In the first matches after the Christmas break Sharples B were beaten 11-7 by Deane B in B Section of the Bolton Badminton League.

Deane, currently fourth in the section, were favourites to win but Sharples’ first couple, Holt and Woods, had other ideas and won the opening games 21-17, 22-20, against Beck and Pindolia.

However, Deane quickly established superiority in the mixed sets, winning the next six games until Sharples’ second couple, Howarth and Trethewey, won the first game of the set 21-13 against Deane’s second couple. Beck and Pindolia responded by winning the second 21-12.

This left Deane 7-3 in front needing only three games out of the eight remaining to claim the win.

The first pair of ladies’ games was also shared, Wong and Ryding winning the first 21-13, and Owen and Holt claiming the second 21-14.

The first pair of men’s games was claimed by Deane’s Azeem and Brocklehurst, 21-19, 21-12, against Hilton and Woods.

Although Sharples won three out of the four final close games, Owen and Howarth won the second pair of ladies’ games, 22-20, 21-18, against Wong and Beck and the final pair of men’s games were shared, Sharples’ Hilton and Trethewey winning the first 22-20, before Azeem and Pindolia took the second 21-16, to leave Deane as the winners.

Moorside A hosted Westhoughton D and points were vital for both teams to retain their B Section status.

A close game was anticipated and the match certainly lived up to expectations.

The scene was set in the early games when Westhoughton’s Hodgin and Smith won a nail-biter 24-22, with Moorside’s Charnock and Huxley responding to win the second, 21-19.

The second pair of games was also shared, Moorside’s Bracegirdle and Gittins took the first, 24-22 and Redford and Chadwick, Westhoughton’s first couple, claimed the second 21-13.

When the third couples met, Moorside’s Goff and Bailey won both games 21-14, 21-10, against Vernon and Hughes.

In the clash of the first couples Westhoughton’s Redford and Chackwick took both games 21-18, 21-16, against Charnock and Huxley.

Eighth-placed Westhoughton also claimed both games, 21-18, 21-16, when the second couples met, Hodgin and Smith beating Bracegirdle and Gittins.

Going into the level doubles, the score was 6-4 in Westhoughton’s favour.

Moorside then claimed parity in the first pair of ladies' games, Goff and Charnock claiming two comfortable games 21-8, 21-11, against Vernon and Redford.

Moorside then nosed in front in the first pair of men’s games when Bailey and Huxley won 24-22, 21-12, against Hughes and Chadwick.

Moorside then claimed the win in the second pair of ladies’ games, with Goff and Bracegirdle winning 21-19, 21-15, against Vernon and Hodgin.

Westhoughton’s determined pair of Hughes and Smith then claimed the final pair of men’s games 21-14, 21-11, against Bailey and Gittins to leave a final result of 10-8 to Moorside.