HAWKSHAW A have been a reliable mid-table team in A Section for several years -- but this season they have a useful "reserve" to call on by Angela Kelly

England player Alan Clarkson has moved to the area from Chester, and is turning out occasionally for the Hawkshaw club's top team.

Unfortunately for Markland Hill B, he played against them this week, and helped Hawkshaw snatch victory.

The mixed games did not start badly for Markland Hill, with talented youngster Anthony Fox, partnering Sarah Gradwell, beating Clarkson and partner.

But the visitors made enough headway to be in the lead after the mixed doubles. This proved crucial as Hawkshaw took all the men's games to win 10-8 -- even though the home side won all the ladies' matches.

Smithills B beat Farnworth C 10-8 in an equally-tense D Section match at Canon Slade School.

The opening set was shared, before Farnworth's top pair of Joanne Booth and John Horlock took both their mixed games, following that with two more convincing wins 5 and 3 to help push their team to a 6-4 lead.

Linda Singh and Diane Hunt for Smithills took both top ladies' games 12 and 9, before Farnworth's John Horlock and Andy Rowland kept their side in the points with both top men's.

Singh and Lesley Heyes took both second ladies' games in fine style to level the score, before Smithills' Steve Mayoh and Tony Sames took the final games of the night 9 and 11 to secure victory.

Forrest G beat their F team 10-8 in the final game of a thrilling E Section contest at Bolton Arena.

Ann Schofield and Philip Pilling opened Forrest F's account by winning both of their mixed games, but the next set was shared, before Steph Wignall and Geoff Taylor at third couple took their two mixed matches for the G team.

The G team then got the better start in the ladies' doubles, when Wignall and Jade Demain took both top games. The top men's games also went Forrest G's way, before Georgina Watford and Brenda Shott took both second ladies' matches for the F team.

But after the F team had won the first of the final two men's games to 5, Forrest G took the last contest of the night 15-14 to clinch the points.

A group of Bolton Badminton League players returned from the European Veterans' Championships in Spain with medals.

Peter Wood, of Christ Church BC, won the gold medal in the over-55s men's doubles with partner Graham Billinghurst, and Markland Hill BC's Sylvia Gill and Geoff Williams took bronze in the over-55s mixed doubles.