DL FARNWORTH A team were Bolton Badminton League C Section champions last season -- now they have set their sights on the B Section title.

They have made an excellent start, taking scalps like GMT A, Racquets and Park A in a stylish opening few weeks. With Hawkshaw B, who only just missed out on top flight badminton last season, they are currently on maximum points at the top, with Springfields A and Chowbent B challenging.

In A Section, Markland Hill A have edged into an early lead, just ahead of champions Chrst Church and with Markland Hill B in a creditable third.

Westhoughton A came down from B Section last season, but join leaders Hawkshaw C at the top of C Section. Both teams have signalled their positive intentions, as Westhoughton showed in their away clash against Chowbent C.

Sue Carney and Nick Hawken took the first game of the night for Chowbent, but Lynn Seel and John Cole immediately came back with the second and the visitors took the next two for a quick start.

When Lynn and John took both their second mixed, Westhoughton were 6-4 ahead, and Wendy Anderson and Ruth Atherton kept up their scoring with top ladies 3 and 1.

Top men's went to Chowbent Nick Hawken and Simon Mallinson, but when Westhughton took both second ladies 7 and 7, the points were won. Nigel Muddiman and Simon Mallinson took the final games of the night for a 11-7 win but this was little consolation for Chowbent who just missed out this time.

GMTB are in second place in D Section behind Deane A, but the Section is obviously very competitive as their away fixture against Hawkshaw D showed.

The home team had the better start, taking the first three mixed before GMT struck back. As the games see-sawed between the two sides, this gave Hawkshaw a 6-4 edge going into the men's and ladies' games.

GMT's top ladies quickly put the visitors back on level peggng -- before Hawkshaw took back the initiative with both top men's.

The visitors evened up the score with both second ladies 2 and 10, but when Paul Hawker and John Day took the first of the last men's games 15-10 for GMT, Hawkshaw needed the final game to draw.

Paul and John had different ideas, taking the last game of the night 15-6 to clinch two points for the visitors.

RESULTS

A SECTION: ABC 8, Markland Hill B 10; Metro A 0, Hawkshaw A 18; Forrest B 3, Christ Church 15; Bury A 10, Forrest A 8.

B SECTION: Markalnd Hill C 12, Sharples A 6.

C SECTION: Metro B 8, Hawkshaw C 10; Springfield B 12, Markland Hill D 6; Westhoughton A 9, Hawkshaw C 9; Sharples B 16, Chowbent D 2; Chowbent C 7, Westhoughton A 11.

D SECTION: David Lloyd 8, Westhoughton C 10; Smithills A 7, Forrest C 11; Park B 14, David Lloyd 4; Westhoughton C 13, Sharples C 5; Hawkshaw D 8, GMT B 10; Springfield D 4, Metro C 14; Deane A 15, Sharples C 3.

E SECTION: Moorside A 7, Smithills B 11; Sharples D 10, Moorside B 8; Forrest E 10, Deane B 8; Metro D 4, Forrest E 14; Westhoughton D 13, Farnworth C 5.

F SECTION: Forrest F 9, Moorside D 9; Markland Hill E 12, Holy Cross 6; Moorside C 17, Smithills D 1; Park C 10, Metro E 8.