Week 20 News

With only a handful of matches left in the Bolton Badminton League Bury BC look like retaining the championship and finishing the season unbeaten.

The side has proved superior to all the A Section teams, conceding only 37 games so far and winning 251 to give them a maximum 32 points from 16 matches. In a repeat of last season’s results, Markland Hill A are likely to be runners up - they’re currently two points adrift but Bury have a match in hand - with Forrest A or Hawkshaw A in third place.

Markland Hill A staked their claim to top honours with a useful 14-4 win over Forrest A in their latest fixture. Forrest top couple Christine Seddon and Stuart Holden put up a tough fight in all their mixed games, ensuring one victory and losing another 23-25. For Markland Hill, their top couple Tracey Walker and Paul Hope kept a clean sheet but Forrest took both top ladies’ doubles. These, however, were their only remaining wins as Markland Hill cleared the board to ensure both points.

DL Farnworth A maintain their hold at the top of B Section with Oakgate B nearest challengers three points away but with a match in hand. The Farnworth team have lead the division for most of the season and cemented their promotion hopes with a 14-4 win over Markland Hill D. Oakgate, however, have a tricky fixture against fourth-placed Hawkshaw C next week to overcome before they can plan any A Section fixtures.

Metro A have their chance this week to cement their promotion hopes for B Section badminton when they take on fourth-placed Farnworth C at Metro’s Bolton Arena home. Leaders Forrest D have to play them as well but they must first overcome the notoriously difficult task of playing GMT away in a fortnight. Forrest, however, have a three point cushion and still look favourites for the C Section silverware.

The top two in D Section remain locked in a battle of points: Moorside B have 34 from 18 matches and Westhoughton C 32 from 17. This section is likely to go right to the wire as Westhoughton face the challenge of third-placed Lads and Girls Club A next week which could prove pivotal.

This section has proved extremely competitive this season, as the match between Moorside D and DL Farnworth D - two teams outside the promotion zone - showed. Judith Parker and Phil Wignall kicked off the scoring for Moorside, starting a run of mixed games which gave the home team a 7-3 lead, extending it to 9 games when both top ladies’ went their way.

Farnworth, however, refused to be beaten and fought back to take all the final men’s games. Unfortunately for them, Moorside won both the second ladies’ games to reach 11 and take both points from a match which featured close scores and competitive play throughout.