WESTHOUGHTON A almost pulled off a stunning comeback victory before having to settle for a draw against Markland Hill C.

The result of the Bolton Badminton League Section A match was in the balance right up to the final game.

Westhoughton were leading 9-8, which they would more than have settled for when they were 7-3 behind earlier in the night.

The opening games of the night were shared by Westhoughton’s first couple, Becky Shurvington and Jason Lee, who won the first game 21-14, and Bev Hamblett and Andy Rodger, who claimed the second 21-16.

The second mixed pairs' games were also shared. Markland Hill’s first couple, Jo Holt and Graham Holt, claimed the first 21-17 and Ann Hurst and James Lowe, playing second for Westhoughton, reciprocated by taking the second 21-17.

When the third couples met, Markland Hill’s Kath Spillane and Bill Hamblett established an advantage winning both games, 21-18, 21-16, against Alison Muddiman and Dave Urmston.

Seventh-placed in the section, Markland Hill continued their good form in the first couples’ clash, Holt and Holt winning 21-12, 21-19, against Shurvington and Lee.

The games between the second couples were shared, Markland Hill’s Hamblett and Rodger taking the first 21-17, and Hurst and Lowe responding by winning the second 21-17.

Going into the level doubles Markland Hill appeared to be in charge with a 7-3 lead, however Westhoughton’s Muddiman and Shurvington held their nerve to claim the first pair of ladies’ games, 21-18, 21-18, against Spillane and Holt.

The first pair of men’s games was shared Westhoughton’s Urmston and Lee taking the first 21-15, and Hamblett and Holt winning the second 21-12.

Fourth-placed Westhoughton’s Muddiman and Hurst then won the second pair of ladies games, 21-17, 21-17 against Spillane and Hamblett.

Westhoughton’s Urmston and Lowe seized the initiative and put their team into a draw position by winning 21-14, but Markland Hill’s Hamblett and Rodger denied them victory by taking the second game 21-14.

In Section C, Sharples B won 10-8 at Forrest E in another match where the result was in doubt to the final game.

Playing second for Sharples, Debbie Burgess and Alan Burgess won the opening games, a nail-biting first 22-20 and then 21-11 against Darka Gatcliffe and Mark Allan.

Clare Stopford and Jack Hamer, Forrest’s second couple, then took both their games 21-15, 21-18, against Judith Stenson and Paul Bargh.

When the third couples met, Sharples’ Marion Anderson and Matt Duckworth claimed both games 21-17 against Lindsey Tait and David Travis.

In the clash of the first couples Sharples’ Stenson and Bargh claimed two comfortable games, 21-10, 21-5, against Gatcliffe and Allan.

Stopford and Hamer then hit back for Forrest as they won their games convincingly, 21-14, 21-5, against Burgess and Burgess when the second couples played.

At the conclusion of the mixed games Sharples had edged in front 6-4.

The first pair of ladies’ games was shared, Anderson and Stenson claiming the first, 21-17, and Tait and Gatcliffe taking the second 21-18.

Duckworth and Bargh then claimed the first pair of men’s games, 21-12, 21-17, against Travis and Allen, strengthening their position.

However, Forrest’s Tait and Stopford claimed the second pair of ladies’ games. They won the first 21-10 and dug in to take the second 22-20, against Anderson and Burgess.

The final games of the match were shared with Forrest’s Travis and Hamer claiming the first 21-16, but Sharples’ Duckworth and Burgess denied them a draw by winning the second 21-17.