MARKLAND Hill E cemented their second spot in C Section of the Bolton Badminton League with an 11-7 home win against third-placed Sharples C.

Markland Hill were quick out of the blocks when first couple, Jayne Smith and Alan Powell, claimed the first game 21-8, but Sharples’ Eileen Beeney and Nick Hitchen took the second 21-15.

Sharples’ first couple, Linzi Casey and Steve Duckworth, then came out on top against Pam Yates and Pete Lonnen, winning both games 21-18, 21-13.

Markland Hill’s Kate Birley and Chris Kattakayam then took the honours, claiming both games 21-18, 21-13, against Margaret Howarth and Nathan Peddie, when the third couples met.

In the clash of the first couples, Markland Hill’s Smith and Powell took both games 21-18, 21-15, against Casey and Duckworth, but when the second couples played, Beeney and Hitchen claimed both for Sharples, 21-17, 21-16, against Yates and Lonnen.

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

Markland Hill’s ladies, Birley and Smith, then won the first pair of ladies’ games comfortably, 21-13, 21-7, against Howarth and Casey.

However, the first pair of men’s games were shared, Sharples’ Peddie and Duckworth taking the first 21-19, and Kattakayam and Powell claiming the second 21-11.

The second pair of ladies’ games were also shared, Markland Hill’s Birley and Yates winning the first 21-18, Howarth and Beeney taking the second 21-10.

It was all down to the final men’s games and Kattakayam and Lonnen managed to keep their team in front, winning 21-19, 23-21, against Sharples’ Peddie and Hitchen to seal overall victory.

In A Section, Westhoughton B, seventh-placed in the section, drew 9-9 with relegation-threatened Forrest B.

Westhoughton’s Nicola and Richard Williams claimed the opening games 21-15, 21-16, against Forrest’s second couple, Janet Bailey and Matt Latham.

Forrest’s first couple, Nicola Hill and Chris Latham, then won both games, 21-12, 22-20, against Lauren Muddiman and Martin Isherwood, playing second for Westhoughton.

When the third couples met their games were shared – Westhoughton’s Alison Muddiman and Jason Lee taking the first 21-12, and Laura Bradley and Mahendra Patel claiming the second 21-15.

In the clash of the first couples, Forrest’s Hill and Latham won the first 21-16, and Williams and Williams took the second 21-16.

The second couples’ games were claimed by Forrest’s Bailey and Latham, 21-16, 21-14, against Muddiman and Isherwood.

The first pair of ladies’ games were shared. Muddiman and Williams won the first 21-19 and Bradley and Hill claimed the second very comfortably, 21-8.

Lee and Williams then kept Westhoughton in the match by claiming the first pair of men’s games 22-20,21-9, against Patel and Latham.

Forrest’s Bradley and Bailey stormed back, winning the second pair of ladies’ games 21-19, 21-15, against Muddiman and Muddiman.

In the final men’s games Westhoughton’s Lee and Isherwood fought to deny Patel and Latham, claiming victory by winning both hard fought games 21-16, 21-18 to achieve a well-earned draw overall.