BADMINTON: Racketeers have taken another step towards the title in their first season in the Bolton League with a 10-8 win over reigning champions Hawkshaw A.

The closely contested match took place at Canon Slade High School on Thursday evening with Alan Clarkson and Rachel Singleton claiming the opening mixed to 16 and 19. Keith Cuncarr and Emma Greenwood started strongly for the visitors taking their games to 15 and 12.

In a close encounter at third mixed, David Edgar and C Leong edged the first 26-24, but Tom Dunlop and J Thornton-Chan battled back to claim the second game 21-19.

Racketeers’ ladies took the first two levels, while Clarkson and Tom Dunlop took the first men’s to 14 and 11 against the experienced partnership of Edgar and Cuncarr.

With four games still to play, Hawkshaw led 8-6, but Racketeers showed their mettle, taking the remaining four games and, more importantly, the two points that were on offer.

With the match between Bury A and Markland Hill A postponed, Racketeers are likely to head into the second half of the season at the top of the table.

Elsewhere in Section A, Forrest A claimed a convincing 15-3 win over Hawkshaw B, and Markland Hill B stayed in the title frame with a 17-1 win over Hawkshaw C.

In Section B, Oakgate A travelled to Westhoughton hoping to go into the second half of the season without dropping a point. However, the Westhoughton outfit had their own agenda. All eyes were on the final men’s game with the match score 8-8. With both teams taking a game each, the match finished 9-9.

Forrest B maintained the pressure on Oakgate with a 13-5 win over Deane A.

Forrest and Oakgate meet this week at Bolton Arena in what is expected to be a close match.

Moorside A, currently eighth in D section, picked up two much-needed points with a victory over sixth-placed Smithills A.

Linda Hawker and Ken Blood took the first game 21-16 for Smithills before Judith Stenson and Richard Beamer fought back to claim the second 21-12.

Smithills’ second pair, Lorraine Shepherd and Malcolm Rolfe, fought out a 22-20, 20-22 battle with Moorside’s first pair, Sue Beamer and Russ Beswick. Following the mixed, the home side were leading 6-4 before Moorside battled on to win six of the remaining eight levels for victory.

RESULTS Section A: Hawkshaw A 8 Racketeers 10; Markland Hill B 17 Hawkshaw C 1; Forrest A 15 Hawkshaw B 3.

Section B: D L Farnworth A 14 Markland Hill D 4; Park 13 Deane B 5.

Section C: Markland Hill E 7 D L Farnworth B 11; Forrest C 16 Forrest E 2; Deane C 5 Forrest D 13.

Section D: Smithills A 8 Moorside A 10; Forrest F 17 Smithills B 1; Sharples C 16 Metros C 2; Westhoughton C 6 Oakgate B 12.

Section E: Metros D 7 Sharples D 11; Lads & Girls A 14 Forrest G 4.