BADMINTON: After a nondescript last season, Forrest Badminton Club have set about distinguishing themselves in the Bolton Badminton League.

So far this season, the A team have beaten current champions Hawkshaw A, while the B team is vying for honours at the top of B Section.

All three of their C Section sides are performing well and their younger F and G teams are holding up in D and E Section.

The A side’s 11-7 win over Hawkshaw at Bolton Arena could prove decisive in the fight for the A Section crown.

Matt Green and Debbie Rigby started the night well for Forrest with home wins over the visitors’ second pair before Ron Welsh and Paula Wright split their games with Hawkshaw’s Linda Eccleston with County star Scott Webber. After the mixed, the games were tied at 5-5, Forrest then took both top ladies before John Bowker and Matt Green added the first men’s. At nine games apiece, the home side were on for a draw at least, but Carolyn Wood and Paula Wright won the first of their second ladies 21-16 to ensure both points and, with a final mens to Hawkshaw, the scoreline was 11-7 for Forrest, who now face a stern test from new team Racketeers.

Oakgate A continued their march up the league in B Section with impressive wins over Deane B and Park ahead of this week’s clash with rivals DL Farnworth A.

Forrest C, D and E battle with DL Farnworth B for the top spot in C Section. Metro B lead the way ahead of Oakgate B in D Section and are in determined form. They had to show their mettle when they visited Forrest F after Brenda Shott and Chris Mealor took the opening game 21-11, but Joanne Holden and Mike Horrocks came back to take the second game and kick-start their campaign.

The same duo took their second mixed games, but Forrest fought back and the visitors enjoyed a narrow 6-4 lead going into the mens and ladies.

Holden with Barbara Butterworth then took both top ladies’ games to 17 before Horrocks and Steve Foster lengthened the lead with a hard-fought top men’s game. Chris Mealor and Marc Rideout, however, kept Forrest’s hopes alive with the next mens game but, when Butterworth with Audrey Pattison took the first of the second ladies’ set, the victory was Metro’s. David Smith and Steve Foster added two more games to the tally for a useful 12-6 win from a tough fixture. Moorside B, Sharples D and Moorside D are all clustered at the top of E Section.

Results in Wednesday's The Bolton News