The Bolton Badminton League got its new season off to a flying start as players got to grips with the new international scoring system.

Rally point scoring means fewer serves but a chance to increase players' score in every rally. This is a major game change and the Bolton League voted to adopt it for the first time, modifying its previous system of two games to 15 per set to two games to 21 with setting.

League officials are monitoring the new system to see how long matches take during this initial season, when 49 teams will be competing in five divisions.

The new system certainly did not hamper current champions Markland Hill A in their opener. They took on newly-promoted Metro A, where in spite of spirited defence from visiting top couple, Pete Preston and Jean Melia, and from third pair, Alan Parkinson and Nicola Blythe, they ran out 18-0 winners.

While Markland Hill F also notched up some early points, beating Moorside B 11-7, the club's D team were not so lucky.

They just missed out on promotion from B Section last season and were playing Forrest B, down from A Section, and games were close. But strong work, in particular from Forrest ladies Becky Buxton, Lisa Abbott and Hannah Green, gave the visitors a narrow 11-7 win.

Moorside teams had equally diverse results in the initial fixtures. The A team, entertaining Oakgate, started with a marathon 26-24 result.

It was Oakgate, however, who managed to keep ahead, in spite of sterling work from Moorside top couple, Sue Beamer and Mike Bird, and they were 6-4 ahead going into the men's and ladies in which Oakgate proved the stronger.

Moorside needed both the final men's games for a draw, but Peter Robles and Liam Walsh for Oakgate had other ideas, taking the first to 11 and the second 23-21 for an 11-7 win for the visitors.

Moorside C were at home to Farnworth D and, in spite of determined opposition from Farnworth, took all the mixed games and only dropped one ladies' game for a useful 17-1 victory.