Week 1 News

Oakgate A proved their top division pedigree in their opening match in the Bolton Badminton League against newly promoted Forrest C.

Mona Babouta and Nayan Min set Oakgate's pace, taking the first two mixed games and, although Judith Mealor and Tony Augustyniak came back for Forrest with both their games, the home side raced into a 7-3 lead.

Mona with Nicola McManus ensured at least one point for Oakgate with both top ladies and Nyan with Simon Froude clinched both points with top men’s and Oakgate went on to a 15-3 victory.

DL Farnworth A came down from A Section this season but plainly plan a swift return, dismissing the challenge from C Section runners-up Sharples B with a 18-0 win.

Deane A in this section showed their renewed promotion hopes when they played DL Farnworth B taking nine out of the 10 mixed games, with Julie Almond and Marcus Kirkman winning Farnworth’s only mixed. They fought back in the men’s and ladies but too late to stop Deane – comprising Janice Jackson, Jean Smith, Teresa Gough, Suresh Patel, Michael Wood and Brian Strickland – winning 12-6.

Smithills A won promotion from D Section last season but faced a tough match against Forrest F who finished mid-table. Dureen Dixon and Paul Skivington opened Fiorrest’s account with top mixed but Smithills immediately came back sharing the next two sets.

The mixed games see-sawed but when Brenda Shott and Paul Skivington took the final two they pushed Forrest into a 6-4 lead. Linda Singh and Diane Leigh evened up the score for Smithills with top ladies but with the rest shared, all rested on the final men’s. And Peter Lambert and Andrew Worthington snatched both for a 10-8 Forrest win from an exciting clash.

Smithills B had more success in their D Section match against Metro B, also very close – the second game had a 26-24 scoreline!  However, Smithills were ahead 7-3 after the mixed and, in spite of a spirited fightback by Metro taking all the ladies’ doubles, the scoreline gave Smithills a narrow 10-8 win.

Markland Hill BC is starting All Stars’ junior coaching on Saturday afternoons, 1.30pm to 4pm, from next Saturday (September 24th). It’s open to any juniors aged 5 to 18, with coaching for adults available at the same session so parents can also get involved. To find out more, call Debbie Rigby on 07732 823620 or email coach@allstarsbadminton.co.uk.