstrong, Roe Green’s second couple, then shared their games, against Sue Beamer and Steve Gittins, winning the first 21-16 before the Moorside pair claimed the second 21-19.

In the third couples’ clash Moorside’s Jane Whelan and Stuart Hall beat Christina Manning and Kam Cheung 21-15, 21-19.

When the first couples’ met Roe Green’s Batchelor and Beardow won both games against Beamer and Gittins.

Goff and Drinkwater won both for Moorside when the second couples faced each another.

The pair beat Chapman and Armstrong 21-13 before eventually prevailing 23-21 in the second.

Although it was 5-5 at the conclusion of the mixed games, Roe Green were just ahead 192-186.

In the first pair of ladies’ encounters, Roe Green’s Manning and Batchelor won their two fixtures 21-18 and 21-16 against Whelan and Goff.

Roe Green also claimed the first pair of men’s games when Cheung and Beardow overcame Hall and Gittins 21-19.

In the second pair of ladies’ games, Moorside’s Whelan and Goff beat Manning and Chapman 21-19, 21-15.

Going into the final pair of men’s matches, there were 10 points between the teams and a determined Cheung and Armstrong beat Hall and Drinkwater 21-18, 21-7.

The envelope revealed a handicap of 30 for Moorside giving them a total of 350, but with just a two-point advantage, it was Roe Green who gained a place in the final with 352.