DEANE B narrowly missed promotion to B Section last season and are determined not to miss out this season.

They currently top C Section, having dropped just one point so far, and produced another impressive performance when they beat their nearest challengers, Oakgate A, 10-8.

Oakgate sailed through D Section last year, losing just one match, to emphatically take the division title, and had enjoyed a similar dominant run this season.

The opening foray between the Oakgate pairing of Andrea Mason and Karl Gibbins and Deane’s Lisa Wintle and Craig Harvey provided a taste of the close encounter to come when it was won 22-20 by the home duo.

The rest of the mixed games were equally hotly contested and the teams were level at half-time. Deane’s strong ladies, headed by Teresa Gough, meant both top ladies’ went to Teresa with Janice Jackson.

Top men’s went to Oakgate, courtesy of Karl Gibbins and Iqbal Khan, but when second ladies’ went to Teresa with Lisa Wintle, the visitors were on nine games and hunting for a final point.

Nilesh Bhudia and Craig Harvey sealed it with a 21-18 win in the first of the final men’s games to clinch the match. Oakgate’s Julian Patrick and Iqbal Khan took the last game 22-20 for a 10-8 scoreline.

Metro D finished bottom of the league last season and were at the foot of E Section. But, it is a mark of the competitive nature of all the sections that their visit to mid-table Moorside D produced a tense and close encounter.

Janice Evans and George Hibbert took the opening game for Moorside to 16, but Sylvia Cockram and Peter Rushton for Metro fought back for the second 23-21.

Cockram and Rushton added their second set and by the end of the mixed the score was 6-4 for Metro. Caitlan Smith and Janice Evans dug in to take both top ladies’ games, before Metro came back via Steven Drinkwater and Mike Ollerton for both top men’s.

Another marathon set took place at second ladies’ when Caitlan with Lindsey Furness managed to just take both games 23-21, 24-22 to make it all-square once more.

Both teams needed the final two games to take the points for a win, and Metro struck first with a 21-15 scoreline from Rushton and Mike Ollerton. The drama was not over, however. Andy Lees and Will Murray snatched the final game 21-11 to ensure a draw at the end of an epic match.

RESULTS Section A: Markland Hill B 10 Forrest A 8; Markland Hill C 6 Bury A 12; Hawkshaw A 11 Markland Hill A 7.

Section B: D L Farnworth A 14 Forrest C 4; Markland Hill E 8 Westhoughton A 10; Hawkshaw C 9 Hawkshaw B 9; Deane A 6 Metros A 12; Park 9 Sharples A 9.

Section C: Forrest D 5 D L Farnworth B 13; Oakgate A 8 Deane B 10; Sharples B 14 Smithills A 4; Westhoughton B 15 Metros B 3; Deane C 2 Hawkshaw D 16.

Section D: Moorside B 4 Moorside A 14; D L Farnworth C 10 Forrest E 8; Forrest F 12 Sharples C 6.

Section E: Moorside D 3 Moorside C 15; Oakgate B 9 Lads & Girls 9.