MARKLAND Hill A currently top the A Section but the former Leigh BC members who now make up most of the team have their sights set on long-term success.

Last season, the team, in its first year as an amalgamated side at the Heaton tennis club, finished in third place behind champions Christ Church and runners up ABC.

Their latest scoreline saw them disposing of the challenge from top section newcomers BIHE, 12-6 but one of their sternest tests will be in a fortnight when they play Christ Church away.

Christ Church, meanwhile, are also keeping a clean slate with Hawkshaw A, Bury A and Chowbent A their victims so far.

Metro A were one of the strongest sides in B Section last season but a couple of poor results denied them promotion in a tough division.

This season they are determined to make it and currently head the section, unbeaten and with a creditable 18 games against.

They could easily have stumbled in their latest clash with Park A, whose three ladies are among the strongest in the section, but Metro managed to triumph 10-8 to keep in the top spot.

A similar situation took place in C Section when Springfields B entertained a full-strength GMT A.

Sarah and Neil Flanagan made nonsense of the old advice of not partnering your spouse on the badminton court by taking the opening mixed set 15-1, 15-13 but Gail Bygrave and Ian Stones came back for the visitors with the second set to keep the scores level.

Pam Taylor and John Pimblett took the final mixed of the night after a see-sawing of scores to give Springfields a 6-4 advantage at the changeover.

But GMT's ladies have long been a force to be reckoned with and Gail Bygrave and Margaret Barrett put on an experienced display to take the top ladies' set 15-1, 15-3 for all-square.

Top men's went to the home side, courtesy of Neil Flanagan and John Mealor, then Margaret Barrett and Eileen Brown levelled the scores once more with both second ladies.

All rested on the final games. Phil Santana-Reedy and Karl Major took the first in style 15-3 for GMT and, in spite of spirited play from John Pimblett and John Mealor, the visiting duo took the final game of the night 15-8 for a 10-8 win and two more points for GMT.

Markland Hill E are riding high in F Section, but competition is tough all the way through the League so their clash with Smithills C was always going to be hard going.

The tennis club's blend of experience and youth at top pairing, Elaine Powers and Anthony Fox, took the opening games 15-8, 15-13. The next set was shared, but Sally Howell and Dave Ball kept up the scoring for the home side with their set.

Smithills' Phyllis Harding and David Whittle took the final mixed games for the visitors but they could not prevent the home side ending the mixed 6-4 ahead.

Shared top ladies failed to change the advantage, but when Anthony Fox and Dave Ball took both top men's for Markland Hill, the home side were on nine games. Smithills took the first of the second ladies' set with good work from Phyllis Harding and Michelle Crook but when the second game went to Markland Hill's Helen Booth and Sally Howell 15-6, the match was decided. David Whittle and Malcolm Truslow took the final games of the night for Smithills, but the points went to the tennis club.

RESULTS A SECTION: Chowbent B 9, Hawkshaw A 9; Forrest A 8, Chowbent A 10; Bury B 4, Markland Hill B 14; Markland Hill A 12, BIHE 6; Christ Church 11, Bury A 7; BIHE 6, Christ Church 12; Bury A 10, Hawkshaw A 8.

B SECTION: Markland Hill C 8, Forrest B 10; Metro A 10, Park A 8; Westhoughton A 11, Springfields A 7; Hawkshaw B 11, Swinton 7; BSC 9, Sharples A 9.

C SECTION: Springfields B 8, GMT A 10; Chowbent C 4, Springfields B 14; Metro B 11, Westhoughton B 7; Forrest C 5, Chowbent C 13; Chowbent D 5, Hawkshaw C 13.

D SECTION: David Lloyd 8, Smithills A 10; Farnworth C 4, Metro C 14; Park B 5, Farnworth B 13; Deane A 14, Sharples C 4; Westhoughton C 4, Markland Hill D 14.

E SECTION: Smithills B 15, Park C 3; Springfields D 15, Forrest E 3; Forrest D 9, Moorside A 9; Hawkshaw D 9, Deane B 9; Metro D 10, Westhoughton D 8.

F SECTION: Moorside D 11, Springfields E 7; Smithills D 6, Forrest F 12; Moorside B 12, Metro E 6; Markland Hill E 10, Smithills C 8; Holy Cross 17, Farnworth D 1; Deane C 13, Moorside C 5.