SHARPLES C inflicted a 10-8 defeat on table-toppers, Metro A, in the C Section of the Bolton Badminton League.

Fifth-placed Sharples were at home and their first couple, Linzi Casey and Steve Duckworth, won the opening games 21-12, 21-17, against Andrea Finney and Peter Holden.

The next pair of games was shared, Metro’s Joanne Holden and Jack Milner claimed the first 21-16, and Alison Holt and Christian Ellcock took the second 21-9.

When the third couples met, Sharples’ Marion Anderson and Darren Veevers won both games 21-14, 21-7, against Liz Lythgoe and David Smith.

In the clash of the first couples, Metro’s Holden and Milner dug in to take both games 22-20, 21-17, against Casey and Duckworth.

Finney and Holden, Metro’s second couple then claimed both games 21-15, 21-18, against Holt and Ellcock.

Going into the level doubles the score was 5-5 with all to play for.

The first pair of ladies’ games was shared, Sharples’ Anderson and Casey took the first by a comfortable scoreline of 21-7, and Lythgoe and Holden claimed the second 21-12, keeping the match scores level at 6-6.

However, the first pair of men’s games was claimed by Sharples’ Veevers and Duckworth 21-13, 21-17, against Smith and Milner, edging their team in front.

The second pair of ladies’ games turned out to be a very close encounter with Metro’s Lythgoe and Finney claiming the first 21-18, and Anderson and Holt reciprocating and taking the second 21-18, which put Sharples in the draw position.

In the final men’s games Metro’s Smith and Holden drew first blood, winning the first game 21-10, but Sharples’ Veevers and Ellcock held their nerve to claim the final game 21-18 and with it they secured a hard-fought victory for their team.